I know Afghanistan had it's strings tugged in proxy conflicts in the past, but the beginning of this 20 year long incursion was strictly to hunt al-Qaeda. At least, that's how it started. Once Bin Laden was put down, I have no f'n clue why we were still there. And that's something I don't think anyone can adequately explain. I sincerely hope it was not to keep lobbyist money flowing into the hands of politicians, whatever the case is.BaronVerde wrote: ↑Sat, 21. Aug 21, 23:07Hypothetically spoken ?
I even recall the Sovjet intevention in 79. So, from my viewpoint, Afghanistan has allways been a proxy of the superpowers acting on the backs of people and wondering why there's growing terrorism. Support from either side varied from time to time and party to party, I believe them 'Muricans have supported or fought against several parties through the decades, opportunistically acting depending on situation and who was in charge when and where. Also, the local groups, be they Taliban, Mudjaheddin or whomever, aren't uniform or even organized and not exactly bound to Afghanistan as a political state. Then there is Iran and Pakistan and maybe to a degree India trying to bend things in this or that way, giving shelter to these or those, and recently China and their will for stability no matter what has entered the scene.
So, I fear I do not have a specific answer. I believe though, and that's just an opinion, that the late 'Murrican leaders acted at least partly with just their voters in mind or just out of ill will and brickwall-thinking, not exactly out of political or humanitarian necessity or even because of military advice. But I am not an expert for the middle east, so here's the barrel of salt.
What could have been done different is a better planned retreat, not what looks like a bare getaway, head over heels leaving everything and everybody behind. That's of course not just the Americans, other countries including Germany is involved as well, though at a smaller scale. Not sure about Spanish involvement ? So better planning, even listening to the military guys who have been cited criticizing, and of course a more grown-up judgement of the humanitarian sutiation.
In the end, I fear, and the first Teladi von der Leyen has already been unable to hold still and ask for a 'pragmatic approach' or some blabla like that, bloody money will dictate the way, and to a degree local sphere of influence, which the American's have now given up further weaking their position in the world. Afghanistanis are sitting on considerable resources everybody wants to get a grip on. Bloody economy.
(this all is just an opinion, even if I use wording that sounds like assertion)
As to the withdrawal, again, I'll point out we had been withdrawing since 2014. It should not have taken 7 years to do it. Trump announced the formal agreement to withdraw a year ago, and Biden again announced it again in April, though with slightly different dates. Point being, we had our plan in place to remove our people. They faltered in removing the locals that assisted our troops, but from all appearances that has been sorted out and they're on their way out now. Whatever anyone else did/did not do to plan for that can't be put on the US.
I know the videos of the people crowding the airport makes things look like it was unplanned and just a last minute decision, but that's just not the case. (in fact, the stand down started on May 1) What was unplanned was the immediate laying down of Afghan forces in the face of the Taliban and people's resulting panic. The government surrendered and the Taliban took control without firing a shot. Yeah, there was some equipment left behind, most of which, sadly, was left to the Afghan forces for them to use against the Taliban... womp womp.
Again, I'll point out, the Taliban appear to be keeping their word. I'm completely shocked but hey, good on them if they're serious about it. Only time will tell what happens then but IF they continue as they are and people start to calm down, just maybe the Taliban can form something akin to a society out of Afghanistan. We shall see. If they don't, then they don't and Afghanistan is back to where it was in 2000.