The US military leaders in talking frankly to the Congress have continually expressed their concern that the Commander-in-Chief President Biden should NOT withdraw ALL of the American troops from Afghanistan…An American withdrawal will mean NATO’s 7,000 trop’s would leave also….There are US sponsored ‘contractors’ in country, but they might leave without the protection of Western troops….
Their fear is a revenge bloodbath when, not if the Taliban and alQaeda groups overrun that country and it’s 4 million plus capital ….
While the US General’s understand what the ‘boss’ wants….
They feel the goal is simply short sighted and could involve serious problems for the people in that country try who have fought against the two groups who make no secret of their wishes to ‘conquer’ the country….
Virtual support IS a bad joke…..
Afghanistan’s military “will certainly collapse” without some continued American support once all U.S. troops are withdrawn, the top U.S. general for the Middle East told Congress Thursday. Gen. Frank McKenzie also said he was very concerned about the Afghan government’s ability to protect the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said that as the U.S. pulls out all forces, “my concern is the Afghans’ ability to hold ground” and whether they will able to continue to maintain and fly their aircraft without U.S. aid and financial support. Later, at a Pentagon news conference, McKenzie said the U.S. will look for “some remote, televised way” to help the Afghan security forces perform maintenance on their aircraft without having U.S. personnel in the country.
“We’re certainly going to try to do everything we can from distant locations to assist the Afghans as they maintain the aircraft and other platforms that will be essential for the fight ahead of them,” the general said. He added later: “We’re going to try all kinds of innovate ways. The one thing I can tell you is, we’re not going to be there on the ground with them.”
In his testimony, McKenzie said it will be paramount to protect the U.S. Embassy and “it is a matter of great concern to me whether or not the future government of Afghanistan will be able to do that once we leave.”
…
Senators voiced divided views on the withdrawal, with comments crossing party lines. Several lawmakers questioned whether the U.S. will be able to prevent the Taliban from allowing a resurgence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan who are seeking to attack America. Others asked if the U.S. will be able to adequately account for how the Afghan government spends any American money.
…
The Pentagon has said it’s not clear yet whether any U.S. contractors will remain in the country. The Defense Department says the number of contractors in Afghanistan started to decline over the past year or so. According to the latest numbers, there are close to 17,000 Defense Department-funded contractors in Afghanistan and less than one-third of those were Americans.
The total included more than 2,800 armed and unarmed private security contractors, of which more than 1,500 are armed. Of those 1,500, about 600 are Americans…
Well at least this myth that we have created a real “government” and “army” there has been abandoned.
Essentially this country has become a protectorate of the United States.
Indeed the fact that this “army” is so weak that it needs a few thousand American troops to prop it up makes it sound like some kind of collection of toy soldiers.
And,of course, the Taliban have the support of Pakistan
Who,remember, is supposed to be our ally.
Once again, we all know what’s going to happen here.The only question is exactly when?
In the end ?
Biden has to decide what he wants….
It’s a gamble….
If things get bloody?
That could very well haunt him and America in the history books….The cost of lives lost…
Or?
Somehow things do work out peacefully…
And Biden can get the credit…
Biden campaigned for the job….
The hard parts and all….