Afganistan Collapse

printer

Well-Known Member
EU plans big cash offer for Afghanistan’s neighbors to host refugees
EU countries vowed Tuesday to dole out an unspecified amount of funds to significantly beef up financial support for Afghanistan’s neighbors to manage the refugee crisis at their borders.

But they also pushed back discussions on the bloc’s own role in potentially accepting asylum seekers, citing fears of a “pull effect” that may draw more people.

At a meeting in Brussels, EU interior ministers adopted a text that pledges financial support to “relevant international organizations” and neighboring countries of Afghanistan “to reinforce their capacities to provide protection, dignified and safe reception conditions and sustainable livelihood for refugees.” The more than five-hour-long talks were nearly derailed when Luxembourg threatened to block a joint statement over complaints that it didn’t convey solidarity with Afghan refugees.

Neither EU ministers nor the European Commission could confirm exactly how much money they would offer to Afghanistan’s neighbors such as Pakistan and Iran, with a Commission spokesperson citing the “ongoing” nature of discussions. One EU official said, however, that the plan was to offer up to €1 billion to neighboring countries.

The planned financial support reflects the EU’s broader goal of keeping Afghan migrants outside the bloc amid fears of another surge and the fractious internal disputes over the issue among member countries: “Based on lessons learned, the EU and its member states stand determined to act jointly to prevent the recurrence of uncontrolled large-scale illegal migration movements faced in the past, by preparing a coordinated and orderly response,” the statement reads, adding that “incentives to illegal migration should be avoided.”
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
Blame the British for carving up a fake "state" and propping up Pashtun leaders above any other ethnic group. Typical Colonial divide and conquer strategy that continues to this day. The former Northern Alliance commanders got fat, rich, and happy from American military welfare bribes and now are living in Dubai making it rain for American porn stars. The only "resistance" left is a misguided British lad that will most likely be brutally murdered in the next week or so. The American occupation was a massive win for the Taliban, we eliminated their most fierce resistance, built critical infrastructure for them, and turned them into a modern, competent fighting force. If Biden does nothing else at least he got us out of there. Meanwhile Trump is bragging about how much fun it was to chat with them on the phone.
 

printer

Well-Known Member
The drugs dilemma for the West in Afghanistan
The opium trade is a vital chunk of gross domestic product, with poppy farming sustaining lives and livelihoods across most provinces.

The Taliban have pledged to kick the habit in Afghanistan and end its reliance on the illegal drugs trade. But success — assuming the unscrupulous Islamists are true to their word — could be down to the nations now struggling to evacuate their citizens from a Taliban-ruled nightmare.

Ending the Afghan reliance on drug income will be no mean feat. The opium trade is a vital chunk of gross domestic product, with poppy farming sustaining lives and livelihoods across most provinces.

For Britain and its Western allies, it is a challenge that weighs the benefits of stopping a flood of illegal drugs coming into their own countries with the problems of dealing with a potentially brutal de facto government with an appalling track record on human rights. What's more, failure to effectively stem the flow of drugs could see countries such as China, Russia and Iran stepping in.

Another lengthier read, hope we get it right this time.
 

mooray

Well-Known Member
I saw an interesting documentary years ago talking about how Russia left a bunch of stuff after they left Afghanistan, including some pretty cool helicopters. They'd fly them for a bit and never maintain anything and would crash them and kill themselves. Let 'em fly that thing.
 

CCGNZ

Well-Known Member
It’s fun to laugh at a bunch of cave dwellers fumbling with high tech equipment but don't forget, these same cave dwellers outlasted two super powers.

The greatest weapon in war is a combatant’s will to win. You could ask the Soviet Union……if they still existed.
What's up everybody, been gone awhile, busyw/ work,my grow ,visiting bedridden old lady, etc.. Lots going on now Delta, Hurricanes, Afghanistan. My take on Afghanistan is how can we (U.S.) expect an entrenched culture and mysterious land to adopt democracy when we are still wrestling with ours after almost 250 years. Heartbroken for the vets who gave their lives or came home physically or mentally or both scarred and the poor families impacted by losses of loved one's or the return of loved ones suffering from the experience. Biden getting out is the right decision and took guts to make the call.ccguns
 

CCGNZ

Well-Known Member
It looks like a vast majority of Americans feel the same way you do.

Maybe following through with a trump policy was a good idea but why did it take guts to do what a large majority of Americans wanted him to do?
Well Cunning, I think you know that we Americans have a fetish with trying to export our Democracy upon other countries,naively believing that they will embrace it and it's freedoms while we seem to be blind to the fact that our own democracy is imperfect and still evolving after almost 250 yrs. I believe it took guts because it is a admission of failure to completely pull the plug and we all know that a pullout was sure to be a clusterfuck for which the commander in chief takes the brunt of the hit. He also had to contend with the military industrial complex and contractors who make money off of war.ccguns
 

printer

Well-Known Member
Americans, Afghan commandos evacuated through secret CIA base outside Kabul: report
U.S. officials reportedly conducted a weeks-long mission last month that evacuated hundreds of American citizens, Afghan special forces and their family members through a secret CIA base outside of Kabul.

The New York Times first reported Wednesday that the CIA base was used in the U.S. military’s ongoing evacuations last month, and Politico reported that based on documents and conversations with a senior administration official, a defense official and a congressional official, the mission included U.S. citizens and at-risk Afghans, including Afghan commandos.

A U.S. official, who like the others spoke to Politico on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information, confirmed that the CIA was involved and “worked closely with other agencies to facilitate in various ways access to the airport for American citizens and Afghans at risk.”

In total, at least 1,000 Afghan commandos and their families were evacuated by the U.S., according to Politico.
Some of those evacuated were reportedly transported by air from the secret CIA compound, called Eagle Base, to the Kabul airport in order to get past crowds that had gathered in the area as thousands of people desperately attempted to flee following the Taliban takeover.
 
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