To want to weep fir the girls in afghanistaan

An absolutely dreadful situation. The blame, the wise and wherefores' are of no help now really. It is what it is. The Afghan army of 300,000 ran away/downed guns at the threat of 75,000 Taliban fighters. We can not leave our soldiers there . It is not right. Just listened to Bob Stewart. He is right. My goodness the Taliban are so well equipped now. All the ammunition etc which was given to the Afghan army by the US and UK is not in the hands of the Taliban. We need to make sure that they do not use it on us.

Galaxy

I know who he is talking to Pippa. Yes he knows his audience I will give him that.

It is the country he is president of Galaxy, so you would hope so. Trump is already pushing out the "it wasn't me" even though he made the agreement. You may be interested in (or not even want to hear because it doesn't make you feel you are in the right) my American relations view. I asked them what they thought of Biden's speech. The answer was;

We felt it to be realistic and factual. Not sure what can be influenced in such a tumultuous region.

That is exactly how I heard it. With the Afghan Army, which was three times the size of the Taliban, collapsing as soon as they were challenged, I am not sure what you think the small numbers of American and British boots on the ground could do. Once the Afghans had heard what Trump had agreed this was always a possibility but I doubt anyone could have predicted just how quickly they would crumble.

I have been feeling very sad since Saturday about the situation of all Afghans who oppose the Talibans mediaeval views but especially the women and girls.
I have emailed my MP to ask that she supports proposals for safe havens and special refugee status for the most vulnerable. I have donated to refugee support groups. I have posted on Facebook and been so disappointed by the lack of response. I don’t know what to do next except to keep highlighting the situation. Has anyone got any other ideas?

I too fear for those poor people. The world watches and anyone thinking of helping us in the future, will surely remember these scenes. Who would want to trust us from the West. We have played right into their hands. Our enemies must be laughing their backs off. I'm keeping them all in my prayers as that's the only help I can give them.

From the time Trump signed the deal, the Taliban pushed ahead. They have had a year or more to plan strategy, in fact they ruled 50% of Afghanistan by the time Biden took over. The corrupt government has taken the money supplied for defence (from the USA ) for their own purposes. The soldiers were apparently existing on potatoes in some regions.

To remain and face the wrath of the Taliban and a large part of the Sunni population would have taken much more resources than the allies had in Afghanistan. Biden simply made the most sensible decision to withdraw as planned.

The allies have now left yet another country leaving a trail of disaster. What we are witnessing is a result of our determination to pursue our apparent interests throughout the world regardless of the harm and heartbreak it does. The argument that we are civilising or enlightening the population just doesn’t cut it.

Iraq, Syria, Libya and now Afghanistan.

In each one there is now a breeding ground for terrorism, spawned by our interference and violence.

This must never happen again.

I did see all those men, I hardly know what to say, Im just so shocked and devastated for them all. So Trump decided this would happen, but Biden has done it? It is heartbreaking.

For those of you concerned about the young men at the airport, my sources on the ground there tell me that the majority are ethnic Hazara. Being predominantly Shia Muslims they have been a persecuted minority for years in the region both in Afghanistan and the surrounding countries. The Sunni Taliban have once again decreed that all males should grow a beard which, because of their Asian descent, is almost an impossibility for Hazara males. During the previous Taliban period, hundreds of Hazara men were tortured and killed because of this. The recent spate of Taliban (and Daesh) attacks and suicide bombings in Kabul have specifically targeted the Hazara. Is it any wonder that these young men are risking their lives hanging onto evacuation planes at the airport?

Me too Chapeau

I am weeping for the girls in Afghanistan.
Until a few years ago, I was a professor at the American University in Kabul for 4 years. Roughly half of my students were young women from all over the country, most on scholarships. Bright, enthusiastic and so determined to succeed for the betterment of Afghanistan.
For the past week or so, my email inbox has been overflowing with mail from many of these former students who, unlike the more 'connected' students, chose to stay and contribute to a better future for their country. These young teachers, civil servants, medical staff, small business entrepreneurs and the like are not asking for my help because they know there's little I can do. Instead they are sharing their fears and worries as well as reminiscing about the laughs we had in and out of class together. It is heartbreaking.
So yes…I am weeping for the girls in Afghanistan.

On the news, did you see all the MEN trying to board planes?
Where were their wives and children?
That's atrocious that they'd happily cram onto planes, even hanging on the outsides endangering their own and other lives, to try to escape when they should be there with their families!!!
I, too, feel for the women and children, especially female children, in that awful country!!!

I'm keeping an eye on the Nowzad charity in Kabul and donated yesterday. We met Pen Farthing in 2011, a lovely young man and dedicated to making lives better.

I've been following this charity of FB since it was set up, LondonMsFitz. I send a monthly donation and am hoping that someone somewhere can do something about these brave men and women who have been caring for these animals.

Biden stepped into the White House and changed many things that Trump had done.

www.itv.com/news/2021-01-21/the-17-immediate-changes-joe-biden-made-on-first-day-as-us-president

Everyone was impressed. So why could he not have done something similar with Afghanistan? Not withdrew in such a chaotic fashion?

The Pentagon warned Biden. Military advisers warned him.

Biden could have overturned the withdrawal and gone forward in a calm way to evacuate civilians etc etc

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/15/afghanistan-will-be-seen-as-joe-bidens-defeat-and-it-may-come-back-to-haunt-him

Women and children aren't allowed out without male supervision. Women and children wouldn't be allowed to go ahead of men, they'd be shoved back. Probably beaten back. Changing the attitudes of a country would take more than a couple of decades, and I think that is where the root of the problem is.

