Kabul Airport Explosion Hits Crowd Amid Afghan Evacuations
By: Yaroslav Trofimov, Sune Engel Rasmussen (MSN)
Developing.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
© Wali Sabawoon/Associated Press
An explosion ripped through a crowd of Afghans trying to enter Kabul airport, where the U.S. military is attempting to evacuate thousands of Americans and Afghans.
At least three U.S. troops were injured, a U.S. official said.
An Afghan man who was on the edge of the crowd, near the Baron camp adjacent to the airport, said the explosion occurred in the middle of thousands of people. He said he saw many maimed, bloodied people being brought out and was told of many fatalities.
Western governments have repeatedly warned of an imminent attack by Islamic State and urged their citizens not to approach the airport.
The blast came after several of America's allies said they were halting evacuation flights from Afghanistan, leaving behind citizens and thousands of Afghans who had been cleared for entry.
Airlift opportunities began disappearing amid warnings of an imminent terrorist attack, and as the U.S. began winding down operations in Kabul ahead of the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline. Desperate Afghans and foreign citizens still tried to reach Kabul's international airport but on Thursday morning found the roads blocked by Taliban checkpoints.
"Everything is over," said a 30-year-old teacher who tried to get to the airport. "They're not letting anyone pass, not even those with foreign passports or visas."
Thousands of Western citizens and permanent residents are still stranded in Afghanistan, and many fear that they will now be abandoned to face possible Taliban retribution. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that approximately 1,500 American citizens were still in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, and that Washington was in touch with some 500 of them, trying to organize evacuations.
Bismillah, a green-card holder residing in Sacramento, Calif., said he traveled to the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif to visit his parents Aug. 3 with his wife, also a U.S. permanent resident, and their 8-month-old son, a U.S. citizen. The family made their way to Kabul as the Afghan government collapsed on Aug. 15, but Bismillah, who declined to provide his last name, said he feared that his baby would be crushed to death in the crowds and didn't try to reach the airport.
"I feel like we are going to be left behind. I don't know what is going to happen next week—you cannot forecast even one day about what will happen in Afghanistan," said Bismillah, who worked for Amazon.com Inc. in California and is currently in Mazar-e-Sharif. "We are really worried about ourselves."
The halting of evacuation flights has come amid intelligence warnings of an imminent risk of terrorist attacks on Kabul airport by Islamic State. The U.K. late Wednesday warned its citizens to stay away from the airport because of the risk of an attack. The Foreign Office said in official advice for travelers that people shouldn't go to the airport and, if already there, should leave.
"The credibility of the reporting has reached the stage where we believe there is a very imminent, a highly lethal attack, possibly within Kabul," James Heappey, the U.K.'s armed forces minister, said in a broadcast interview earlier Thursday.
Italy said that its C-130 aircraft filled with Afghan refugees came under fire at takeoff on Thursday, but wasn't damaged. An Italian reporter aboard the plane said the pilot had to take evasive action.
The evacuations are ending as the Taliban cement their hold over the country. Though the Islamist movement's leaders have met with prominent figures from the fallen Afghan republic, such as former President Hamid Karzai and chief peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah, the visits were mostly courtesy and didn't discuss power sharing, a person familiar with the meetings said. Mr. Karzai, in particular, had been strongly advised not to leave his compound for his own safety, a soft form of house arrest, the person said.
Since Aug. 14, the day before the Taliban took control of Kabul, the U.S. has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 95,700 people from Afghanistan, the White House said. In the 24 hours ending at 3 a.m. ET Thursday, about 13,400 people were evacuated, approximately 5,100 of them on U.S. military flights, it said.
The Dutch Defense Ministry said in a letter Thursday to parliament that it would stop flight operations by the end of the day, hoping to evacuate several hundred people already inside the airport, with diplomatic staff and Dutch troops departing on the final flight. The ministry added that it was no longer able to assist its citizens and eligible Afghans in accessing the airport.
