Afghan government collapses as Taliban takes Kabul

[flybynight]

In a swift and stunning rout, Taliban fighters seized control of Afghanistan's capital on Sunday, completing their sweep of the besieged nation as the Afghan government collapsed after two decades of efforts by the U.S. to reshape the region as part of its "war on terror."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/after-two-decades-and-billions-spent-afghan-government-collapses-as-taliban-takes-kabul/ar-AANl6rt?ocid=msedgntp

[Blast]

What an absolute f***ing waste of lives....but I keep wondering what sort of team would be required to go in, grab stuff, and get out.
-Blast

[Blast]

Also, I would expect this to trigger more terrorist attacks all over the world. Heads on swivels, folks.
-Blast

[sheddi]

This does seem to have happened remarkably quickly. The 1989 Republic of Afghanistan lasted three years from the Soviet withdrawal, while the latest Taliban campaign has only taken three months.

There was talk of the US (and, to a lesser extent, the UK) arranging to evacuate friendlies. That's going to be a lot more complicated now.

Does anyone know the status of the Kabul embassies? This photo has Saigon-in-1975 vibes:

[flybynight]

What an absolute f***ing waste of lives....but I keep wondering what sort of team would be required to go in, grab stuff, and get out.
-Blast

So fucking right

[RoneKiln]

This does seem to have happened remarkably quickly. The 1989 Republic of Afghanistan lasted three years from the Soviet withdrawal, while the latest Taliban campaign has only taken three months.

Some could argue it's been two decades. Large regions of the country were already under Taliban control, and they have far better communications technology than even existed in 1989.

Improved communications and logistics technologies also allows them to leverage large numbers of small disparate sources of outside support in ways they couldn't in 1989.

I'm just surprised so many people are shocked by this.

[majorhavoc]

Quite possibly the most predictable outcome to an inevitable situation.  20 years of American (and Coalition) blood, sweat and treasure.  And for what?   The Taliban are in power and will provide a safe haven for terrorist groups, just as they were 20 years ago when we went into this mess.  The only difference is there's a whole new generation of Afghan women who get to see their dreams and potential destroyed all over again.

[MPMalloy]

This is a giant fucking disgrace.  I feel so ashamed.

[flybynight]

A Taliban official also told Reuters that fighters in the Afghan capital started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because people no longer need them for personal protection.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/strong-taliban-presence-seen-streets-113830645.html

[Mr. E. Monkey]

A Taliban official also told Reuters that fighters in the Afghan capital started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because people no longer need them for personal protection.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/strong-taliban-presence-seen-streets-113830645.html

I wonder what comes next... 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

A Taliban official also told Reuters that fighters in the Afghan capital started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because people no longer need them for personal protection.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/strong-taliban-presence-seen-streets-113830645.html

I wonder what comes next... 

Even more bloodshed. Like literal rivers of blood.

All thanks to a f**k up of epic proportions.

[woodsghost]

I would say this is indeed a disaster.

I would like to just throw a reminder up to keep comments free of ... in this case ... "Incindary political commentary?"

Most of us have pretty intense feelings, and I actually think most of us are on the same page with what we feel. But we want to keep consistent with our rules and guidelines.

In general, a good guideline is "how does this relate to prepping?" Or "how is this impacting MY prepping?" I don't think this subject is directly related to prepping in the US or Europe. I think any preppers in Afganistan are probably way ahead of the game and well aware of this issue.

I do think there are prepping lessons for those in the US, but they get pretty political and I don't know if "now" is the right time to discuss those. Maybe someone else will approach those. I, personally, am not ready to do so in an even handed manner.

I do think this is a topic worth discussing, but I think it can be easy to tread on community rules while doing so. I just want to call attention to that fact.

Thanks.

[Mr. E. Monkey]

To try to take a less personal, and more clinical look at this, as difficult, and frankly, gross-feeling as it may be, this may be useful as a lesson/guide to bugging out--what would we do in a similar situation, and what, in the coming days/weeks/months will prove to be effective, and what won't.

