Afghan War Denialism

March 2024 Forums General discussion Afghan War Denialism

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  • #220044
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    The UK may be withdrawing most of its troops from Afghanistan but it was not defeated on the battlefield, Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter, the head of the British armed forces has said. It comes after the mother of the youngest British soldier to die there questioned what had been achieved.

    “I’d like to see with my own eyes, what did we achieve? What was the sacrifice for? Because it’s too high a price to pay.”

    According to the general,the Taliban were a “very cunning and nefarious opponent”

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57774012

    This after reports that the Afghan government army scurried into neighbouring Tajikstan for safety and the latest news that the Taliban have occupied a key crossing to Iran

    As well as the revelation that US withdrew from their major base at Bagram during the cover of darkness without the courtesy of informing the Afghan government with Biden conceding it is unlikely that the Afghan government will ever be capable of controlling the whole country

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57773120

    Nato/US cannot admit defeat

    #220045
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Picking up the pieces and dividing the spoils

    Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, met Taliban negotiators to discuss their intentions towards the country, and secured a joint statement saying the Taliban do not support attacks on civilians, schools, mosques and hospitals and want a negotiated settlement on Afghanistan’s future. Iran already hosts 780,000 registered Afghan refugees and that between 2.1 and 2.5 million undocumented Afghans live in Iran.

    Turkey has conditionally offered Turkish troops for a Nato-overseen project to protect Kabul international airport. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has offered to provide Turkish troops in a possible unlikely alliance with Hungary.

    Some analysts argue mass migration from Afghanistan caused by a Taliban insurgency might help the Iranian economy, and that Iran should not oppose a Taliban takeover.

    Saeed Laylaz, a prominent reformist-minded economist and adviser to previous governments, said: “Iran is facing a demographic crisis and I believe that the best, closest and least costly way to overcome this demographic crisis is to accept emigration from Afghanistan. Stability in Afghanistan is important for national security, contributing to the ageing crisis and Iran’s economy.

    “The Taliban could not have survived so long without genuine political support and they might now serve Iran’s regional diplomatic interests. The Taliban are no longer the Taliban of the past, they have also realised that we must interact with the world, we must cooperate with the countries of the region.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/09/iran-and-russia-move-to-fill-diplomatic-vacuum-in-afghanistan

    #220056
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Is Biden Haunted by Vietnam? Should He Be?

    They can not admit that they have been defeated like in Vietnam

    #220112
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Taliban are reported to have raised their flag above a key border post between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and claim it is now under their control. Pakistani officials confirmed the Taliban had taken the post. The Taliban took the border crossing with no resistance.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57818221

    I think perhaps we will witness a repeat of the Fall of Saigon, although perhaps the footage will lack the sight of NVA tanks and will be a bit more drawn out as towns and cities surrender to the Taliban

    #220115
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    There are many left wings organizations that are supporting the Taliban like they are a progressive movement. If they take over, they will become the ruling class of Afghanistan like the Vietcong in Vietnam, and the Chinese capitalist class is going to replace the USA capitalist class. They never learn their historical lessons

    #220121
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    The USA politicians do not have any integrity, the withdrawal of the troops from Afganistan was a plan approved by Donald Trump to take place in May and during his political campaign he said that he did not support any war and that he was going to end all USA wars ( although he authorized more bombardments than anybody else ) and peoples voted for that, and now the same politicians who approved those actions are against the withdrawal of the troops and the same ones who opposed the closing of the jails from Guantanamo

    #220240
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Taliban have gained “strategic momentum” in Afghanistan and now control about half the countryside as they drive to cut off population centres from the Western-backed government in Kabul, the United States’s top military general, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley told reporters

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/21/taliban-seek-to-cut-off-population-centres-top-us-general

    “This is going to be a test now, of the will and leadership of the Afghan people, the Afghan security forces and the government of Afghanistan,”

    #220244
    J Surman
    Participant

    Just finished a fascinating book – ‘Sikunder Burnes, master of the great game’ published 2015 by Craig Murray. Incredibly detailed history of GB, the East India Company and central character Alexander Burnes. c.1820-1840. True story of GB’s attempts to take over Afghanistan and block any Russian attempts to beat them. Massive troop numbers, incredible numbers of people required for support, 1000s of animals, all in the most difficult conditions. Plus the intrigue, spies, double agents, waiting for messages back and forth from India and GB (a 5 month’s journey) – and all ending in abject failure. Those who know of C Murray will know of his background in the diplomatic service – he notes a number of examples and politicians’ statements in very recent times which bear a startling resemblance to some of those nearly 2 centuries old mistakes. Recommended.

    #220254
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    On a personal note, Janet, my father being from an impoverished “tinker” family joined the army in 1936. His early posting was to India and to the Afghan region.

    Whenever news of the Russian intervention there in the 1980s was being reported he always said that they would be doomed to failure as the British.

    He died before the US invasion of 2001 but I am sure he would have been offering the same prediction.

    #220334
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    As was expected, American withdrawal did not mean peace nor the en to the US involvement.

    “The United States has increased air strikes in the support of Afghan forces over the last several days, and we are prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks,” General Kenneth McKenzie, head of the US Army Central Command, told reporters in Kabul.

    “The Taliban are attempting to create a sense of inevitability about their campaign. They are wrong,” he said.”Taliban victory is not inevitable.”

    https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210725-us-to-continue-air-strikes-to-support-afghan-forces-fighting-the-taliban-general-says

    #220550
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises people to “leave now by commercial means because of the worsening security situation”, adding: “The level of consular assistance the British embassy can provide in Afghanistan is extremely limited, including in a crisis. Do not rely on the FCDO being able to evacuate you from Afghanistan in an emergency. Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Afghanistan. Specific methods of attack are evolving and increasing in sophistication. You should note an overall increased threat to western interests in Kabul. Follow the instructions of local authorities. There is a high threat of kidnapping throughout the country.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/06/foreign-office-tells-britons-in-afghanistan-to-make-their-own-exit

    #220556
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    They are leaving but they continue dropping bombs and killing peoples Is this the president that was going to be moved to the left?

    The same old crap like bush, Obama and trump

    The actual president of the USA has a long history of supporting wars, killings, bombardments and invasions

    Donald Trump is a Boy Scout or altar boy compared to him

    #220558
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    All western powers with all their modern weapons have failed and have been defeated in Afghanistan. When are we going to learn from history ? When are we going to stop supporting our own class enemies ?

    #220630
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Despite all those reassuring diplomatic soundbites we got from the US press releases, US officials are now preparing for Kabul to fall “within 90 days”

    Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi warned of a possible refugee crisis.

    https://www.dw.com/en/afghanistan-us-warns-kabul-could-fall-within-90-days-live-updates/a-58827143

    #220631
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    The president of Afghanistan used to be called the president of Kabul, at the present time he is not even the president of his own house

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