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Afghanistan; did we waste our time, and even worse, our soldiers lives?

(120 Posts)
maddyone Wed 11-Aug-21 10:26:07

I think we did waste our time, but much worse, over 400 British soldiers lost their lives. And for what? And what will happen now? The Taliban are taking over the whole of Afghanistan very quickly. What do you think?

westendgirl Fri 13-Aug-21 16:42:01

I do agree that Rory Stewart said much that makes sense, as did the widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan on BBC2 news at lunchtime.

Sarnia Fri 13-Aug-21 16:54:29

There is an emergency COBRA meeting this afternoon on the situation in Afghanistan. I sincerely hope he doesn't tell us our troops are getting involved again.

NfkDumpling Sun 15-Aug-21 13:57:34

I fear for the future when the Taliban are in power, as they will surely be, where will they stop?

Whitewavemark2 Sun 15-Aug-21 14:17:24

Those fleeing for their lives can expect no help from our government.

“Senior military sources say the Home Office is reluctant to give many of these people asylum because of the message it will send to other refugees.”

GrannyGravy13 Sun 15-Aug-21 14:24:11

President Biden has announced that he is deploying 5,000 US troops to Afghanistan, according to Sky News.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 15-Aug-21 14:52:31

I think that is to protect American personal as well as those afghans that worked with the Americans and to get them out safely.

Are we doing the same?

GrannyGravy13 Sun 15-Aug-21 14:53:29

Whitewavemark2

I think that is to protect American personal as well as those afghans that worked with the Americans and to get them out safely.

Are we doing the same?

U.K. have deployed 600 para’s

Whitewavemark2 Sun 15-Aug-21 14:56:03

Is that to take out Brits and Afghan nationals under threat do you know?

Jaxjacky Sun 15-Aug-21 15:03:15

Parliament is being recalled next week too.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 15-Aug-21 15:15:33

Whitewavemark2

Is that to take out Brits and Afghan nationals under threat do you know?

In the piece I read it said they were going to help with the evacuation I dare say they are going to be economical with details at this stage of the situation.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 15-Aug-21 15:29:10

There are reports coming out that Afghanistan President Ghani has fled the Country.

Riverwalk Sun 15-Aug-21 16:07:38

Is there any hope for ordinary people when the president of the country flees?

I'm so angry with NATO, and the US & UK governments - can't articulate my thoughts any better than that right now.

Lincslass Sun 15-Aug-21 16:42:02

So the monsters have arrived and taken over . The President has fled, not to the UK I hope, and left his people to die. I feel another Iran has been born, with China being its first allie mainly for the minerals, and reconstruction, in bed with the devil.
warontherocks.com/2021/08/a-reluctant-embrace-chinas-new-relationship-with-the-taliban/

Whitewavemark2 Sun 15-Aug-21 18:40:34

So all American embassy staff gone and all American personnel are being airlifted by American army.

It seems that U.K. personnel are being left to try to get commercial air flights out??.

What a dreadful mess it all is.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 15-Aug-21 18:57:39

Whitewavemark2

So all American embassy staff gone and all American personnel are being airlifted by American army.

It seems that U.K. personnel are being left to try to get commercial air flights out??.

What a dreadful mess it all is.

As the airport in Kabul is under fire and people have been warned against trying to get there, they have been advised to lay low

US Embassy has apparently burned all sensitive papers and helicopters were seen coming and going early morning Afghanistan time.

There are reports that the Taliban are now in control of the US Embassy.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 15-Aug-21 19:03:19

So the agreement to allow foreigners to leave peacefully hasn’t held then?

SueDonim Sun 15-Aug-21 20:20:23

Commercial flights have stopped according to the BBC as it’s too unsafe. I guess everyone will be trying to get on any military or private flights there are.

maddyone Sun 15-Aug-21 23:10:52

Whitewavemark2

So the agreement to allow foreigners to leave peacefully hasn’t held then?

It certainly appears that way.

nanna8 Mon 16-Aug-21 01:20:02

I don’t think the troops wasted their time. They gave those poor people a few years of relatively normal life whilst they kept the Taliban at bay and that is something worth fighting for. Many lost their lives for the sake of others.

Riverwalk Mon 16-Aug-21 06:47:05

As the airport in Kabul is under fire

I read that warning shots were fired by the US to prevent people running onto the tarmac to reach the planes, rather than the airport being under fire.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 16-Aug-21 06:59:49

The lesson that must finally be learned is that to try to impose a different way of life on a culture, will never ever work unless you are prepared to stay for generations and invest untold vast quantities of money and perhaps lives in doing so.

What we must ask ourselves is that however abhorrent we may find a particular culture do we have the moral right to try to change it?

The U.K. is as guilty as anyone and the misery and damage done by us in our mission to bring light to dark continents does not bear investigation.

This is repeating itself now in Afghanistan.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 16-Aug-21 08:01:32

The most dangerous fallout from the breathtaking success of the Taliban is the boost in moral and intention of every terrorist in the world both abroad and those sitting in their houses in the U.K.

Galaxy Mon 16-Aug-21 08:11:30

You also need to ask do we have the moral right not to change it.

Blondiescot Mon 16-Aug-21 08:17:12

Absolutely, Galaxy. Whitewavemark2 asks: "What we must ask ourselves is that however abhorrent we may find a particular culture do we have the moral right to try to change it?"
You would have to pose the question - where would we be now if we had taken that attitude in 1939.
My son served tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq, helping to train the local army, and said they knew this would be exactly what would happen when they left.

tippytipsy Mon 16-Aug-21 08:18:09

What we must ask ourselves is that however abhorrent we may find a particular culture do we have the moral right to try to change it?

We don't want to just change it, we want to make it a copy of ourselves and that isn't how things work.