"This is a painful moment because it means that despite all the great efforts of the past period, people who are eligible for evacuation to the Netherlands will be left behind," the letter said. Those include Dutch citizens and Afghans who had worked with Dutch forces deployed as part of the U.S.-led coalition.
Poland, which has flown more than 900 Afghan citizens since the fall of Kabul, said it was also ending its evacuation program following decisions made by its allies, the U.S. and the U.K. "The situation is difficult, it is even dramatic, and more and more difficult with each hour," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Thursday.
The Italian Defense Ministry said its last flight would leave Kabul on Thursday night. Canada, too, said it had ended its evacuation effort. French Prime Minister Jean Castex told French radio RTL that the country would no longer be able to evacuate citizens after Friday. Danish Defense Minister Trine Bramsen said Wednesday that Denmark had already flown its last evacuation flight, and that it was no longer safe to fly in and out of Kabul. U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a broadcast interview that the country has 11 flights scheduled for Thursday but declined to say whether those would be the last, citing the need to protect troops on the ground.
Write to Yaroslav Trofimov at yaroslav.trofimov@wsj.com and Sune Engel Rasmussen at sune.rasmussen@wsj.com
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Suicide bomber. 3 US military injured.
Breaking news is chaotic even over at Al-Jazeera which is updating every 5 or so minutes. I won't add to the wild speculations.
Reported injuries are "wild speculation"?
My 'apologies', I did not get the message that fog and war divorced.
They divorced as soon as Biden and clusterfuck got married; which seemed like a much better match. Besides, the only thing that is in a fog is our President!
Funny how US Intelligence services were good enough to give advanced warning about this terrorist hit. But, aren't good enough to figure out where US civilians are(who all desperately want to get out. No matter what the mighty mental midget in the WH is saying); how many there are; and the best means of getting them out. It is almost like someone has their priorities fucked up.
Of course Afghans still died; and 3 US marines were still hurt. Seems threat of a terrorist hit is less frightening than living under the Taliban.
The State Department seems to like the game red light green light when it comes to telling US citizens and those Afghans that aided us when to try and get into the Karzai Airport. Unfortunately the Afghan security forces (yes, the same ones Biden berated repeatedly- and blame for this whole situation) are the ones in charge of the gate that is most easily accessible. They aren't letting in people with documents; but are giving free passes to people of their clan/tribe.
Want to see the real clusterfuck coming? Try leaving those Afghan security forces at the airport behind. They could make the final departures really "interesting".
The Biden Administration keeps saying this "isn't Saigon". No, this is a thousand times worse than Saigon.
I sadly fear this is just the beginning. I'm willing to bet there is far worse to come.
Once our US forces are forced to abandon Americans and allies on August 31 due to Biden's foreign policy incompetence, yes.
The Taliban, Al Qaeda, ISIS, and ISIS-K are all jockeying for control. "To the victor belong [go] the spoils".
Reportedly 4 USMC KIA, 3 injured, one critical. 33 civillians so far and 3 or 4 Taliban fighters.
I guess the Taliban don't have as good a grip on Kabul as they thought they did.
Yesterday, the Italian C-130 had to evade gunfire and RPGs.
The Dutch, Italians, Poles have all announced that their last flights out today will evacuate their military and diplomats only.
The French last flights are scheduled for Friday.
12 more killed in a separate blast. 11 Marines and 1 Navy Hospital Corpsman KIA making this the worst single day loss of American lives in Afghanistan in 10 years.
There was a blast when the bomber was being frisked by a team of USMC.
A lot of Marines, civilians and Taliban went down killed or stunned. As people started to stir, additional Marines ran into a hail of bullets from the far side of the street.
Marines and Taliban fought together to suppress the ISIS fighters. A second blast at the hotel killed a number of Afghans.
Unconfirmed reports are that the Taliban continued to fight Isis off and on for hours running through Kabul.
Currently 13 dead, 18 wounded.
Sad day.
[deleted]
They have been fighting each other for at least ten years and it was not unheard of for the Taliban to call the
Afghan police and ask for US air strikes against ISIS
In general, since the US abdicated last February, The Taliban has only been fighting ISIS.
