The withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

[Ernie]

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Transc ... jr-hold-a/
McKenzie on 8-30-21

GEN. MCKENZIE: So, we, no American citizens came out on the last, what we call, the joint tactical exfiltration; the last five jets to leave. We maintained the ability to bring them in up until immediately before departure, but we were not able to bring any Americans out. That activity ended probably about 12 hours before our exit, although we continue the outreach and would have been prepared to bring them on until the very last minute. But none of them made it to the airport, and were able to be -- and were able to be accommodated.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pol ... 672669001/
Biden on 8-31-21

Since March, we reached out 19 times to Americans in Afghanistan with multiple warnings and offers to help them leave Afghanistan. All the way back as far as March. After we started the evacuation 17 days ago, we did initial outreach and analysis and identified around 5,000 Americans who had decided earlier to stay in Afghanistan but now wanted to leave.

Our Operation Allied Rescue ended up getting more than 5,500 Americans out. We got out thousands of citizens and diplomats from those countries that went into Afghanistan with us to get bin Laden. We got out locally employed staff in the United States Embassy and their families, totaling roughly 2,500 people. We got thousands of Afghan translators and interpreters, and others who supported the United States out, as well.

Now we believe that about 100 to 200 Americans remain in Afghanistan with some intention to leave. Most of those who remain are dual citizens, longtime residents who had earlier decided to stay because of their family roots in Afghanistan. The bottom line? Ninety percent of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to leave. And for those remaining Americans, there is no deadline. We remain committed to get them out if they want to come out.

[Ernie]

From the OP

This is a thread to discuss the withdrawal, and only that.
Other matters related to the war, the capability of the Afghan government, and whether you think the US should continue the war, should be discussed elsewhere. If there are things you don't like about Trump or Biden as well as Republicans or Democrats, please discuss those matters elsewhere as well.

Please stick to this very narrow topic. Thank you.

Just a reminder that we have another thread for those who want to discuss the 20 year war or refugees or political persuasions.

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=4039

[Jess77]

The most recent news reports were that the US military used drones to remotely take out an ISIS car bomb that was headed to the airport. The subsequent explosions of the car bomb on the street killed innocent bystanders, mostly a nearby family who were getting into their own car.

I'm not sure what else the US military should have done. The ISIS suicide bomber who killed 170 at the airport was just wearing a suicide vest. This car bomb was many times larger and could have killed hundreds had it gotten through to the airport where there are crowds milling about. Sometimes in war there are no good choices, only less bad ones.

My fear in all of this is that the US no longer has intelligence in Afghanistan. The US was depending on the Taliban to provide them with intelligence. How do we know that these people the US took out were really a car bomb and not someone the Taliban just wanted to get rid of?

[Ken]

The most recent news reports were that the US military used drones to remotely take out an ISIS car bomb that was headed to the airport. The subsequent explosions of the car bomb on the street killed innocent bystanders, mostly a nearby family who were getting into their own car.

I'm not sure what else the US military should have done. The ISIS suicide bomber who killed 170 at the airport was just wearing a suicide vest. This car bomb was many times larger and could have killed hundreds had it gotten through to the airport where there are crowds milling about. Sometimes in war there are no good choices, only less bad ones.

My fear in all of this is that the US no longer has intelligence in Afghanistan. The US was depending on the Taliban to provide them with intelligence. How do we know that these people the US took out were really a car bomb and not someone the Taliban just wanted to get rid of?

We know it was a car-bomb because of the secondary explosions of all the explosives packed into the car. As to what it's target was if not the airport? Who knows. Maybe a school, marketplace or a mosque? Those or the other kinds of things that they car bomb. But the airport where US troops and US allies were evacuating does seem the most logical target by far doesn't it?

[Josh]

The most recent news reports were that the US military used drones to remotely take out an ISIS car bomb that was headed to the airport. The subsequent explosions of the car bomb on the street killed innocent bystanders, mostly a nearby family who were getting into their own car.

I'm not sure what else the US military should have done. The ISIS suicide bomber who killed 170 at the airport was just wearing a suicide vest. This car bomb was many times larger and could have killed hundreds had it gotten through to the airport where there are crowds milling about. Sometimes in war there are no good choices, only less bad ones.

My fear in all of this is that the US no longer has intelligence in Afghanistan. The US was depending on the Taliban to provide them with intelligence. How do we know that these people the US took out were really a car bomb and not someone the Taliban just wanted to get rid of?

(a) Why should the U.S. have its intelligence operatives in every remote corner of the globe?

(b) How is it our business who was behind the car bomb?

[Jess77]

(a) Why should the U.S. have its intelligence operatives in every remote corner of the globe?

(b) How is it our business who was behind the car bomb?

Considering that the US blew it up, I'd say that it is the USA's business. Now if you are talking about yourself specifically, than probably not any of your business. To the families of those who died in the suicide bombing just a few days prior, it is also their business.

Romans 13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will [a]bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

Why should the US have intelligence operatives all over the globe? Because it is the job of the government to keep its citizens safe and alliances with allies and intelligence operatives in every remote corner of the globe, help make that possible.

[Josh]

(a) Why should the U.S. have its intelligence operatives in every remote corner of the globe?

(b) How is it our business who was behind the car bomb?

Considering that the US blew it up, I'd say that it is the USA's business. Now if you are talking about yourself specifically, than probably not any of your business. To the families of those who died in the suicide bombing just a few days prior, it is also their business.

Romans 13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will [a]bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

Why should the US have intelligence operatives all over the globe? Because it is the job of the government to keep its citizens safe and alliances with allies and intelligence operatives in every remote corner of the globe, help make that possible.

Should the Taliban have its own intelligence operatives running around America, too?

[Robert]

Should the Taliban have its own intelligence operatives running around America, too?

I think they were on the last plane out.

[Jess77]

Should the Taliban have its own intelligence operatives running around America, too?

That's not really a legit question. What I suspect you are actually asking is whether I feel comfortable with the thought of them having intelligence operatives running around America.

[Josh]

Should the Taliban have its own intelligence operatives running around America, too?

That's not really a legit question. What I suspect you are actually asking is whether I feel comfortable with the thought of them having intelligence operatives running around America.

Well, you said Afghanis should be OK with the CIA running covert operations in their country. So is the reverse OK or not?

I don’t think a global spy state is a good thing, and neither do many experts in these fields. It’s not exactly a fringe opinion. Organisations like the KGB, ISI, CIA, and G2 don’t really do anything to help their countries or people. They just help themselves.