Fighting across northern Afghanistan continued after massive weekend losses,with a sixth provincial capital having fallen to the Taliban. This time, the small town of Aybak, capital of Samangan, fell Monday afternoon.
It’s not as big of a loss as cities like Sar-e Pul and Kunduz, but shows that the Taliban’s huge weekend offensive did not necessarily with the weekend. This continues a trend that could rapidly leave the north of Afghanistan in Taliban hands.
In addition to those cities, the Taliban also took Sheberghan, Taloqan, and the southwestern capital of Nimruz. The Afghan government is focusing on a new propaganda push, focusing on selling the idea that losing five capitals in two days isn’t that big a deal.
Losing all these cities, including Kunduz and the already fallen Lashkar Gah, is already a big deal, and with the Taliban pushing on places like Herat, more could be lost. Afghan forces are off-balance and the Taliban is showing surprising confidence.
The loss of Aybak is another blow to the situation, doubly so because MPs say it fell without a fight. It’s not a big city, but given all the territory losses it would be strange for the government to not at least try to muster a defense.
The Taliban issued a statement later Sunday saying there had been no deal on a ceasefire yet, and warning the US against any further intervention. The Biden Administration has ordered B-52 bombers into the mix, and past comments suggest they’re going to continue to intervene to prevent a total Taliban victory.
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2021/08/08/can-they-learn-another-us-wargame-defeat/
Can They Learn? Another US Wargame Defeat.
Only thing they will learn is to double down.
And US officials now insist everyone must promise not to recognize any government imposed on Afghanistan by force. Apparently they are immune to irony, and the most basic recent history.
Yes, the same Imperialist States of Amerikastan that has been toppling governments by force from Grenada to Libya and Iraq to Afghanistan is….against anyone recognising a government imposed by force.
I’m eagerly awaiting the collapse of Amerikastan and the coups that will follow.
And who do you think will suffer most when that collapse happens? Any of the people responsible for Grenada, Libya, Iraq or Afghanistan? There are 330 million of us and we all aren’t warmongering pigs.
I agree, not all of us are warmongering swine.
That said, in some ways, I have more sympathy for the average frustrated German during the fall of the Third Reich than I do for myself and my fellow citizens, for the average frustrated American has more freedom to make change than did the German of that time, and America never was in as stark a condition as was Germany in 1933.
“the average frustrated American has more freedom to make change”
Yes, but to a point. Reach that point and it’s prison or death. Death if you’re lucky.
Point taken, but as long as the suffering happens to other people, the average frustrated American can’t even bother to get frustrated.
Of course, Germans used to be all about Blood and Iron and Tomorrow the World! until the Red Army paid them a home visit, whereupon they transmogrified into pacifist metrosexuals, stat.
That’s all right, you’ll be better off without spending your taxes enriching the zionist entity and Wall Street.
That will be the least of my worries. But maybe your version of “better off” is different then mine.
“Falls” or “liberated?”
Meanwhile, I read today that another provincial capital is in Taliban hands.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/10/taliban-seizes-farah-seventh-provincial-afghan-capital-in-five-days
I wonder whether the Kabul regime will even hold out until September 11, or whether it will only have a weakening grip on a few major cities?
EDIT: but wait! There’s more! Apparently now Pul-e-Khumri has also fallen today.
As the Taliban proceed to absorb their savored last prize, Kabul, one hopes they’ll develop a plan to win Afghans’ hearts and minds.
I suggest mitigating theocratic decrees that hamper opportunities for women and children. Put another way, Afghanistan shouldn’t resemble some aspects re the American status quo.
Communism-style tactics shouldn’t be an option.
Nation building requires the populace’s full engagement. I make an uncertain assumption that the preference is not to revert to provinces operated by a warlord mentality. If the Taliban seek desirable political and economic engagements with Russia, China, et al., the latter might prefer assurances of democratic governance.
Well, we can dream.