blandy Posted August 24, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 24, 2021 1 minute ago, chrisp65 said: You can’t really think that Biden could have extended the occupation of the airport today? I don’t think he will/would. And if you mean specifically start to think about it today ,then even more not. But I can’t imagine over the past week the Americans haven’t contingency planned at Military level for a “what if” scenario(s) - like what if the Talibans don’t keep their side of the deal - shooting people, stopping westerners leaving etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 1 minute ago, chrisp65 said: An extension today was not in Biden’s gift. Not without the potential for a terrorist strike, gun battles with thousands of civilians in the way, hostages or even more of a mess than he’s already contrived. I know they are from the dark ages , but even so I'm sure someone in the Taliban has an old Nokia 1011 that Biden could have called them up on and made some form of effort if the Taliban are going to activate suicide squads as a first resort , then clearly we shouldn't be leaving Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, blandy said: I don’t think he will/would. And if you mean specifically start to think about it today ,then even more not. But I can’t imagine over the past week the Americans haven’t contingency planned at Military level for a “what if” scenario(s) - like what if the Talibans don’t keep their side of the deal - shooting people, stopping westerners leaving etc. Yes, I’d like to think they have gamed all the different scenarios. I’d like to think that someone had already pointed out to him that he could not protect thousands of civilians outside the perimeter, and he couldn’t let them all in. I’d like to think that would also have been equally obvious to us, hence my amazement we made such a big public play of asking him today. Hey, like I say, I’m no military expert. Perhaps you can just tell the Taliban you are unilaterally extending the occupation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 11 minutes ago, tonyh29 said: I know they are from the dark ages , but even so I'm sure someone in the Taliban has an old Nokia 1011 that Biden could have called them up on and made some form of effort if the Taliban are going to activate suicide squads as a first resort , then clearly we shouldn't be leaving They’ve got better than an old Nokia, they’ve got media conferences and delegates stationed in other countries. I’m not saying there is no means of talking to them, I’m saying Tuesday 24th is too late to ‘tell’ them we’re staying an extra week or there will be consequences for them. It’s just not a viable stance. They’ve said no extension. Now I have no idea at all how much sway the Taliban press conferences have over the illiterate teenage soldiers outside the airport. I’m not being a pussy and just thinking they are better fighters than us. In a straight fight, they have roughly zero chance. But it isn’t a straight fight, it’s our soldiers confined to a small defined space, surrounded by thousands of civilians, intermingled with a random army of religious maniacs. I just don’t fancy those odds. But, as always, I’m not a military expert just a punter with an opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted August 24, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 24, 2021 6 hours ago, darrenm said: Just for the sake of accuracy, no-one called for the Taliban to be paid damages. Burgon (who I assume you're referring to) said we need to make sure reparations go directly to the Afghan people (i.e. making sure it doesn't go to the Taliban) You can listen for yourself here When things get misrepresented in the media, it's important to set the record straight. Otherwise, no-one is ever able to make a nuanced point without it being easily distorted and then repeated by those who accept it without question. Here's what a lot of the usual suspects in coalition with each other said.... Quote The British government should take a lead in offering a refugee programme and reparations to rebuild Afghanistan, an act which would go a great deal further in advancing the rights of the Afghan people, women in particular, than continued military or economic intervention in the fate of the Afghanistan. Stop The War Burgon's statement was an attempt to clarify the position (thats me being generous) but how you pay reparations to a country without involving the people running that country is somewhat beyond comprehension. Burgon's statement is a reaction to the reaction 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 I will admit I haven't been following the news with laser-like focus over the last few days - and the fact I've been able to ignore it seems quite promising about how things are going - but I notice that the Defence Secretary appears to be getting it in the neck from the public about whether or not a plane can land to collect some bloke's dogs or not, which certainly makes it seem like this has become less of a crisis and that the obvious agreement about the Taliban providing a window for shit they don't want to leave the country seems to be happening in a comparatively orderly fashion at this point. Maybe it's all gonna go downhill again, but. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bannedfromHandV Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 Can anyone explain the purpose of the headline news on the Sky news app - ‘Very Lethal Attack’ could happen at Kabul airport A very lethal attack could happen anywhere, any time, I think everyone is fully aware of the volatile situation in Afghanistan right now, i just cannot see any point in the headline / article, nor in releasing that information in the first place (government). Just feels like they’re intent on keeping people in a perpetual state of general anxiety and fear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 About a dozen people have died just trying to get on planes so it’ll have to be particularly bad to be worse than “normal business”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 4 hours ago, bannedfromHandV said: Can anyone explain the purpose of the headline news on the Sky news app - ‘Very Lethal Attack’ could happen at Kabul airport A very lethal attack could happen anywhere, any time, I think everyone is fully aware of the volatile situation in Afghanistan right now, i just cannot see any point in the headline / article, nor in releasing that information in the first place (government). Just feels like they’re intent on keeping people in a perpetual state of general anxiety and fear. This aged well 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 On 24/08/2021 at 19:04, tonyh29 said: if the Taliban are going to activate suicide squads as a first resort , then clearly we shouldn't be leaving ISIS rather than the Taliban, but I agree with the general sentiment that the US could have extended the departure by a week or so without serious Taliban push back. Biden’s statement a week(ish) ago that the anti-terrorism mission was complete doesn’t sit seamlessly next to an evacuation that’s being aborted by the threat (now reality) of terrorist attack. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bannedfromHandV Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 11 minutes ago, Davkaus said: This aged well Yeah fair one, although it wasn’t so much that I doubted it could / would happen but just more the perpetual bad news every time you open a news app or pick up a newspaper these days, it’s exhausting. Was always more a generic comment and prob not best placed in this thread. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 6 hours ago, HanoiVillan said: I notice that the Defence Secretary appears to be getting it in the neck from the public about whether or not a plane can land to collect some bloke's dogs or not This story is wild to me. Good job he's the 'defence' secretary, seems to be in need of those defending skills. The replies to these tweets are just mad: This must be what it's like being Philip Schofield. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted August 26, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 26, 2021 As soon as someone chucks in the poor animal grenade all logic is violently exterminated. The animal grenade is possibly the most lethal weapon in any battle of words Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 3 hours ago, sne said: At least 40 killed and hundreds injured. A bunch of US marines among the casualties. Ball in your court Mr Biden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 At least 12 US marines confirmed killed. I suspect the Republicans will be putting a bit of pressure on Biden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 (edited) 13 minutes ago, LondonLax said: At least 12 US marines confirmed killed. I suspect the Republicans will be putting a bit of pressure on Biden Wow. Could be a game changer. The US have been made to look terrible here. Taliban swanning around in their gear and today had a joyride in a US military helicopter. Ball very much in Biden’s court. Edited August 26, 2021 by Genie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 23 minutes ago, LondonLax said: At least 12 US marines confirmed killed. I suspect Americans will be putting a bit of pressure on Biden FTFY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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