It was mentioned again today that one reason the Taliban want to reset a relationship with the US
is for air power to be used against ISIS.
The Taliban isn't hard core Islam enough for the ISIS religious extremists who want women returned to
Medieval status as property.
Tricky, sticky situation (no longer my responsibility), sort of falls under the enemy of my enemy is my ally this
week situation. Happened all over the Balkans when we were embroiled in that fiasco.
Two separate issues there.
First I did not see it or allow it.
Second I cannot act upon flags in a thread where I participate. The software prevents it.
I can however, reflag it on your behalf.
Yes that was a bizarre interview. That's apparently what the Taliban believe though.
RIP Brothers.
Three MARINES were wounded by a suicide bomber at the airport. One reportedly in serious condition.
A second bomb exploded at the location of the exfiltration location the other night 200 yards (two football field lengths) from the airport where American forces picked up trapped Americans.
America is now in full retreat from a bunch of terrorists.
Thanks to the Commander in Chief, Joe Biden who never before even wore the uniform of a boy scout.
Jen Psaki:
This is part of the plan. Everything is perfect.
Who was the last Commander and Chief that was a member of the military?
George H. W. Bush
George W. Bush was the last PotUS who was a member of the military. Before him ... his father. How does your question relate to comment 2 ?
It doesn't.
It does?
Comment 2 mentions neither G. H. W. Bush nor G. W. Bush. It does, however, address Joe Biden and the utter failure of his Afghanistan withdrawal which has left US citizens and our allies either DEAD or stranded in what is now enemy territory .
It was just a swoop and poop comment.........................
It just shows that a military history is not needed for the position of POTUS, and in fact is getting rarer and rarer to see. That is why they have advisers that DO have military experience.
You just completely skipped over the last sentence, didn't you?
I don't think that's true. While 4 out of the last 5 had no military experience, the previous 9 before them all did. As a matter of fact the majority of our presidents have. If you look at lists of the best presidents in our history, generally the only one in the top ten that doesn't have personal military experience is FDR.
I always do, and indeed, it is.
Maybe those advisors advice should be heeded?
In comment 2.2.6 I replied to comment 2.2.4 , which contains only one sentence.
To bad he didn't listen to them, now he's gotten 12 service members killed along with a number of other people. He is unfit to command. How Joe Biden went his own way on Afghanistan withdrawal - CNNPolitics
Which part isn't true?
If we end up in another large war, you will probably see an influx of candidates with military experience. However, it has been shown, that as long as POTUS, surrounds himself with competent advisers, and is willing to listen to those advisers, he does not need military experience himself.
And now you have to prove that their advise was not heeded. Remember, advisers don't make the decisions, they can recommend actions, and they can help implement actions, but they are there simply to advise.
But your comment directly referenced comment 2.0.
That it's getting rarer and rarer.
I need prove nothing, especially to you.
Well, it's been 3 in a row now. Guess will just have to wait and see how it goes in the future.
And you never ever ever do.....
13, but who is counting?
Did you bitch about any of the 60 deaths in Afghanistan under Trump?
Did you declare Trump unfit to command?
Of course not.
Did you bitch about the civilian causalities?
btw, military advisers give advice to minimize losses, no one ever guarantees zero hurt. No one.
Apples and oranges Split and you know it.
The 60 was during a four year term of Trump and they were battle casualties, in the field, against fortified enemies.
13 is one day in the life of Biden at two locations by suicide bombers.
Not even in the same ballpark.
Body bags are body bags 1st, doesn't matter if my USMC nephew was blown up by the Taliban
or suffered a hernia unloading a truck and bled out in his sleep ( true story ).
Were you there this morning? The first blast killed and stunned a number USMC , civilian & Taliban.
When the rest of the squad moved in with a Corpsman, ISIS fighters began firing at the Marines killing many including the Corpsman.
The second explosion killed Afghan civilians and brought the Taliban and Marines together in the beginning of a fire
fight that the Taliban apparently continued, chasing the Isis fighters for an hour through the city.
