Americans casting aside those who supported them as fast as they can and running with their tail between their legs. Just like that last helicopter out of Vietnam. Who would ever again believe any of their hollow assurances? A lot of people sure did die for nothing.

yup overrun in 1 week

America should never have gone in there in the first place.

if an army with all the American tech outnumbers some rebels and they go down in 1 week with no resistance,

it really shows that they want to give in to the Taliban in the first place. it shows there was no loyalty to the Afgan American installed govt.

they never wanted to be American allies. never ever ever.

that's basically what it says to me.

Rikkitic:

 

Americans casting aside those who supported them as fast as they can and running with their tail between their legs. Just like that last helicopter out of Vietnam. Who would ever again believe any of their hollow assurances? A lot of people sure did die for nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

part of the reason why America is so divided. some past big shot invaded all these countries for reasons unknown. created this suspicion in Americans and now there is permanent disunity.

Apparently local Afghan army commanders had been talking to the Taliban about a relatively peaceful handover of power for months, just waiting for the Americans to leave.

And when your president does a runner to save his own skin why would you bother fighting a lost cause?

I'm also incredulous when I hear Biden and Johnson try to suggest that they achieved anything at all in the 20 years they have been there, of course apart from the pointless deaths of thousands of civilians and a few thousand young soldiers.

End result - Afghanistan goes back to the Dark Ages.

Batman:

 

if an army with all the American tech outnumbers some rebels and they go down in 1 week with no resistance,

 

it really shows that they want to give in to the Taliban in the first place. it shows there was no loyalty to the Afgan American installed govt.

 

they never wanted to be American allies. never ever ever.

 

that's basically what it says to me.

 

I haven't been to Afghanistan, but from media reports, which are probably at least partially accurate, the Taliban seem like the most backward, atavistic, appalling, medieval, fundamentalist murdering fanatics on the planet. I have no regard whatsoever for them and their primitive superstitious beliefs.

Yet they have continuous substantial support. All those bearded gun-toting pickup-riding barbarians come from somewhere, and they don't look like they are being coerced. The fact that they still exist in big numbers a generation later says something about their appeal to and support from the general populace. Maybe not the women so much, but certainly the other beards. 

They are overrunning the country because the people they want to rule do not see them as a worse option. Do as you are told, dress the way they demand, stay out of the way, keep your mouth shut, show up at prayers, and you are probably okay. Just don't insist on free speech. 

The worst thing about all this is how completely the Americans have learned nothing at all from their recent history. Afghanistan is a rerun of corrupt Latin American dictatorships being propped up for self-serving political gains. It is a repeat of South Vietnam, also a corrupt regime supported for being anti-communist. American policy-makers look only at their own perceived short-term interests, and to hell with the people and what might actually be in their interests. 

Rikkitic:

 

I haven't been to Afghanistan, but from media reports, which are probably at least partially accurate, the Taliban seem like the most backward, atavistic, appalling, medieval, fundamentalist murdering fanatics on the planet. I have no regard whatsoever for them and their primitive superstitious beliefs.

 

Yet they have continuous substantial support. All those bearded gun-toting pickup-riding barbarians come from somewhere, and they don't look like they are being coerced. The fact that they still exist in big numbers a generation later says something about their appeal to and support from the general populace. Maybe not the women so much, but certainly the other beards. 

 

They are overrunning the country because the people they want to rule do not see them as a worse option. Do as you are told, dress the way they demand, stay out of the way, keep your mouth shut, show up at prayers, and you are probably okay. Just don't insist on free speech. 

 

The worst thing about all this is how completely the Americans have learned nothing at all from their recent history. Afghanistan is a rerun of corrupt Latin American dictatorships being propped up for self-serving political gains. It is a repeat of South Vietnam, also a corrupt regime supported for being anti-communist. American policy-makers look only at their own perceived short-term interests, and to hell with the people and what might actually be in their interests. 

Afghanistan clearly does not have a belief system that supports the kind of world we are accustomed to, and like the Vietnam war of decades ago we are learning that the imposition of democracy and Western values on the sanctity of life and freedom of the individual can never take permanent hold. Much as we might consider their values to be unjust or intolerable, we just have to accept that is the way things are.  Afghans had at least some semblance of exposure to a different form of civilisation and have chosen, through the collapse of of well-established but non-Muslim government, to capitulate to the Taliban.

OldGeek:

 

Afghans had at least some semblance of exposure to a different form of civilisation and have chosen, through the collapse of of well-established but non-Muslim government, to capitulate to the Taliban.

 

I don't think many Afghan women have had the freedom of choosing nor the middle classes living in the major cities

SJB:

OldGeek:

Afghans had at least some semblance of exposure to a different form of civilisation and have chosen, through the collapse of of well-established but non-Muslim government, to capitulate to the Taliban.

I don't think many Afghan women have had the freedom of choosing nor the middle classes living in the major cities

One hopes they won't party like its 1998, but it does seem like amputations and stoning  etc are coming back.
Already stories of fighters grabbing young girls from their families and instantly marrying them to celebrate their victory.

Half an hour after the executions, Kabul stadium opens for football ( From Friday 14 August 1998 )
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/half-an-hour-after-the-executions-kabul-stadium-opens-for-football-1171749.html

Afghan war: Kabul's young women plead for help as Taliban advance
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58205062

""
In my most recent trip to Kabul, I spoke to Taliban frontline commanders and foot soldiers. They told me they are determined to re-impose their version of Sharia law, which would include stoning for adultery, amputation of limbs for theft and preventing girls from going to school beyond the age of 12.
""

Is anyone in Pakistan worried about Taliban wanting to extend influence once they are consolidated. 
One step away from Nukes ?!

Seems China has already been talking to Taliban about developing their mineral wealth of the country and another step in Belt and Road.

China befriending Taliban. lol i'd love to see how it plays out.

this is what normally happens -

China to poor nation - i will build infrastructure in return for

a) cheap loan. if you forfeit your payments we take a natural resource. keep forfeiting, we keep taking.

b) we take your natural resource

evidence eh. ok sure. you have a lot to learn about world politics my friend.

for a)

https://www.google.com/search?q=china+forfeit+loan+take+natural+resources

for b)

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/66050030/marine-genocide-warnings-over-chinese-fishing-boats