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As Taliban surge, al-Qaeda poised for swift return. Afghanistan is set to become a safe haven for terrorist networks once more
asiatimes.com ^ | July 17, 2021

Posted on 07/17/2021 8:54:53 AM PDT by elpadre

The imminent fall of Afghanistan is more than a national disaster. It is not just that the gains made in the past two decades, at the cost of tens of thousands of lives and trillions of dollars, look certain to be reversed as the Taliban advances.

The Taliban’s victory is also al-Qaeda’s victory, and it has global implications.

Even before the US military completes the final steps of its troop withdrawal, the Taliban are surging. They are now reported to control 212 districts – more than half of Afghanistan’s 407 districts. This is triple the territory it controlled on May 1. The Taliban have seized 51 districts since the start of July alone.

The Taliban are currently contesting a further 119 districts, leaving the government with control over just 76, or little more than 20%.

And the government-held territory is surrounded. Almost the entire circular national highway is in the hands of the Taliban, meaning the cities under government control can only safely be reached by air.

US President Joe Biden and political leaders in Kabul talk optimistically of a fightback to reverse the surge. But Afghan morale has collapsed along with the fabric of national security.

When the US military quietly sneaked out of Bagram Airbase in the early hours of July 2, it did not just turn off the lights, it extinguished what hope remained. (read remainder of story at link)

(Excerpt) Read more at asiatimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; safehaven; taliban
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1 posted on 07/17/2021 8:54:53 AM PDT by elpadre
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To: elpadre

Islamic Terrorist Headquarters


2 posted on 07/17/2021 8:57:45 AM PDT by Prole ( )
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To: elpadre

with the Taliban in control of Afghanistan and the new leadership in Iran, are we back to square one in the war on terror???


3 posted on 07/17/2021 8:58:20 AM PDT by elpadre ( )
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To: elpadre

I have an idea. Maybe we shouldn’t let them travel to America for any reason from the most chaotic or terror supporting nations.


4 posted on 07/17/2021 8:58:52 AM PDT by DesertRhino (A coup government may not claim the protection of the same constitution it overthrew. )
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To: elpadre

Next time do what we should have the first time. Bomb them and go home. Repeat as necessary.


5 posted on 07/17/2021 8:58:56 AM PDT by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: DesertRhino

I like your thinkining.


6 posted on 07/17/2021 8:59:18 AM PDT by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: elpadre

Until our leaders get serious about war, until our leaders bring the enemy to their knees (includes the local populace) then we will cycle this on rinse/repeat adnausem. We haven’t won a war since Vietnam because our Government and our public is weak. We are close to French territory at the point.


7 posted on 07/17/2021 8:59:25 AM PDT by Jarhead9297
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To: elpadre

Sorry globalists, I am more about my government than I am terrorists half a world away. The Taliban are holding 500 Americans in solitary confinement with no rights.


8 posted on 07/17/2021 9:02:25 AM PDT by wildcard_redneck ( COVID lockdowns are the Establishment's attack on the middle class and our Republic )
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To: Prole

Good, get them all in one place and nuke it.


9 posted on 07/17/2021 9:04:05 AM PDT by oldasrocks
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To: elpadre

10 posted on 07/17/2021 9:04:17 AM PDT by Theoria
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To: wildcard_redneck
Meant "Sorry globalists, I am more worried about my government than I am about terrorists half a world away. The Taliban are not holding 500 Americans in solitary confinement with no rights."
11 posted on 07/17/2021 9:04:44 AM PDT by wildcard_redneck ( COVID lockdowns are the Establishment's attack on the middle class and our Republic )
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To: elpadre

Well, pedo joe says it’s up to the citizens to figure which side to be on. We left them plenty of equipment. 😕🐂💨💩


12 posted on 07/17/2021 9:04:45 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this?)
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To: wildcard_redneck

How many is the American government holding in solitary right now?


13 posted on 07/17/2021 9:04:46 AM PDT by Bernard (The very best scientific articles always contain this phrase: “My personal intuition has been…”)
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To: DesertRhino

Excellent idea. Biden will put you in the klink for that comment.


14 posted on 07/17/2021 9:05:37 AM PDT by dforest (huh)
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To: Jarhead9297

Actually since WW2 - Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan were losers; Iraq 1 you could call it a victory even though the UN stopped us at the gates of Bagdad but Iraq2 wasn’t so much due to the loss of troops and equipment and money spent. We gained nothing from all that time in Afghanistan other than the loss of so many troops, and equipment and money only to turn it back over to the mussies; our government didn’t learn from the experiences of Turkey, England and Russia there.


15 posted on 07/17/2021 9:05:49 AM PDT by SkyDancer (I Identify As Vaccinated)
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To: Bernard
"How many is the American government holding in solitary right now?

Sorry, I messed up my first post. Please read the second one immediately after.

16 posted on 07/17/2021 9:06:24 AM PDT by wildcard_redneck ( COVID lockdowns are the Establishment's attack on the middle class and our Republic )
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To: elpadre

I’ve wanted us out of Afghaniscrap for years. However, we should have held the air base, if only for strategic reasons in Europe. We’ve held Gitmo for years against the Cuban commies. It’s just a matter of solid perimeter security and fire power. The Taliban attacks the air base; we decimate all we can find in the region. No holds barred. I’m so done with collateral damage concerns.


17 posted on 07/17/2021 9:06:30 AM PDT by A Navy Vet (USA Birth Certificate - 1787. Death Certificate - 2021.)
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To: elpadre

On September 12, 2001, I proposed that the simplest, cheapest, most-effective, “anti-terror” measure the USA could take, would be a total travel ban with anyone from nations of South Asia, Mid-east, and North Africa.

America’s elites chose expensive endless war and invasion, the patriot act, FISA courts and porno scans on Americans instead.

Maybe this time, we’ll go with my option.


18 posted on 07/17/2021 9:08:49 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: SkyDancer

Agree 100%. I’d even venture to say after the no fly zone of Gulf 1 was breached daily and was allowed to continue for years. That’s a loss in my book. Imagine Japan sending rockets after our planes in a no fly zone situation. If that has a need post WW II we’d have continued laying waste to their lands until they came to their knees. Because we do not have politicians and a public with spines we will continue to see more carnage and radicalism.


19 posted on 07/17/2021 9:12:20 AM PDT by Jarhead9297
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To: elpadre

Russia and China are welcome to that Sheite hole.


20 posted on 07/17/2021 9:14:08 AM PDT by Don Corleone (leave the gun, take the canolis)
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