Bombs and guns, same expectations, same ballpark, same shit hole country that has had similar attacks against
civilian marketplaces and weddings every fucking year we were there.
Trump wasn't directing the war, Biden is directing the withdrawal. He chose a bad plan that got people killed, he had better, safer options that he ignored.
Huh? WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, 9/11, 600k from Covid? But 12 killed in a bombing and suddenly, "He's unfit to command"? Really?
It's weird that up to that point, at the very end, not one person had died and the right wing refused to say anything about it. But... One bombing, 12 dead and he's suddenly a monster.
Faux outrage.
There is NO WAR. Trump & Pompeo threw in the towel last year without telling the duly elected government.
You have only opinions, no facts. They apparently took the safest way out.
Lol... The irony here
At this point, in all likelihood any and all remaining Americans, allies and SIV holding Afghans will be abandoned.
The terrorists will push attacks and we will draw down any and all remaining personnel at the airport. Only people currently at the airport will be evacuated.
Americans will now need to depend on Military-CIA covert operations in addition to some ongoing private rescue operations to escape Afghanistan.
Afghans that aided America and her allies will have to find their own way out. Pakistan or even China might be their only options left.
In full agreement except the last sentence.
The ISIS K territories are all along the Pakistan border and the Wakhan Corridor is only 8 miles wide
making it pretty easy to blockade if ISIS extended their influence that far.
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan through the mountains to the north
or Iran to the west are more likely paths to freedom because the Taliban control those points.
This is so heartbreaking.
It's beyond heartbreaking to me, Sunshine. This debacle was completely avoidable if Biden and his administration's agencies had paid attention MONTHS ago instead of obsessing over masks, Covid mandates, tax hikes, and wokeism.
In 2014, Robert Gates, Obama's Secretary of Defense, warned us about how disastrous Biden has been on national and foreign policies.
Hell 2014.
Here's his former boss, Obama in 2020: Speaking to Politico about Obama's concerns, one aide recalled him saying: “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to fuck things up.”
Obama had a front row seat into the stumbling bumbling incompetence of Joe Biden.
Yet Obama still endorsed and campaigned for Biden.
Party over everything; including country.
That was in respect to Joe Biden recommending 10,000 troops to help get us out of the shithole
as opposed to Obama and the entire Joint Chiefs sending 40,00 to promote nation building.
Joe was right, Obama was wrong.
Admiral Mike Mullen was wrong and now admits it.
Biden is a moron. He is now and has been all of his pathetic segregationist racist career.
Why in the hell are we putting up with this!
I don't care if the suicide bomber was Al Qaeda; ISIS/ISIL, or ISIS K (like Biden keeps spouting off about). The bomber went past how many different Taliban check points and was never stopped or searched? They either let the bomber through on purpose; or they are incompetent and just don't give a damn. Either way they are responsible.
Wonder how the alternate reality the Biden administration is in is going to spin this!
The people aren't putting up with it. But, the Democrats obviously are. They're using it as top cover to push their agenda hoping the people don't see what they're doing.
Very true. The Taliban are most certainly responsible. But as Blinken said, the Taliban are in control. I wonder how that happened!?!
It will probably be noted it was a celebratory fireworks display that gort out of control. The "Pentagon" briefing has been delayed. They're working on spin control talking points.
I hope the Democrats aren't that jaded; but there is no arguing that they are using this crisis to their full advantage passing the reconciliation porkulus bill.
Wonder what their next crisis will be to distract from whatever else they need done?
Taiwan should be very, very, afraid.
Jim,
I must ask you, what do you think they are doing in DC?
This massive mess can be just what it is... a massive mess.
Lately, all of their "delays" are around 3 to 5 hours. Lots of daily "spin" to figure out!
Hopes get dashed on the rocks like ocean waves.
A "massive mess"? Yes, but it's not that simple. Innocent people have been paying for the Biden Administration's "massive mess" with their BLOOD flowing in the streets. There are still tens of thousands of US citizens as well as US allies and Afghans who helped us for 20 years who are stranded all over Afghanistan.
