US, NATO Outta Afghanistan 2021

[Altair]

BBC News - The Taliban’s secretive war against IS

The Taliban’s secretive war against IS

Jalalabad is the frontline in murky and bloody battle between two groups, and the death toll is rising.

www.bbc.co.uk

Afghanistan is now more peaceful, following the end of the Taliban's insurgency. In Jalalabad, however, their forces are facing an near-daily stream of targeted attacks. IS, known locally as "Daesh," is using some of the same hit-and-run tactics that the Taliban so successfully employed against the previous government, including roadside bombs and stealthy assassinations. IS accuses the Taliban of being "apostates" for not being sufficiently hardline; the Taliban dismiss IS as heretical extremists.

These two deserve one another.

 

[daftandbarmy]

It's deja vu all over again:

Islamic State in Afghanistan could be able to attack U.S. in 6 months-Pentagon official​

The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that Islamic State in Afghanistan could have the capability to attack the United States in as little as six months, and has the intention to do so, a senior Pentagon official told Congress on Tuesday.

Islamic State in Afghanistan could be able to attack U.S. in 6 months-Pentagon official

The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that Islamic State in Afghanistan could have the capability to attack the United States in as little as six months, and has the intention to do so, a senior Pentagon official told Congress on Tuesday.

www.reuters.com

 

[The Bread Guy]

Let's see if Nostradamus gets it right THIS time ...

Taliban will not last beyond two years, feels former Afghan Chief of Staff

Amsterdam [Netherlands], October 29 (ANI): Malaiz Daud, formerly Chief of Staff of Afghanistan's former President Ashraf Ghani, has predicted that the Taliban will not last beyond two years and they are losing their hold on the country right now as the crisis deepens in the war-torn country.

www.aninews.in

 

[The Bread Guy]

Interesting tidbit in Pakistani media about how Afghanistan's Taliban will help get a grip on Pakistan's Taliban splinters if PAK peace talks sour ....

Days before the Afghan Taliban were at the gates of Kabul, Pakistan was already in talks with the government in-waiting to deal with terrorist outfits such as banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch groups which have been for years operating out of the neighbouring country.

Pakistani officials in their interactions with the Taliban leadership made a clear demand that all these groups must not only be denied space to operate but also sought military action against them.

After Taliban captured Kabul on August 15, Pakistan shared a list of most-wanted terrorists seeking their extradition.

The Taliban leadership came up with a proposal, offering Pakistan their good offices to initiate talks with the TTP and its affiliates. But at the same time the interim Taliban government promised military action against those groups, which were not willing to reconcile, according to sources familiar with the development.

It was because of this reason that Pakistan initiated talks with the TTP. The two sides reportedly held at least three face-to-face meetings. One was held in Kabul while the other two took place in Khost ...

 

[CBH99]

Interesting tidbit in Pakistani media about how Afghanistan's Taliban will help get a grip on Pakistan's Taliban splinters if PAK peace talks sour ....

If nothing else, Afghanistan is very much experiencing an interesting period in their history.

They do have quite the history already. But the last year or so, and into the foreseeable future - this period seems like it will stand out - once future history books are written.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

If nothing else, Afghanistan is very much experiencing an interesting period in their history.

They do have quite the history already. But the last year or so, and into the foreseeable future - this period seems like it will stand out - once future history books are written.

The Taliban are experiencing the perils of "winning". It's likley they be able to keep the wheels on for a year or so, but as the money runs dry and people don't stay bought, then threats and force will happen and then civil war 2.0 starts.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Karma time, it seems:

Afghanistan: Taliban leader warns of infiltrators​

Warning by Haibatullah Akhunzada comes as the movement faces increased attacks from hardline groups.

The supreme leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhunzada, has warned the group that there may be “unknown” entities among their ranks who are “working against the will of the government”.

The warning came in a statement attributed to Akhunzada that was circulated widely on Taliban social media accounts on Thursday.