My husband (divorced this year so now ex husband) was on Herrick 12 in Afghanistan, March 2010 to October 2010, at Nad-e-Ali. Reservist in the Army. Just for context.

A young boy told him a girl would never be allowed to get better marks than him in a test, he was incredulous such a thing could possibly happen. It's hard to imagine a country where females are very much regarded as beneath men.

It's been difficult to watch what is happening now, and thinking about the bloody loss of life. Life changing injuries. The money (Biden did harp on about the trillions spent in his speech this evening- I mean, it's not like anyone forced the USA to spend out, is it)? All that effort - I can't help but think that the departure was badly planned, there was bad intelligence given to World Leaders (BBC report on Friday said the Taliban could be in charge of Afghanistan in 90 days - literally 4 days later they are running the country)!

The stress I went through when my now Ex was out there still makes me sad. Frustrated. He came back a different man, rather more aggressive in his manner, very full of himself - we separated 18 months after he came back.

I'm keeping an eye on the Nowzad charity in Kabul and donated yesterday. We met Pen Farthing in 2011, a lovely young man and dedicated to making lives better. His Facebook video yesterday was heart rending, they will have to humanely destroy a number of animals that won't be able to travel (too ill, won't handle the journey). He's trying to get the vet staff out - a female vet will for certain be a Taliban target. They have a number of donkeys - trying to find safe spaces for them. Dozens of dogs and cats (the Taliban hate dogs).

I'm just sad, and frustrated, and think it could and should have been handled so very much better.

I know who he is talking to Pippa. Yes he knows his audience I will give him that.

PippaZ

^Defence secretary Ben Wallace broke down live on air as he feared some people who helped the British effort in Afghanistan “would not get back”. Wallace, a former soldier, laid the blame for the current turmoil firmly at the feet of Trump, who signed a deal with the Taliban to initiate the withdrawal of US troops by September.^

Huffpost Article

I think that is very possible, Luckygirl
I saw one man on the news trying to usher his children in front of him; I hope they all got out.

It's not often you see a politician in tears, PippaZ

Other NATO troops had already left and all were due to leave by September otherwise they would have been regarded as an occupying force, said Taliban leaders.
US forces remaining would violate Doha agreement" - Taliban

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-57714808
5th July 2021

Why did we spend years supporting the Afghan government and training their troops just for a deal to then be signed with the Taliban by Trump? He made all those efforts worth nothing.

I was struck by the fact that those fleeing the Taliban and trying to get out were virtually all men - there were very few shots that included women and children. Can it possibly be that they are being left to their fate?

Defence secretary Ben Wallace broke down live on air as he feared some people who helped the British effort in Afghanistan “would not get back”. Wallace, a former soldier, laid the blame for the current turmoil firmly at the feet of Trump, who signed a deal with the Taliban to initiate the withdrawal of US troops by September.

Huffpost Article

The deal was struck by Trump. He is being truthful about there never being a good time and, to be honest Galaxy he is not talking to you he is talking to America.

Biden has been totally consistent over leaving Afghanistan, the issue is the way it is being done.

I cant believe the words that are coming out of Bidens mouth.

BlackSheep46

Will our media continue to report the dreadful
situation in Afghanistan or will their reporting be another five day wonder ? Keep up the pressure I say - but they will only do that if we all keep demanding that they continue to report from those poor terrified people. Keep up the pressure - who knows, the Taliban just might go away if they know that the eyes of the world are upon them.

The Taliban are not / will not be going anywhere

Reporters on the ground are risking their lives whilst they are in Afghanistan.

Will our media continue to report the dreadful
situation in Afghanistan or will their reporting be another five day wonder ? Keep up the pressure I say - but they will only do that if we all keep demanding that they continue to report from those poor terrified people. Keep up the pressure - who knows, the Taliban just might go away if they know that the eyes of the world are upon them.

Susieq62

All of our lamenting and hand wringing does not absolve men of their heinous acts ! Men created the Afghan issues, men abuse women and men in that country! Men made the decisions to invade then leave!
I would like the opportunity to sponsor an Afghan woman to support her and her education but she would never be able to use it ?‍♀️
I am beyond r we ordered over this terrible unjust situation !!

Many men fought and gave their lives or suffered life-changing injuries so that many in Afghanistan did have to opportunities we would want for them.

Nothing is as simple as "us and them".

The U.K. Ambassador is at Kabul Airport (Military side) he is giving visas for people to fly even if they are without passports.

It is the most dreadful situation, but please give the brave people credit who stayed behind to help with the evacuation instead of flying home to their families.

HannahLoisLuke

Nagmad2016

This is the most horrifying situation for those women. It amazes me that when we see newsreels of people fleeing the country and boarding planes, the majority are able, young men. I can't help wondering why they are not staying to protect their women and make a stand for their country. This is probably a simplistic view of the situation, but it does make me wonder.

No different from all the asylum seekers arriving on our shores from elsewhere in the world. Mostly young able bodied men who’s rather abandon their families and country than stay and put things right. Or try to.

We have no idea of the circumstances of these people. Maybe the women don't have passports? There could well be other brothers at home to look after the women as best they can, and let the ones who are leaving go. The men may have fallen foul of Taliban laws and be at risk themselves.

I would not be holding my son back if he were able to leave a regime like that and make a new life elsewhere.