Trillions of our taxpayer dollars have ended up handing the Taliban world-class military capability.

[milestogo]

I'm trying to wrap my head around why we allowed this to happen.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Because some people got very very rich off of this scam.

And deaths mean nothing to them.

[honest.abe]

2. How would you have handled it?

Take all the military equipment away from the Afghan army prior to our leaving?

[DURHAM D]

3. Good question. nt

[bluestarone]

5. Perfect question!

[milestogo]

14. Take it with or destroy it.

[honest.abe]

18. I can only imagine the outcry if Biden decided to remove/destroy all the military equipment...

prior to leaving or as we were leaving. Once leaving there isnt much option to go back in and get that stuff back other than restarting the war. I dont see any alternative that makes any sense.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. And, yet, one of the excuses for those who are trying to defend the Afghans Army implosion say

that the equipment was antiquated and parts were hard to come by.

So, which is it? Let's be consistent.

[NQAS]

6. Yes snd no

Welcome comments by knowledgeable veterans.

This equipment must be maintained. This requires skill that taliban might not have. Then there’s spare parts, from spare tires to gun parts to tracks to ammunition. Sure, lots is probably available on the black market. China might chip in, but this is likely to be costly in many ways.

And that’s apart from operations I hope are under way to destroy some of what remained.

And then there’s weaponry that might end up in the hands of whatever opposition groups evolve.

The usual morass.

[sarisataka]

13. Yes, maintenance will determine attrition

Without anyone to train them, higher tech items will be the first to fall. The desert can be hard on electronics, the users even more.

Simpler items like guns and vehicles can be figured out by people who are mechanically minded. There is a much higher percentage of the population who repairs thongs over there rather than replace as we tend to do. By cannibalizing part from the worst items they will be able to keep some things working for a long time but it will be an ever dwindling inventory.

They are still using Soviet equipment and likely will deal with Russia or China for future needs. The US gear will be around but assuming normal wear and tear will be less than 50% of the inventory in 7-10 years. Much sooner if they get into a full civil war.

[harumph]

20. Yes, of course - the thong maintenance corps.

[RustyWheels]

7. Let's talk about the equipment left behind

Please watch... And don't let the MSM scare you.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017675593

[samnsara]

8. too bad our gvnt cant somehow remotely disable or blow up the left over equipment...

[sarisataka]

9. Humvees and M16s don't equate

To a world class military.

How were we supposed not "allow" this to happen. Send our couple thousand troops around the country to collect all of the equipment? Launch air strikes against the Afghan army to destroy it before it could be captured? (That option is still available BTW)

[BannonsLiver]

19. It's just hyperbole fed to us by our for profit media

Most people don’t know what constitutes an advanced military.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Perpetual War, Perpetual Profits

You have to arm the other side to have a war. No war, no profits. No profits, the 1% are slipping. This cannot be allowed to happen.

[HAB911]

11. It's what we always do

we pay, the military industrial complex and our enemies make out like bandits. we do it over and over and over again

[LuvLoogie]

12. Shit has to be maintained. Even so, shit breaks. Then you have to repair it...

if you know how and if you have the parts.

Any helicopters or tanks they manage to get up into the air or rolling can be disabled by a drone.

[BannonsLiver]

15. World class?

Not really. They don’t have any advanced fighters, attack helicopters, strategic bombers, subs, aircraft carriers, cruisers, or tanks.

[milestogo]

16. Well, now I feel better.

[BannonsLiver]

17. Cool.

Accuracy is important.