US General Tells British Special Forces: Stop Rescuing People In Kabul, You're Making Us Look Bad

The Washington Examiner ^ | 08/20/21 | Tom Rogan

[Enlightened1]

I understand that the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division has told the commander of the British special forces at the Kabul airport to cease operations beyond the airport perimeter.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue has told his British Army counterpart, a high-ranking field-grade officer of the British army's 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, that British operations were embarrassing the United States military in the absence of similar U.S. military operations. I understand that the British officer firmly rejected the request.

This show of rare tension between the U.S. and British command groups in Kabul reflects three factors.

First, it shows the obvious stress of attempting to extricate thousands of personnel under a situation of increasing terrorist threat. Elements of the Haqqani network, the Islamic State in Afghanistan, and possibly al Qaeda are now operating in proximity to Kabul airport with some degree of command separation from the Taliban.

In addition, the British military has more operational latitude in Kabul than the U.S. military, including the Navy SEAL elements present at the airport. I understand that the SAS has conducted operations to bring American citizens, as well as British citizens and at-risk personnel, through checkpoints and to the airport. This is not an indictment on U.S. capabilities or special operations intent, but rather, it's a reflection of political-military authorities. In part, this difference is understandable. Large-scale U.S. military operations beyond the Kabul airport perimeter would entail significant risk absent prior Taliban approval. But there is a sense, at least by allies, that the U.S. military could be doing more to leverage the Taliban into providing greater ease of access to the airport for those most at risk.

A bureaucratic tug of war between the State Department, Pentagon, and White House is also disrupting evacuation operations out of Kabul. This is aggravating British, French, and other Kabul-present military authorities. I understand that these governments have been further aggravated by the failure of the White House and Pentagon to communicate adequately, or in some cases, to communicate at all, on their intentions and actions. All these allies admit, however, that only the U.S. military could provide the airfield defense and air traffic control capabilities now on display.

[Absolutely Spiffing Old Bean]

‘The Brits, you guys are going outside the wire to rescue people...the US are beholden to an old man and his cabinet who can’t do anything.’

Former Trump adviser @SebGorka praises British forces in Afghanistan and slams President Biden for a ‘lack of action.’

https://twitter.com/GBNEWS/status/1429191371064324096

[Absolutely Spiffing Old Bean]

The #British Paras might not have all the military equipment #America does but my god they have the Flexed biceps balls to go out and get British citizen’s into the #kabulairport from #Kabul and not just hope they can make it to the airport #Afghanistan

https://twitter.com/CaptainBr1tain/status/1429057500209364994

[Absolutely Spiffing Old Bean]

Tweets from Jane Ferguson (PBS)

1. The #BritishMilitary here at #KabulAirport have shown breathtaking levels of toughness, professionalism and - rare in war times I must say - compassion. I’ve been moved to tears by their actions, diving into dangerous crowds to pull visa-holders into the base....

2. ...guarding sleeping women and children, helping them find the right transportation to the US air strip for their flights, pulling their own food out of their pockets and handing it to refugees in need, sleeping out on the cement, little supplies, parched in the sun...

3. ....there are young men here who have lost their voices days ago, sunburned faces, dusty uniforms, exhausted, still working to help people in what is. humanitarian mission few soldiers are really prepared for....

4.... They are strict about not being filmed, so I don’t have many pics and videos sadly, but plenty of notes and memories of kindness and bravery. “We want to help people too,” one of them told me when I thanked him....

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1429328715994050563.html