Posted on 09/13/2021 6:56:13 PM PDT by elpadre
DER SPIEGEL: Taliban fighters can be seen driving through Kabul in pickup trucks, and they are posing with weapons in their hands in TV studios. Are you having a lot of déjà-vu experiences right now?
Soufan: That’s true, we went back full circle. After 20 years, the Taliban are again in control of Afghanistan. And we have to be aware that the withdrawal of the U.S. from Afghanistan and the way it happened is inspiring for people in the world. It is a massive victory for not only the global jihadist movement but also for all the militants who are operating against the U.S. And this will have consequences for the national security of the United States.
DER SPIEGEL: Because all these terrorist groups will now be able to regroup in Afghanistan unhindered?
Soufan: Not only. What happened is also inspiring for people who are not even Sunni extremists, groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Houthis in Yemen and a lot of other anti-American groups in the Middle East. It could also provide a window of opportunity for al-Qaida to regroup. They now have their headquarters back, even though they have a lot of affiliates in different places around the Middle East. They have people in Somalia, Yemen and Syria. I think it's going to be very difficult to contain the jihadi threat in Afghanistan.
DER SPIEGEL: Isn’t the Afghan branch of the Islamic State (ISIS) far more dangerous by now?
Soufan: Well, I think ISIS Khorasan is a newcomer on the ground in Afghanistan. But yes, they are dangerous and ...
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Sorry, but I see FBI, I think not credible.
Too much lying from the FBI over the past few years.
“...Soufan: Absolutely. Afghanistan is a tribal country in so many different regions, with different ethnic groups. Most Afghanis didn’t trust the government because of corruption. When they had a problem, they didn’t go to the government. They went to the jirga and they went to the elders to solve a lot of these issues. That is an opportunity that we missed. We would have needed a policy based on the culture of the place, based on the culture in Kabul and the culture in Herat, the culture in Mazar-e-Sharif, but not based on the culture of Washington. I think this was one of the biggest problems...”
I don’t care what some FBI agent thinks. Scum.
When Trump left office, the war was long over, and we were occupying post-war Afghanistan with a small force. Like post-war Japan or Germany.
The Taliban did not take Afghanistan. We gave it to them.
Afghanistan was never a war that America could win, because would not use traditional tribal warfare tactics and wipe out the entire population.
The only thing that America should have done was bomb Osama’s mountain into a crater and then set up a trading post with Afghanistan and trade with them for their minerals.
The Deep State’s view.
Yes
Well, to be fair, I agree with his analysis on a point: Biden screwed the pooch on the withdrawal, then tried to regain his ‘manhood’ by firing a missile off that ended up killing an aid worker and a half dozen kids. Now every terrorist tribe and tinpot dictator will be throwing rocks at us, knowing that Biden’s response may end up having a bingo hall full of old ladies in Kenosha, Wisconsin shelled.
I believe our Afghan veterans will verify much of what he says. I know I have talked with a few over the past 20 years and although they might disagree of some specific facts, they would probably all agree he is on the right track.
We lost because we don’t have the correct focus anymore. It’s all ultimately about “don’t offend them”.
Should have just bombed the hell out of them, and then left them to deal with it. Like real war. Especially with primitive brutal cultures. Too bad they got messed up for messing with us.
I agree, and it's because the culture of DC has been shaped by a pedigree that assumes that the hierarchy of academics means something. It doesn't. At all. You can't predict by 'pedigree' who is the best person for any job - particularly one that requires thinking outside the box and beyond what is in textbooks or Ted talks.
One of the best ways to increase the intrinsic real world knowledge and effective world approach in DC is to put in place a moratorium on any appointments or hires of those from the Ivy League, or other 'top tier' university background. I am entirely serious.
This was one of the good guys. He was pushed out of the FBI.
It should have been waged with cruise missiles and MOABS, AND SCREW THE NATION BUILDING.
Ali Soufan is not deep state. His views and methods were anti-deep state and got him pushed out.
Thx for clarifying.
Years ago, when freepers went to Iraq and produced their own report, they brought up the tribal elements of Iraqi society. Trying to impose a American and European government and miltary on different culture does not work.
Yeah, he could well be just talking through his hat. After all, what is he really saying that everybody doesn’t already know?
Bingo.
I had the same feeling. I don’t know who this guy is. But if he speaks from the “pedestal” of “former FBI agent” he has zero credibility with me.
Whether he is right or wrong is irrelevant to me. Coming the from the likes of him makes me ignore pretty much anything he says.
Just my opinion.
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