The Taliban’s supreme leader has not been seen in public since the group seized power nearly three months ago, capturing the Afghan capital of Kabul on August 15 and declaring an Islamic emirate as US forces withdrew following a decades-long occupation.

Since the Taliban took control of the country, its leadership has repeatedly warned of impostors and criminals joining the group in an effort to harm its image.

In September, acting Defence Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob raised concerns in an audio message.

“There are some bad and corrupt people who want to join us … To fulfil their own interest or to defame us and make us look bad,” he said.
Yaqoob, the son of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, added that any rogue elements among the ranks would be dealt with.

In recent months, the Taliban has expanded its recruitment as it seeks to fulfil a pledge to maintain security in the country. But the group has faced a series of deadly attacks from rivals, including the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K) armed group, an ISIL-affiliate.
On Tuesday, at least 19 people were killed in an attack on a military hospital in Kabul claimed by ISKP.

The Taliban also declared a nationwide amnesty and promised to allow private media companies to continue to operate freely and independently. However, there have been reports of some Taliban fighters allegedly abusing journalists, and others have been accused of forcibly seizing property in several provinces.

Following the reports, Akhunzada’s office issued a decree in late September banning the group’s members from entering homes and offices “in Kabul or its surroundings under the pretext of checking vehicles or equipment. No one is allowed to take vehicles or equipment” in the name of the Afghan government, it said.

However, there have been continued reports of Taliban fighters forcing hundreds of families out of their homes in the central province of Daikondi.

Taliban supreme leader warns of infiltrators among the ranks

Warning by Haibatullah Akhunzada comes as the movement faces increased attacks from hardline groups.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[FJAG]

Nixon’s Thumbprint​

by Thomas MageeNovember 24, 2021

Last August people across the United States sat in horror as they saw the Government of Afghanistan capitulate to the Taliban. The scenes of mass Afghan Army surrenders and people clamoring to get out of Kabul riveted people to the news. In a flash, after 20 years, the Taliban was back in power. The world had not seen anything like it since Vietnam and both isles of Congress asked how such a thing could occur. The US had spent $145bn over 20 years to rebuild Afghanistan; $83bn of which went to the Afghan army and police forces to build stability.1 2,448 US service personnel and 3,846 contractors were killed in Afghanistan.2 Both President Biden and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley told various press outlets and Congressional committees that the fall of Afghanistan was a complete surprise.3 Many people across the country thought that the nation’s blood and treasure sacrifice would have purchased some sort of stability for Afghanistan. ...

This op ed argues that the collapse of Afghanistan stems from a failure of strategic doctrine that started with President Nixon and Vietnam. To be successful, this piece makes the case for auxiliary forces.

Nixon's Thumbprint

The roots of the West's defeat start with President Nixon and his strategy in Vietnam. It's time to consider Nixon'x thumbprint.

wavellroom.com

 

[FJAG]

Just another interesting article of what you can do when you configure and use your Res F the right way.

How a few good ‘Bastards’ from the Army National Guard helped secure the Kabul airport​

“No one could’ve predicted how this unfolded. The entire situation was surreal.”
BY CAPT. CHARLIE ANDERSON | UPDATED SEP 22, 2021 7:33 PM
It was mid-July when the 1st Combined Arms Battalion of the 194th Armor Regiment first sent soldiers to the Afghan capital in Kabul. Back in Kuwait Task Force 1-194, better known as ‘Task Force Bastard,’ was planning for contingencies if things went south at the embassy and airport, to include over-the-horizon support to aid in a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO). Together with our counterparts at 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division we wanted to get the lay of the land. So signal officer Capt. Vince Struble, plans officer Capt. Andrew Hanson, and Charlie Company 1st Sgt. Christopher O’Shea went to Hamid Karzai International Airport. With the exception of a stray rocket attack by ISIS-Khorasan, Chris, Drew and Vince had a relatively uneventful week. The State Department seemed content with embassy operations, Kabul appeared relatively peaceful, and the Turkish coffees they enjoyed made it seem like they were on a temperate vacation from Task Force Bastard in the desert.
....
When we received the order sending us to Kabul, years of training and a heightened readiness kicked into full action. Within six hours over 400 task force Soldiers were ready to load onto flights. We knew that when we arrived we would be tasked with securing vital sectors of Hamid Karzai International Airport and assisting with the evacuation of U.S. citizens, families, and allies under constant threat from both the Taliban and ISIS-K.

