Afghanistan

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

ETA: I just read through Cam's post.

What a difference one day makes:



Also, I just happened to come across this (where I got the image above):

https://www.reddit.com/r/afghanistan/

IT’s worth checking out for muti-sourced updates.

- Doc

[Jersey Girl]

At least you’re courteous enough to read what’s posted.

Of course I read what's posted. Out of courtesy and intellectual curiosity. Nat Geo has a pretty comprehensive article about Afghanistan on it's website right now. It covers the historical developments of the region over time. That will help me to better understand what's going on. I don't mind admitting that I'm basically ignorant on the topic.

You can't learn if you don't read. Posts included.

re: The woman in the photos. She has to do that. Her life depends on it.

[Alf'Omega]

Just saw that at least seven people were killed as they clung to a military plane that was taking off.

I saw the same on CNN. It is heart breaking. I spent a good deal of time last night reading about Afghanistan. I still don't know that I fully understand the geopolitical history of the region. I do think I have a handle on what's going on right now and it seems to me that the same or similar scenario would have taken place if Trump had won the election and followed through on his agreement with the Taliban.

As an aside. We had another poster register here under a similar screen name. I thought it was you. In light of that, would you show me some identification? One way to do that without derailing this thread would be for you to simply scan the first few pages of this very thread and tell me the name of the poster who was on our old board when we were. Just one name and that'll do it for me.

I'm not the same person who once posted under a similar name.

[Jersey Girl]

FYI: Apparently Biden is now addressing the nation on Afghanistan.

[Jersey Girl]

I'm not the same person who once posted under a similar name.

Thank you.

[Alf'Omega]

I'm not the same person who once posted under a similar name.

Thank you.

Not a problem.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Spokanites unite!

NCHS alum here.

- Doc

[Res Ipsa]

Trump negotiated an opening to get U.S armed forces out of a place they should have been out of after the Taliban offered to surrender in 2001. Biden took the opening. Good for both of them for bringing a 19 year farce to an end.

Yes, it's a horrific tragedy. I hope we keep these videos handy for the next time somebody gets the bright idea to send our troops halfway across the world without a clearly defined mission and exit plan.

[Jersey Girl]

Trump negotiated an opening to get U.S armed forces out of a place they should have been out of after the Taliban offered to surrender in 2001. Biden took the opening. Good for both of them for bringing a 19 year farce to an end.

Yes, it's a horrific tragedy. I hope we keep these videos handy for the next time somebody gets the bright idea to send our troops halfway across the world without a clearly defined mission and exit plan.

From what I have recently read, it sounds like it was another Vietnam. I can't imagine how it could have ended differently and it sounds like it needed to end.

[honorentheos]

ETA: I just read through Cam's post.

At least you’re courteous enough to read what’s posted.

Hi Cam,

I apologize if it didn't seem like I had read or attempted to reply to your post. Jersey Girl responded after yours in a way that had made it seem like a generic reply would do without cluttering up the conversation. Of everyone here, your perspective of having been there on the ground was one I was most interested in seeing and carries weight.

Anyway, reporting coming out today is all over the place and it's hard to confirm what is true. My sense is part of it is panic and hope the international community will take notice. But I've also noticed caution among reports from people living there that suggests they know their words could get them killed. The Taliban claims it is not the Taliban of 1994 and wants international recognition suggesting a best case scenario of it becoming a client state of Pakistan. Worst case, things could be pretty dark. But my personal guess is we are looking at a body that includes members of the original Taliban and ISIS who bring perspective and lessons learned that will make this theocracy something new we haven't seen before. I'm guessing it will be better adapted to maintaining relations with the new international community in ways ISIS couldn't and the Taliban of the Nineties didn't care about. At a minimum I'd bet most of them prefer being in power over being in caves and hiding.