The US is sending about 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to help evacuate some personnel from the US embassy in Kabul as the Taliban is making rapid gains across the country.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US is sending three infantry battalions that are due to arrive at the airport in Kabul within 48 hours. Additionally, an entire infantry brigade combat team is being sent to Kuwait to be put on stand by that could also be deployed to Afghanistan, and 1,000 troops are being deployed to Qatar to process visas for Afghan interpreters who worked for the US. In total, the US is deploying 8,000 troops to the Gulf and Afghanistan.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US would be “further reducing our civilian footprint in Kabul” but insisted that the embassy was not closing. He said there will be a “drawdown” of diplomatic personnel, but did not specify how many people are expected to leave. There are about 4,000 civilian personnel at the embassy, including 1,400 US citizens.
A new US intelligence assessment predicts Kabul could fall to the Taliban within 30 to 90 days, much quicker than what the US initially predicted in June. US officials told The New York Times that the Biden administration is preparing for a possible collapse of the Afghan government within 30 days.
The US embassy in Kabul issued a warning to US citizens in Afghanistan on Thursday to leave the country immediately. “Given the security conditions and reduced staffing, the embassy’s ability to assist US citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited even within Kabul,” a notice on the embassy’s website said.
The US had plans to keep about 650 troops at the embassy in Kabul after President Biden’s August 31st withdrawal deadline, and the Pentagon has established a military command structure based out of the facility. But with the Taliban gaining ground faster than expected, the US might have to give up its plan to keep a military presence in the country.
The US has stepped up airstrikes in recent weeks, but it has done little to slow the Taliban advances. The US is now bombing equipment that it gave to the Afghan government that is being seized by the Taliban.
It’s like Viet Nam all over again.
Back in 1969, we used to have a standing joke at Defense Language Institute (West Coast Branch):
Question: “If President Nixon is withdrawing the troops from Vietnam, how come I’ve got orders to Vietnam next year?”
Answer: “You fool! How can Nixon withdraw you from Vietnam unless he sends you there first?”
And, at Counter Insurgency School at Coronado Island, we learned that the operative slogan, “win their hearts and minds” in practice meant, “Grab ’em by the balls and their hearts and minds will follow.”
As a historical fact, the U.S. military did not cease meddling in the affairs of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia until 1975 (two years after the last “troop” left) when Congress simply cut off any further appropriations for the insanity. So, regardless of whatever “numbers” you hear concerning the coming/going/staying of U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, you may disregard them until our thoroughly corrupted Congress ceases to lavishly appropriate taxpayer funds to keep them circulating into, out of, and around the area indefinitely and for no clearly defined purpose. As the jaded bar girls on Tu Do Street in Saigon used to jeer at the broke and hard-up GIs: “No money, no honey!”
And there will be another Viet Nam all over again as long as the military industrial complex is in power. Afghanistan isn’t the last.
What a mess!
In all these years of negotiating — it all comes down to violence and chaos? Why is Afghan government so confident, and still encouraging young people to lose lives, knowing full well that US is not backing them up — just using them to provoke and prolong civil war, US is bombing Afghan government military equipment, and the Government is not doing anything, going around for photo-ops!
We just do not know what is really going on — these are games of shadows, and what is being said may have nothing to do with reality.
Short time ago, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan had maneuvers on Afghan border, concerned about infiltration of militants. They all are now expressing satisfaction as Taliban took control of borders. So, where is the militancy risk? Apparently Kabul government was the source of funds for militants, in effort to fight Taliban or to blame Taliban for conflicts. Those experienced militant hands would have been very useful in stirring up trouble in Central Asia. It is still a question — where will they go? How many militants are now in Afghanistan? They all must be in Government controlled territory, but with tribal leadership on the verge of switching loyalty to Taliban, and if Kabul government does not negotiate for their safety, they may not have many options.
There are few warlords in the North, among Tajik and Uzbek clans — that may delay cutting deal with Taliban.
What is going on? Did US underestimate Taliban and their ability to cut deals, and systematically take over borders and key roads? Did US expect Kabul government along with some dissenting clans, offer meaningful resistance to Taliban? And so allowing US to stay involved from the distance?
Sending in such large number of troops for evacuation sounds excessive. But then, the last thing US needs at this time is repeat of Saigon. Even mentioning the word “evacuation” sounds bad. Did we not know well ahead the outcome for Kabul? Or we really did not — making this event even more remarkable.
We should send all those politicians and MIC executives who advocated this war to hold down the US embassy in Kabul. One way.
No more wars!
“3000 troops” That’s a bunch. How many people do they need to evacuate? How will they evacuate the 3000 troops? Gives one the impression they will be staying.
It is meant for the evacuation of Pentagon 18,000 private contractors…!
Another 3000 troops will be needed to withdraw the first 3000. Then another 3000 troops wil be deployed to withdraw the second 3000…..
Just kidding, but it wouldn’t surprise me. BTW, why did the USA need a $600 million embassy in Kabul? .
Until there is accountability in the US, this disaster will be repeated over and over and over.
What accountability occurred for the “light at the end of the tunnel” in Vietnam: none!
What accountability occurred for the ongoing disaster of Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yugoslavia: none!
What accountability is occurring or will occur for this multi-trillion “we are turning the corner” disaster: none.
Meanwhile, the civilian populations of these ravaged countries attempt to survive and put their lives back together after millions of casualties/deaths.
Meanwhile, the us veterans of these disasters attempt to put their lives back together, thousands maimed, families destroyed, suicides rampant, PTSD rampant, and they wonder what in the hell was or is the point of all of this, the sacrifices, the maimed bodies.
The answer: the MIC, and the fourth branch of govt, the “intelligence” branch, will proceed merrily on their way to the next disaster while the eunuchs in the uniparty of congress stand by with their hands out for more loot, er political contributions.
The most ominous and destructive phrase of 20th and 21st century: “We are from America and we are here to assist in the construction of democracy in accordance with western “values.” (sic)!!!
The speed of this spin is astonishing but now, of course it is in neocon central wapo, that they are is painting this debacle as the result of biden ordering the us troop withdrawal. 20 years debacle was not enough.
One can only wait for the devil’s spawn, liz cheney, to rush to the wurlizer.
Absolutely beyond belief but it is what it is, the cess pool that is wash dc.
Here is a headline I saw at google news a moment ago:
Now I’ve no idea whether or not the author is really a “dual national” or a “rabbi” as one site says, but his wiki leaves no doubt about him being a genuine warmonger. One who advised George “codpiece commander” Bush.
Why the Apartheid state is so anxious for the US to remain in Afghanistan isn’t a bit clear to me.