Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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

Posted on 08/20/2021 3:59:32 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 82ndairborne; british; general; kabul; specialforces
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-123 next last
To: Enlightened1

“ British operations were embarrassing the United States military in the absence of similar U.S. military operations.”

Sounds like our problem not the brits.


21 posted on 08/20/2021 4:10:20 PM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1
Don't forget: the mission of the US Armed Forces is diversity and inclusiveness!
22 posted on 08/20/2021 4:10:35 PM PDT by Savage Beast (Wokeness is weakness, and diversity is where nations go to die. --Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

An 0bama general, obviously.


23 posted on 08/20/2021 4:10:45 PM PDT by OKSooner (Always say, "After the fair trial".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

This can’t be true.


24 posted on 08/20/2021 4:11:12 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (I do not recognize Biden’s authority.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

would you rather people be embarrassed or dead? you are fired! unfn believable just when you think they cant get any stupier...


25 posted on 08/20/2021 4:11:28 PM PDT by rolling_stone (is it time to roll ?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

Is this really true?


26 posted on 08/20/2021 4:11:29 PM PDT by Karoo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

Great.
A woke two star looking for his third star by sucking up to Biden and Austin.

We need to fire every colonel and above.


27 posted on 08/20/2021 4:11:49 PM PDT by oldbill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

I propose that Maj. General Christopher Donahue personally go out and bring back Americans for evacuation.


28 posted on 08/20/2021 4:12:13 PM PDT by Chewbarkah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

I wonder if this is a smoke screen where the British, French, and Germans remove our citizens and we don’t give the appearance of leaving the perimeter.

If I was there I would be spending time with my foreign friends.


29 posted on 08/20/2021 4:12:32 PM PDT by alternatives?
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

Xiden WARNED Americans he would use nuclear weapons
on US cities;
after he gave the most sensitive sites to Putin.

This animal should not be in the US military except
behind bars for LEAVING AMERICANS to their deaths KNOWINGLY.


30 posted on 08/20/2021 4:12:43 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CatOwner
 
 
Beat me to the question. This is getting nuttier by the hour. Didn't think the fall of the West would be this kooky.
 
 

31 posted on 08/20/2021 4:13:06 PM PDT by lapsus calami (What's that stink? Code Pink ! ! And their buddy Murtha, too!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

The 82nd AB? Holy CRAP what’s happened to our Army?

I can’t imagine this, I truly can’t. Are they “following orders”?? I would like to know how the 82nd’s mission reads.

Every day is another day of developments that are incomprehensible.


32 posted on 08/20/2021 4:13:23 PM PDT by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

Our military high command is as useless as the resident in the White House. All babbling fools.


33 posted on 08/20/2021 4:14:03 PM PDT by JayAr36 (My disgust with government is complete.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

I find myself overusing the term ‘incredible’, but there aren’t many other terms for it without getting too much personal disgust wrapped around it.

..And just being sure, this is NOT from the Babylon Bee, right?


34 posted on 08/20/2021 4:14:36 PM PDT by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1
British officer to American General:

Nuts!

-PJ

35 posted on 08/20/2021 4:16:21 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (* LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

It’s this level of thinking that wants to strip away all classes for advanced learning in schools.
Let everyone be evenly dumbed down.
Leave no lamebrain behind!


36 posted on 08/20/2021 4:16:31 PM PDT by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

That general must be a petty officer because I’ve never seen such petty behavior.


37 posted on 08/20/2021 4:16:57 PM PDT by LeoTDB69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

Wow. There needs to be a mutiny. Big time.

I heard about the same this morning.

Also saw an anonymous post by a guy at SoCon. Said soldiers were FURIOUS.


38 posted on 08/20/2021 4:17:31 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (RIP my "teddy bear". )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enlightened1

You gotta be chitting me


39 posted on 08/20/2021 4:18:02 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Claiming Racism, the antidote to personal responsibility)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diogenesis

do you have a link to that ???


40 posted on 08/20/2021 4:20:06 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-123 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson