Posted on 12/20/2023 8:07:46 AM PST by Red Badger
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby vehemently denied allegations that the U.S. deliberately left weapons in Afghanistan during the botched withdrawal of American troops, characterizing such claims as “fallacies” and “farces.”
Kirby claimed that over 20 years, the U.S. government, with congressional approval, armed and equipped the Afghan National Security Forces. He noted that as the Taliban advanced, many Afghan forces chose not to fight, abandoning their arms. Kirby claimed that these weapons belonged to the Afghan forces, not directly left by the U.S.
“Let me remind you — please, take the opportunity to remind you: We didn’t just leave a bunch of weapons in Afghanistan. This is a fallacy. This is a farce.”
“What we did over the course of our 20 years in Afghanistan — of course, with congressional approval and consultations — was armed and helped equip the Afghan National Security Forces.”
“Now — and as we have said time and time again, that as the Taliban made advances, those Afghan National Security Forces, many of them decided not to fight but yet to lay down their arms and leave. But the — the arms that you’re talking about — and, again, I can’t verify these specific reports — belong to the Afghan National Security Forces,” he claimed.
“That what wa- — what was — that’s what was left behind — not that the United States just walked away and abandoned a bunch of weapons in a pile in Afghanistan. That’s just not — simply not historically accurate,” he added.
WATCH: VIDEO AT LINK.......................
A recently retired U.S. Army soldier from the 82nd Airborne Division, Brock Michael, provided a conflicting account. Michael, who served four years of active duty, expressed frustration in a now-deleted video during his gear turn-in. He was charged $3,561 for equipment ordered to be abandoned during the withdrawal.
“I want to holler, I want to scream, I want to yell, but it won’t do any good. Today is gear turn-in day for me. Turn in all the gear that I’ve collected over the last four years of being active duty with the army, with the 82nd Airborne Division,” Michael stated in his video. “Two years ago, my unit deployed to Afghanistan for the Afghanistan withdrawal. We spent a few weeks over there. It was hectic, it was chaotic, it was disgusting, and it made me very disappointed in our government.”
“Today, I’m reminded of how disappointed I am in our government. Go to turn in my gear. They want to charge me $500 to $1,000 for gear that I was ordered to leave in Afghanistan two years ago. Because, as the last two birds were sitting on the tarmac ready to leave, there wasn’t any room for extra gear, extra weight. Therefore, we were told to leave it. Some lower enlisted dudes, including myself, were like, ‘No, this stuff is expensive. I’m not leaving this. I’m going to get charged for this,’” Michael said.
“When it comes time to leave, don’t worry; we’re going to catch you on the back end,” Michael recalled being told.
A report viewed by CNN revealed that approximately $7 billion of military equipment transferred to the Afghan government over 16 years was left behind following the U.S.’s departure.
This equipment is now in a country that is controlled by the very enemy the US was trying to drive out over the past two decades: the Taliban. The Defense Department has no plans to return to Afghanistan to “retrieve or destroy” the equipment, reads the report, which has been provided to Congress.
The US gave a total of $18.6 billion of equipment to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) from 2005 to August 2021, according to the report. Of that total, equipment worth $7.12 billion remained in Afghanistan after the US withdrawal was completed on August 30, 2021. It included aircraft, air-to-ground munitions, military vehicles, weapons, communications equipment and other materials, according to the DoD report.
This contrasts with earlier reports accusing the Biden administration of arming Taliban terrorists with $85 billion in funding, U.S. weapons, and supplies during the withdrawal.
According to FOX News, over 75,000 vehicles, more than 600,000 weapons, and 200 aircraft were left behind for the Taliban terrorists by the Biden regime.
My idiot in-laws will nod along with Kirby. Ignore evidence, just go along with Joe and Mika and The View.
ole hear no evil/see no evil/speak no evil Kirby. he once had a shred of credibility.
I wonder if he’s kin to the Vacuum Cleaner Kirbys because he sucks................
Does anyone really expect truth to be coming out of the mouths of a Biden spokesperson? The real news would be if any of them actually spoke the truth!
Very few people believe the BS coming from team Biden.
Sadly, Kirby has a point.
The Left and some on the Right had seizures over Pres Trump talking to the Taliban. Well, they had already retaken the majority of the country.
When Pres Trump ended the US taxpayer funding the salaries of the ANA and ANP, most walked away or joined the Taliban.
Others, when confronted by the Taliban, chose life and either joined or handed over their stuff.
Kirby is a slimy snake oil pitchman IMO.
Reminds me of every used car salesman I’ve ever had the misfortune to run across
A distinction without a difference.
L
A soldier who only served 4 years is not “retired” from Army. He is discharged.
But it is very believable he was told to leave weaponry then charged for it.
Kudos. The comparison is most apt.
Kirby is a lying sack of human debris.
Real Americans to the swamp: “We don’t believe an effing thing coming out of the sewage spewing organs formerly called your months. Give it up, look up “seppuku”, and comply with it. In doing so, you’ll commit the one and only moral thing you’ve ever done. Die now and avoid the rush.
I have one under my roof. She leaves a wake of mayhem behind her and thinks nothing of it. I guess you know the cats are out of food? What cats she says. It goes down hill from there. I'd say it is intentional but it comes too quickly so it must be just a natural inclination.
A distinction without a difference.
They’ve gotten away with lies this long, why not continue.
Gas lighting held to a fine art, we can call it “Kirbylighting”.
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