Yes it is a massive mess. And that's it.
We won't know what is happening in DC for awhile due to the coverage of the massive mess.
It's being covered, but it's not headline news.
"the coverage of the massive mess" is a massive mess unto itself.
One has to wonder why.
15 out of 25 stories on my MSN home page scrolling news box.
The pic on the right shows only one of many Napa Valley super-spreader donor tables.
Here's one....................
Please look at the front pages of FNC, NYT, WaPo, NY Post, Washington Times, LA Times, BBC. If you need links, I'll be happy to provide them.
Patently false.
And you have evidence of this? And please don't use the State Department as your evidence.
There are Americans in more places than Kabul. They are in fact ALL OVER AFGHANISTAN as they cannot travel safely to Kabul.
Do NOT cherry pick comment 5.1.6. I posted:
He cherry picked my comment 5.1.6 and omitted the most important parts.
Very poor sentence structure, I think you know that; "as well as" is not the same as "and".
They all had 18 months to make other arrangements.
The only people I will weep for are the USMC who lost their lives today.
People are dying do to this Presidents actions and you're worried about sentence structure.
In your opinion which is fine. I disagree.
Maybe different actions would have resulted in 800 or 8,000 dead, or eight more years in this shit hole country.
This is the path that was chosen. Every person in uniform on the ground knows what they signed up for.
Every C-17 pilot and co-pilot is an Air Force Reserve officer who volunteered for the airlift knowing that they would be
taking ground fire at some point and still they volunteered.
( And it is "due" not "do". )
I weep for the Marines as well the Navy Corpsman who lost their lives. Many people are not aware that front line Marines never go anywhere, especially into a combat situation, without their Navy FMF Corpsmen!
I weep with you Ed.
I luv my Corpsman - damn fine, brave person.
Someone just suicide bombed Joe's approval numbers. Under water Joe and buried Kamalalala are making Jimmy Carter look like Kennedy.
FOUR MARINES KILLED.
GREAT WORK BIDEN. The blood of these brave Marines are on YOUR HANDS.
YOUR INCOMPETENCE IS COSTING LIVES.
This has been a quagmire from the get go. I’m surprised it took this long for the suicide bombers to get in on it.
It takes time to build the bombs and then convince someone to sacrifice their life for the "cause". Have you ever noticed it's not the people running the show that do the sacrificing? It also takes time to get the necessary numbers of innocents gathered to make it worth the time and effort of bomb building and convincing.
I doubt there was much choice. Strap this bomb on or get beheaded.
Sometimes there is no coercion. They're simply zealots willing to die for the cause.
So very true!
This just in. 4 US Marines among the fatalities in Kabul.
Nothing but sacrificial lambs to the "skill" -s- of the moron in chief currently infecting the White House.
Whoops didn't see your post above while I was posting this one. Sorry.
Not to worry.
I'm fascinated by the constant need of some to divert from current disasters unfolding in front of their eyes with stories about lawyers, super spreader events, and the like. The diversions will not work for any with an ability to think independently. All I hope is that this country survives long enough for rational people to attempt to undo the damage currently being wrought by the radicals.
They are following the instructions to a "T". Overwhelm the system. I wonder if this current situation was actually considered as a viable means to achieve that end.
Some of us are wise enough not to play Thursday morning generals.
Ahh, because of that broader view of history as it unfolds and such right? Seems to me that those more interested in mitigating the current trials and tribulations might save more lives.
Knee Jerk reactions will get you into a lot more trouble and a lot more quickly. I'm getting the feeling it is what a number of you are hoping for.
Some of us with a military career behind us are sufficiently wise. A newly minted Lieutenant would not have made the blunders this "Commander in chief" accomplished. In fact, this could have easily been prevented had Biden 1- followed the Trump plan or 2- failing that listened to the advice of his military.
Care to drop some names?
I read it and wouldn't have followed it into a strip bar.
Mine. 28 years. 1968 to 1996.
If you want more than that, KMA.
