The Fall of Kabul

[Ovidio]

Today, over 20 years of war, efforts, loss of life have gone to waste.
All my friends who serve in the Italian Army and Air Force, though today is a very higly regarded festivity here, were unanimously morally broke.
So do feel I myself…
Where is our western world going, my friends?
Is it possible to let all go to waste like this?
The rhetoric about human rights, democracy, freedom, equality…
Where are those who see discrimination everywhere, especially where there is none?
I feel like s…it today.
And I wasn’t even involved…

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Flying10uk]

I would say that the "Western Allies" will find themselves in a position of having to go back into Afghanistan at some point in the future.

[RCS]

Someone on the news said it was like the fall of Saigon in 1975

[72 usmc]

Does Operation Frequent Wind ring a bell with the old boys....

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Leaving a lot of stuff

Attachment 119402

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Someone on the news said it was like the fall of Saigon in 1975

Attachment 119403

[Aragorn243]

Mixed feelings about this. History told us this was going to end exactly this way no matter how long we stayed. Knowing this, I was all for turning it into a glass parking lot and being done with it but that isn't the way we do things in a civilized world. A problem when the civilized world meets the uncivilized one.

I read an expert saying this was exactly the wrong time to leave. The three month delay put it right at the peak of traditional Taliban activity. They apparently don't do squat in the winter so a few months delay would have given the Afghan military time to unify and prepare without our assistance until the spring and summer of next year. I don't know if it's accurate or not but I do know that sneaking off in the middle of the night without telling anyone isn't conducive to a smooth transition.

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Not sure if captured or surrendered Attachment 119404

[Daan Kemp]

History shows that Afghanistan doesn't change. Powers outside the area wanting either to conquer or help. British, Soviet, and now the West, went in and left, usually with considerable losses. Almost immediately it reverted to what it was. Include clandestine aid, training, etc from the West during the Soviet occupation and it becomes even more involved.
Afghanistan was one of the reasons for the downfall of the Soviet empire.

[Gil Boyd]

Spare a thought for all those who embraced the western culture, in teaching young and older children in those last 20 years, making them realise what we valued in Democratic societies!!

It is those teachers now who face and uncertain future, and will sadly be fighting for their lives!

The millions of Dollars and Pounds and Euros spent to train their Police/Army and Air Force have IMHO been wasted as they clearly step away from any acknowledgement of wearing a uniform in search of democracy and peace.

Maybe the Taliban have changed in that 20 years, only time will tell.
I lost a lot of good friends in 2 PARA in that country, and 2 PARA are back there today as the UK's QRF at the airport and Embassy.................was it, and is it worth any losses one has to ask???