Afghanistan poll

[MD Jazz]

Kabul falls to the Taliban and the president frees.

here is the taliban statement


"We have reached what we were seeking, which is the freedom of our country and the independence of our people," he said.

"We will not allow anyone to use our lands to target anyone, and we do not want to harm others.

"We do not think that foreign forces will repeat their failed experience in Afghanistan once again.

"We assure everyone that we will provide safety for citizens and diplomatic missions. We are ready to have a dialogue with all Afghan figures and will guarantee them the necessary protection."

im sure that means girls and women can pursue their education and women can continue to play sport etc. we will see.

 

[Harry]

Well that was a waste of time. Can someone remind me why the allies invaded Afghanistan?

 

[craig]

Well that was a waste of time. Can someone remind me why the allies invaded Afghanistan?

Maybe it had something to do with the huge opium trade and the huge amount of opium produced from their poppy fields.

 

[Harry]

Maybe it had something to do with the huge opium trade and the poppy fields.

Have they dried up?

 

[craig]

I wouldn't be jumping the gun over the US withdrawal.

Crash Test Dummy Joe (well his handlers) may well send the GI's back in or as a response to something to give them the excuse to do so.

War is a racket and a massive money maker, so is opium, and Afghanistan provides both.

Much like how War and Oil makes alot of money for those in the seats of power and the US being in the Middle East.

 

[Redford]

Not sure what the point was. 20 years of conflict and the country seems to be in the exact same position as when it started. The Taliban looks like they will have control of the country in a short period.

It’s all been for nought.

As big a waste of time as the totally bogus WMD invasion at the same time eh Chimpley ? I dunno. You and Punxatwaney Phil back then....geez.

 

[Harry]

I wouldn't be jumping the gun over the US withdrawal.

Crash Test Dummy Joe (well his handlers) may well send the GI's back in or as a response to something to give them the excuse to do so.

War is a racket and a massive money maker, so is opium, and Afghanistan provides both.

Much like how War and Oil makes alot of money for those in the seats of power and the US being in the Middle East.

Yeah, maybe the yanks will go back in to test some of the new toys they've been developing and justify the massive defence contracts. Maybe they just needed a refill of new targets. Doesn't matter that they've left behind a lame duck to get slaughtered.

 

[MB78]

So sad to see footage and videos of what’s happening over there. There are going to be thousands of people killed while millions will have a lower quality life especially if you are female.


But there some shock bemusement in me that there hasn’t been enough passion and preparedness for the government and its people who have had a whole generation to be self sufficient to stand on their own against this evil.

 

[Sintiger]

Maybe it had something to do with the huge opium trade and the huge amount of opium produced from their poppy fields.

Which was how the taliban made money the last time around and we will see that it booms again. There is too money to be made by a corrupt government for that not to be the case.

The official reason for the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was of course to go after Osama Bin Laden

 

[eZyT]

But there some shock bemusement in me that there hasn’t been enough passion and preparedness for the government and its people who have had a whole generation to be self sufficient to stand on their own against this evil.

I think The People were passionate and prepared,

but the politicians and military leaders were corrupt *smile*.

probably selling UN supplies to the Taliban I suppose.

same old story.

A cautionary tale for voting for, and tolerating, corrupt, incompetent *smile* who dont give a *smile* about you.

did they ever vote? I dunno

 

[Baloo]

probably selling UN supplies to the Taliban I suppose.

No suppose about it. I have a mate who is filing media reports from Kabul at the moment. He's not surprised that the Taliban ran over the top so quickly. Apparently the Taliban soldiers are well fed and good equipment whereas the government soldiers are starving and shoddy equipment.

Someone has made some decent money diverting supplies to the black market where the Taliban do their grocery shopping.

 

[scottyturnerscurse]

Australia negotiating landing spot at Kabul airport for rescue mission

Australia is desperately trying to negotiate a landing spot at Kabul airport to rescue hundreds of Australians and Afghans after the Taliban captured the capital.

www.theage.com.au

Shouldn't be a problem, Scotty says we're at the front of the queue.

 

[DavidSSS]

What a f*** up.

Removed the Taliban from power but complete mess afterwards. Taliban bided their time knowing that the foreigners would not be there for the long haul.

Too much tolerance of corruption, especially of any warlord who looked like they might not be on the side of the Taliban.

Not enough building civilian capacity.

Installed an unpopular President and little motivation for the people to support the government so the government was very weak.

You invade you need a plan for post-invasion, they had no plan. Then they invaded Iraq for some unknown reason.

So many people will suffer, but the notion that the invasion had anything to do with women's rights is contradicted by continuing support for the Saudi regime.

DS

 

[leon]

Australia negotiating landing spot at Kabul airport for rescue mission

Australia is desperately trying to negotiate a landing spot at Kabul airport to rescue hundreds of Australians and Afghans after the Taliban captured the capital.

www.theage.com.au

Shouldn't be a problem, Scotty says we're at the front of the queue.

Nothing to worry about - all under control. Just like Covid in NSW and Canberra ... just like all Australians to be fully vaccinated very soon with no issues with Vaccine supply.
No worries at all.

 

[leon]

What a f*** up.

Removed the Taliban from power but complete mess afterwards. Taliban bided their time knowing that the foreigners would not be there for the long haul.

Too much tolerance of corruption, especially of any warlord who looked like they might not be on the side of the Taliban.

Not enough building civilian capacity.

Installed an unpopular President and little motivation for the people to support the government so the government was very weak.

You invade you need a plan for post-invasion, they had no plan. Then they invaded Iraq for some unknown reason.

So many people will suffer, but the notion that the invasion had anything to do with women's rights is contradicted by continuing support for the Saudi regime.

DS

Yep, the USA is basically a moral vacuum. They poured billions into a war effort in this country, wasted the lives of 2,372 U.S. military deaths with 20,320 American service members also wounded in action, along with at least 3846 contractors killed. More than 110,000 Afghan lives lost; possibly far more.

All for ... what? To find and kill OSBL? Is that what it took? Is that what it was all about? What an incredible waste of peoples' lives. Just think how else those billions* of $$ could have been put to good use, like reducing world poverty or the effects of climate change?

The USA is really a disaster of a nation. With the unerring economic and political rise of totalitarian China in the face of systemic US incompetence and decline, it leaves me deeply concerned for our future.

* Actually just looked it up - an estimated $2.26 trillion

 

[Giardiasis]

Another example in a long list of expansive foreign policy failures. Bravo to Biden for at least going through with the withdraw. It's tIme for the US to start pulling back their troops from other countries.

 

[artball]

Removed the Taliban from power but complete mess afterwards. Taliban bided their time knowing that the foreigners would not be there for the long haul.

Trump releasing 5000 Taliban prisoners in early 2020 didn't help. They just went straight back into fighting.

 

[Harry]

Hoping Bush Blair and Howard can sleep peacefully at night knowing thousands of innocent people have been and will be slaughtered. I'm sure they will.

 

[22nd Man]

I think The People were passionate and prepared,

but the politicians and military leaders were corrupt *smile*.

probably selling UN supplies to the Taliban I suppose.

same old story.

A cautionary tale for voting for, and tolerating, corrupt, incompetent *smile* who dont give a *smile* about you.

did they ever vote? I dunno

Wel, one thing for sure is they won't be getting vote anytime soon.

 

[22nd Man]

Hoping Bush Blair and Howard can sleep peacefully at night knowing thousands of innocent people have been and will be slaughtered. I'm sure they will.

Rudd, Gillard could have pulled them out.