Interesting that you say this. Last week, I watched the interviews of 3 US Generals say the same thing.
It is not difficult. Anyone that has even gone through basic training is taught and knows you don't cede the high ground or a secure position as that will invariably wind up being the cause of your own death.
Biden ignored the advice of his military advisors and by doing so is responsible not for his death, but for the deaths of American military and Afghan civilians in Kabul.
[deleted]
[deleted]
[16 points for the ugly personal threat]
[Next comment like this will be an instant vacation of indeterminant length]
Me
US Navy 1985-2005
8 6 month deployments to the Persian Gulf and God knows how many shorter deployments elsewhere around the world.
TYFYS ... and how many SNAFUs did you experience?
Unfortunately, all too often. Thankfully, I never saw any combat, but I did control aircraft from carriers and got to see raw footage of things go boom when they crew returned.
Pretty cool thing to see.
Myself as well. U.S. Navy FMF Hospital Corpsman from 1973 - 1993. Vietnam through the 1st Gulf War. I've been around the block a few times as well.
Very depressing....
It sounds like they've stopped all civilian evacs. Getting those last troops out will be terrifying.
I'm sure the Taliban would be very happy to have a downed plane be the enduring symbol of them chasing us out of the country in the most humiliating way possible.
That is an understatement if I ever heard one.
That is true. They're also now redoing security checks of all of the people currently on the tarmac to make sure nothing "slipped" through.
I would hope that they have massive air power deployed to protect the aircraft as they take off. Develop a wide perimeter and make sure they know it will be a kill zone when the aircraft take off.
They're already making the claim that we are running, and properly so, as we ARE being run out of the country with our tail between our legs by a bunch of terrorist due to the moron in chief running the show.
If it were almost any other president (outside of Kamala Harris) downing a US plane when we are leaving the country would be a death sentence for the Taliban, Al Qaeda, ISIS/ISIL, or ISIS special K. (Sorry how many damn factions of the same organization are there. And who the hell is coming up with these names?)
With Hiden Biden as President who the hell knows what we will get? He might apologize to the Taliban for damaging their runway!
"ISIL" made news during Obama's time. It was his way to include "the Levant" (ISIS changed to ISIL) ... meaning Israel ... into the Islamic terrorist organization known as ISIS.
ISIS-K has apparently been a weak, little-known, Islamic terrorist group since Obama's 2nd term. It's obviously flourished in northeastern Afghanistan and is now strong enough to duel with the Taliban and Al Qaeda for control.
Anyone remember this?
"We’ve been able — we’ve made — look, we’ve made clear to the Taliban that any attack — any attack on our forces or disruption of our operations at the airport will be met with a swift and forceful response."
I'll be looking for it............................oh wait. We'll have to steal our equipment back.
JUST REPORTED...
AT LEAST TEN AMERICAN MILITARY DEAD IN KABUL AIRPORT ATTACKS
The blood on your hands is covering your entire being Biden. HANG your head in shame.
They where sitting ducks.
Hit 20 Taliban targets, high ranking targets, and let them know that if they dont contain ISIS, we will, and Taliban/Isis look awfually similar to us.
Agreed, but the Biden administration will never do that.
Why are we bowing to the Taliban? I don't care if they do now have advanced US military weaponry. I guarantee they don't have pilots to fly the Black Hawks, or anyone specialized enough to operate the drones. We have predator drones that can take pretty much everything down. Of course they have to travel 8 plus hours over Pakistan from their base in the ME because we stupidly moved our fleet it seems. Otherwise we could bring a much larger arsenal against them.
Seems Biden is willing to let the Taliban have Afghanistan and everything they acquired in the takeover.
Who do you think got our equipment in North Korea and South Vietnam?
The victors.
We quit and abandoned our equipment like the British and Russians before us.
You are right though.
All of their pilots have defected and they aren't particularly competent mechanically.
Within 2 years most of the stuff will be rusted or broken beyond use.
I'm not a military person, nor am I a political strategist, so can someone please tell me why, when the intention was to evacuate so many people, the Kandahar and Bagram air bases were closed? It just doesn't make any sense to me.