It doesn't sit right with me, and I feel awful even suggesting it.  But since there really isn't anything I can do to change the situation, all I can do is learn from it. 

[Raptor]

A Taliban official also told Reuters that fighters in the Afghan capital started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because people no longer need them for personal protection.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/strong-taliban-presence-seen-streets-113830645.html

I wonder what comes next... 

What comes next?

I assign a high probability of another Mayaquez type incident .

Lets just say I am sad for the people in Afghanistan who placed trust in our promises.
I am sad for the troops who sacrificed so much only to have this happen.

I will not comment further since they would dive off into politics.

How should this affect our preparations is much better direction to focus our attention.

IMO short term we may see some domestic disturbances but really I do NOT think the violence in the street will be caused by this 1970's type failure.

I do however see other 1970's matters on the horizon. Including a lot of inflation.

[flybynight]

A Taliban official also told Reuters that fighters in the Afghan capital started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because people no longer need them for personal protection.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/strong-taliban-presence-seen-streets-113830645.html

I wonder what comes next... 

Taliban tells CNN reporter in Kabul to stand to the side because she's a woman as life changes overnight in the Afghan capital

https://www.yahoo.com/news/taliban-tells-cnn-reporter-kabul-132527995.html

[woodsghost]

To try to take a less personal, and more clinical look at this, as difficult, and frankly, gross-feeling as it may be, this may be useful as a lesson/guide to bugging out--what would we do in a similar situation, and what, in the coming days/weeks/months will prove to be effective, and what won't.

It doesn't sit right with me, and I feel awful even suggesting it.  But since there really isn't anything I can do to change the situation, all I can do is learn from it. 

I agree, on all points.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

To try to take a less personal, and more clinical look at this, as difficult, and frankly, gross-feeling as it may be, this may be useful as a lesson/guide to bugging out--what would we do in a similar situation, and what, in the coming days/weeks/months will prove to be effective, and what won't.

It doesn't sit right with me, and I feel awful even suggesting it.  But since there really isn't anything I can do to change the situation, all I can do is learn from it. 

Indeed.

I feel for the people of Afghanistan, the innocent ones that are being caught up in this disaster.

None of them asked for any of this to happen. I fear there's going to be a bunch of their blood shed because they may have cooperated with US forces or befriended them. Whether true or not, there's bound to be someone in their villages who'll sell them out in order to save their own necks. We've seen that happen numerous times before and sadly we're likely to see it happen once again.

[sheddi]

I'm no expert on Afghanistan - I wouldn't even describe myself as a novice - but so far the reports I've seen from the ground are relatively mild. The Taliban don't seem to have adopted the ISIS/ISIL playbook, the Kabul airport is still functioning, and they've not shown any inclination to try and stop the various evacuations.

I'm definitely not saying "all this is fine" but it also doesn't look as though this is turning into another Syria or Libya, at least not yet.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I'm no expert on Afghanistan - I wouldn't even describe myself as a novice - but so far the reports I've seen from the ground are relatively mild. The Taliban don't seem to have adopted the ISIS/ISIL playbook, the Kabul airport is still functioning, and they've not shown any inclination to try and stop the various evacuations.

I'm definitely not saying "all this is fine" but it also doesn't look as though this is turning into another Syria or Libya, at least not yet.

Given what little I know of Afghanistan and the entire Middle East, this is probably just another bump in the road in a region where stuff like this has been happening for hundreds of years.

[Barr]

I've been catching bits and pieces of information about what's been happening in The Graveyard of Empires, I wish I could say that any of it beyond the speed that the Taliban have retaken the capitols was surprising.

The Evil Monkey is right though, we should be learning everything we can from this and basing our own strategies on what information we can gather.

I've also been fighting back tears over it all, I keep going back and forth between heartbreak and rage.  I left whatever innocence I had in The 'Stan. 

When I can read anything about this travesty without having to fight back tears, I will.