Taliban Seize No. 2 Afghan City, Prepare to March on Kabul

Wall Street Journal via MSN ^ | Aug. 1, 2021 | Yaroslav Trofimo

[libstripper]

KABUL—The Taliban completed the seizure of Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city and the Islamist movement’s birthplace, and took into custody a warlord who organized the failed defenses of the western city of Herat.

Combined with other advances, including the capture of the provincial capital of Helmand, the fall of these two major cities has given the Taliban full control of southern and western Afghanistan, allowing the insurgent movement to pool its forces for a final march on Kabul.

The U.S. has already launched the drawdown of its large embassy in Kabul, sending troops to evacuate most of the staff as it cuts the diplomatic presence to an essential core. Other Western embassies are readying similar plans, fearing that the Taliban could lay siege to the Afghan capital within days.

[libstripper]

Latest on the Xkden s**t storm. I'd be surprised if Kabul lasts more than a week, since the Taliban are only 30 miles away. There are 4,000 people employed at the U.S. embassy, 1,400 of whom are Americans. What's going to happen to the rest? It's looking like quite a few thousand people will need to be airlifted out, using what airplanes? How long are commercial airlines going to continue fling into Kabul, given the strong likelihood that the Taliban have at least some man portable AA missiles?

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

So, exactly what is the plan to secure the nukes Afghanistan has?

[P-Marlowe]

You’re thinking of Pakistan.

[1Old Pro]

“There’s going to be no circumstance when you’re going to see people being lifted off the roof of an embassy of the United States from Afghanistan.”

Biden has it handled

[Chad_the_Impaler]

There are 4,000 people employed at the U.S. embassy, 1,400 of whom are Americans. What's going to happen to the rest?

It's worse than that, since many other countries are depending on the U.S. to get their citizens out: "More than a dozen nations have contacted the U.S. military for assistance in removing their personnel from Kabul should the security situation dictate it, officials said."

[Georgia Girl 2]

“What airplanes”

They are bringing in AC 130’s. My guess is in the end they will start jamming people in like sardines for evac as well as covering fire for the final turn tail and run operation.

They should have quietly drawn down the Embassy to 100 people a month or more ago and assisted the Afghani loyalists in fleeing to Pakistan. Trump would likely have done that and kept a security force in the area until everyone was out. Now its Saigon 2.0

[george76]

Sent Meghan, AOC, and .. over to do a dance workshop / engage the Taliban with woke views

[MustKnowHistory]

Posters keep comparing this to Saigon, but I think it may be more accurate to compare it to the fall of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Will we see American hostages?

[donozark]

Benghazi on steroids.

[MinorityRepublican]

I would guess if necessary we would pour in up to 10,000 troops and bring in more planes and helicopters if Kabul is really at risk of falling. 3,000 troops are not enough.

[teevolt]

Get out of there! Also, and more importantly don’t bring them here.

[PGR88]

I’ve never been to Afghanistan. I would assume that life in Kabul and one or two others cities is at least somewhat “modern.” There must be a generation born as long as a 1995, who have grown up with decent schools, grocery stores, cell phones, stability, etc...and its all they know.

[PGR88]

I would guess if necessary we would pour in up to 10,000 troops and bring in more planes and helicopters if Kabul is really at risk of falling. 3,000 troops are not enough.

Having given up the territory, we would be "re-invading" it, and the basic rules of warfare are that an invasion force must be huge relative to the size of the forces they are attacking. You are correct, even if just to hold Kabul and environs, we would be talking tens of thousands of troops.

[allendale]

Actually a helicopter evacuation is not feasible. It was only possible in Vietnam because of the off shore presence of the US Navy. The Navy can’t help if Afghanistan. Where would the helicopters go? Imagine the troops can secure or construct quickly some airfields in the countryside where C 130s can make some quick lands, load and go. Inevitably there will be more Americans maimed and killed.

[moviefan8]

Will they be wearing masks on the helicopter and plane?

Asking for a Karen friend.

[1Old Pro]

Agree, this time it will be the troop carrying planes taking off from the airfield one after another.

[MustKnowHistory]

I am not sure they could get 10,000 troops in there in time.

[shanover]

It may be too late to prevent the Taliban having American hostages and taking over the embassy. I hope to god I am wrong. It may be one hell of a firefight and unsettling footage. 9/11/21 will be a day of utter disgrace and despair.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

"It currently possesses as many as 160 nuclear weapons, produces enough fissile material for up to 15 warheads per year, and could be on track to surpass the U.K.'s arsenal. "

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Never mind, I read the article wrong, you are correct.