We met Lt. Col. Helgestad’s intent. No one had to wait on us.
...

How a few good 'Bastards’ from the Army National Guard helped secure the Kabul airport

“No one could’ve predicted how this unfolded. The entire situation was surreal.”

taskandpurpose.com

 

[daftandbarmy]

Just another interesting article of what you can do when you configure and use your Res F the right way.

Well, the Reserves are not quite the National Guard.

Most of our Reservists are vaccinated

Military vaccination mandate dispute pits Pentagon against Oklahoma National Guard​

https://www.cnn.com/profiles/oren-liebermann

Military vaccination mandate dispute pits Pentagon against Oklahoma National Guard | CNN Politics

The refusal of the commander of the Oklahoma National guard to enforce the Pentagon's Covid-19 vaccination mandate has opened up a dispute about the limits of the federal government's authority and the chain of command of the military.

www.cnn.com

 

[FJAG]

An interesting perspective in this article.

One needs to remember that the initial entry into Afghanistan was by Special Forces who partnered with warlords to build a loose coalition that defeated the Taliban. Subsequent efforts were to destabilize and disarm the Afghan Militia Forces with a effort to build a westernized-style Afghan National Army. We all know the results of that.

The article posits that the weakened warlord structure was the focus of the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country.

Did the deliberate weakening of warlords cause Afghanistan’s collapse?

In this submission, Ben Acheson asks whether the weakening of warlords caused Afghanistan's Collapse.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

 

[The Bread Guy]

Some of NATO's lessons learned via a Canadian Library of Parliament paper ....

... All Allies participated in the Afghanistan lessons learned exercise, which looked at both political and military issues. The exercise was completed by November 2021 to allow it to be discussed by NATO foreign ministers at a December 2021 meeting and to inform the negotiation of a new NATO Strategic Concept, which will be approved in June 2022.

The lessons learned exercise identified key conclusions and recommendations. The summary of the lessons learned highlighted that Allies should:

• continually assess strategic interests, remain aware of the dangers of mission expansion, seek to avoid taking on commitments that go well beyond assigned tasks and establish realistic and achievable goals;
• consider how to maintain the military interoperability and political dialogue that was gained;
• carefully consider local political and cultural norms and absorptive capacity when undertaking “train, advise and assist” missions;
• improve internal Alliance reporting and consultations; and
• consider how to strengthen capabilities to support short-notice non-combatant evacuation operations ...

Full LoP paper also attached, as well as NATO's fact sheet on their work

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Some of NATO's lessons learned via a Canadian Library of Parliament paper ....

Full LoP paper also attached, as well as NATO's fact sheet on their work

Amazing how the problems of 2009 are finally being brought up in 2022. Bit like closing the barn door after the horses get out....

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Amazing how the problems of 2009 are finally being brought up in 2022. Bit like closing th4e barn door after the horses get out....

…and the barn itself has burnt to the ground….

 

[Good2Golf]

Amazing how the problems of 2009 are finally being brought up in 2022. Bit like closing th4e barn door after the horses get out....

…one could only hope that it might be considered in future ops. I remember back in the day when Lessons Learned was still a new(ish) thing that part of the planning process was ‘review LL for similar previous ops’. Perhaps that’s passé?

 

[The Bread Guy]

…one could only hope that it might be considered in future ops. I remember back in the day when Lessons Learned was still a new(ish) thing that part of the planning process was ‘review LL for similar previous ops’. Perhaps that’s passé?

Like forced rest in battle procedure?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Like forced rest in battle procedure?

 

[Good2Golf]

Like forced rest in battle procedure?

 

[The Bread Guy]

View attachment 68291

I know, I age myself with the version I remember

 

[RangerRay]

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