One of many questions that bother me.
Bagram as an air field requires about 8,000 combat troops and 18,000 contractors
By January Trump & Miller had the troop level down to 2,500 including the embassy and Kabul
Essentially 1,500 combat troops to protect the dismantling of anything worthwhile flying off to other bases
1,500 divided by 2 or 3 shifts protecting 8,000 contractor about 4,500 of whom were locals
It was also under routine rocket attacks
It's wide open out there, lots of space to launch rockets against planes full of evacuees.
The Base was evacuated around 07/02/21and 'handed over' to the Afghan Security force 07/15/21
The crux of the matter is that everyone expected a little more backbone from the F
Afghanis
and of course they just disappeared into the night,
You should include the year behind that 7/2 and 7/15? By your post you are acting like Trump and Miller closed it; when it was really Biden.
Also, if you read what I linked there is a damn good reason they disappeared into the night; because that is what Biden did to them. Leaving them behind with no air and logistical support and only small arms to defend the base with. What the fuck did they think was going to happen? Love the way the left blames Trump for Biden losing 5000 prisoners as well.
I corrected the dates for any morons that did not follow the time line.
I would also suggest that since the Trump Treaty was signed by Pompeo and members of the Taliban,
that it was the Taliban who were notified.
The Afghans did not have to release those prisoners but they did.
Be honest for once.
If Biden had reneged on the Taliban deal and our military had any deaths or injuries
you would be just as bent out of shape as you are now,
There is no easy or perfect solution
only 2 more days of hand wringing
before we find out what the Taliban are made of.
I do not have high expectations but one can hope,
WTF! Why would Biden notify the Taliban; and not the Afghan military and government? Where is the smooth transition from US control to Afghan military control? Sneaking out in the dead of night; and turning off the lights at the base what idiot does that? Seems the local looters were aware of the US plans on leaving though.
The Afghans didn't, they fled. The Taliban did, when they took over w/o a fight.
You be honest. Trump's plan never called for Bagram to be evacuated until the withdrawal deadline. Biden made a unilateral decision to extend the withdrawal date to 8/31. It was Biden's decision to vacate Bagram before the deadline, and with civilians still all over Afghanistan. Biden could have put more troops into Bagram at any time. Would 8,000 US marines that were put into Karzai Airport be enough to hold it? Plus air support since Bagram could have supported drones, jets, and Apaches and Black Hawks. Karzai Airport has no US air defense; because it can't support it. It is everything it can do just to get the evacuation aircraft in and out.
No, there isn't thanks to Biden's miscues at every level we are left with trying to use Karzai Airport. I hope Biden and his team have a plan for getting the last few plane loads of troops out. The first option would be air support; but we don't have any. The only option left is going to be a lot of prayers for the troops. A moron with an RPG could take down one aircraft easily and scuttle the operation; and leave the remaining troops stranded.
We already know what they are made of. They released 5,000 prisoners from Bagram; including ISIS/ISIL, ISIS-K, and Al Qaeda. They are stopping US citizens and those that aided us at their check points and not allowing them to reach the airport. They allowed ISIS K terrorists past their check points to attack the airport. They are our enemy, period. The fact that Biden has entrusted them with the security of our troops, and the safe passage of those we need to get out is ridiculous. Only two more days until US civilians will be stranded on their own in Afghanistan. That thought makes one proud to be an American./S
Hope if for suckers. Hope is what you have left when all of your plans fail miserably; and there is nothing left.
Another question - about pulling out most of the troops before making sure all the civilian Americans and Afghan helpers and their families were evacuated?
Ross Wilson, the Ambassador has been hounding Americans to get out since March.
They just would not listen
or get the vaccine or wear masks
/s
Maybe because Biden was singing a far different tune; and they were stupid enough to listen to him since he is the PotUS. They won't make that mistake ever again.
Or keep the Southern Border closed and allowed the biggest super spreader event ever. (Sorry, no sarc tag; because sadly that is the absolute truth.)