Afghan government collapse.

[Mr. Morden]

The Taliban claims there’s no evidence that al Qaeda was behind 9/11:

https://www.newsweek.com/excuse-war-taliban-no-evidence-osama-bin-laden-was-behind-9-11-1623233

Zabihullah Mujahid made the claim during an interview with NBC Nightly News on Wednesday as the August 31 deadline for the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan approaches.
.
.
.
"Although there was no proof [bin Laden] was involved, now we have given promises that Afghan soil won't be used against anyone," he said.

"There is no evidence. Even after 20 years of war, we have no proof he was involved," Mujahid added.

NBC's Richard Engel pressed Mujahid about the matter, asking: "So it sounds like, even now, after all this, you're accepting no responsibility?"

"There was no justification for this war, it was excuse for war," he said.

[Dereich]

The Taliban claims there’s no evidence that al Qaeda was behind 9/11:

https://www.newsweek.com/excuse-war-taliban-no-evidence-osama-bin-laden-was-behind-9-11-1623233

Zabihullah Mujahid made the claim during an interview with NBC Nightly News on Wednesday as the August 31 deadline for the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan approaches.
.
.
.
"Although there was no proof [bin Laden] was involved, now we have given promises that Afghan soil won't be used against anyone," he said.

"There is no evidence. Even after 20 years of war, we have no proof he was involved," Mujahid added.

NBC's Richard Engel pressed Mujahid about the matter, asking: "So it sounds like, even now, after all this, you're accepting no responsibility?"

"There was no justification for this war, it was excuse for war," he said.

Lol, why of all places would the United States want an excuse to go into Afghanistan? If Bush was looking for someone to fight he'd obviously have gone for one of his "Axis of Evil."

[Silent Hunter]

What on earth is ISIS-K's justification for that?

[ElectionObserver]

What on earth is ISIS-K's justification for that?

Is there ever justification for terrorism and mass murder?

The truth is, ISIS hate the US, hate the Taliban and don't give a damn about killing civilians. They managed to hit both targets and do it on the world stage at a time they looked like they were fairly irrelevant.

[Red Velvet]

What on earth is ISIS-K's justification for that?

Uhhh putting way more fire into the sh**tstorm that is going on between two declared enemies of ISIS (US and Taliban)?

It humiliates US more in the eyes of domestic audiences and the world + Undermines Taliban plans of getting international recognition they want if a conflict is stimulated. Plus it sends the message ISIS is still relevant, by participating on something that is getting tons of media worldwide.

[NOVA Green]

ISIS-K official claimed responsibility for the attack at the Airport and released a photo of the Jahadi militant along with his name about an hour ago.

Apparently they only claimed credit for one PBIED (Person Bourne Improvised Explosive Device) and not two, which is a bit odd.

Also reports of additional explosions in Kabul (the last two an hour or so back) for a total of seven different explosions thus far today.

Taliban are claiming these are US forces destroying their equipment.

Also reports of gunfire in Western Kabul until about 1 1/2 hours ago.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

ISIS would probably love nothing more than to have an attack on the airport that the Taliban gets blamed for.

I guess too much subtlety for ISIS to try to pin the blame on someone else.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

ISIS would probably love nothing more than to have an attack on the airport that the Taliban gets blamed for.

I guess too much subtlety for ISIS to try to pin the blame on someone else.

They’d like their enemies fighting, but theyve always preferred self-promotion. IS needs attacks like these to win legitimacy among potential Taliban defectors, and the ideal outcome for them would be getting the blame for the attack but triggering animosity between the US and the Taliban anyway.

[NOVA Green]

ISIS would probably love nothing more than to have an attack on the airport that the Taliban gets blamed for.

I guess too much subtlety for ISIS to try to pin the blame on someone else.

They’d like their enemies fighting, but theyve always preferred self-promotion. IS needs attacks like these to win legitimacy among potential Taliban defectors, and the ideal outcome for them would be getting the blame for the attack but triggering animosity between the US and the Taliban anyway.

Reports are that ISIS-K has been attempting to garner recruits from elsewhere to come to Afghanistan vs alternative places such as Syria or Iraq.

Would not be surprised if their "spectacular" attack today could well enhance recruits from elsewhere to fight against the "False Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan".

Meanwhile the US has never surrendered the rights to conduct air strikes against "terrorist targets" in Afghanistan, regardless of the Trump surrender at Doha.

Obviously the first time a US Air strike kills women and kids at a wedding targeting terrorist formations, could well cause a massive regional backlash, even if the Intel was considered good.

Also, tensions appear to be arising slightly between Pakistan and the Taliban vs the TPP leaders and fighters recently freed from prisons in Afghanistan.

Situation still pretty fluid, but reality is that the Taliban are "The State" and the entire International Community, as well as various neighbors will likely expect "Taliban 2.0" to tow the line or else....

[NOVA Green]

Jeff has gone apes**t crazy on Twitter regarding tons of Tweets over the past years since at least 2019 regarding the conflict between The Taliban and ISIS-K.

https://twitter.com/Natsecjeff

IDK--- might be hitting the point with a massive blunt anvil.... personally would prefer to read a (60) page academic article vs tons of Tweets & Videos, but still I guess for the ADD Millennial Gen, might be more interesting than any quotes from academic articles I could post after a two hour reading session, only accentuating highlights....

Meanwhile prior to the Terrorist Daesh attack at the airport, a Senior Taliban Commander was assassinated in Khost Province, assailants unknown:

https://twitter.com/Natsecjeff/status/1430825239328477192?s=20

There are other things going on in Afghanistan, with apparently temporary breakdowns in negotiations between the Panjshiri's and the Taliban, but obviously today's news has tended to cloud over various items going on between the lone "Rebel Province" (Asterix & Obelisk style) as well as various international items involving Taliban appointments to GVT positions, China, Russia, & Iran, etc....

[Benjamin Frank]

Obviously not the most significant thing now, but to combat the revisionist history (i.e lies) of the media and the foreign policy establishment, it's simply false that the Afghan military only fell apart after the U.S withdrew air support.

U.S offers further air support to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

The Taliban has escalated its offensive in recent weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden said in April U.S. troops would be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year foreign military presence.

"The United States has increased airstrikes in support of Afghan forces over the last several days and we're prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks," U.S. Marine General Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie told a news conference in Kabul.

Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure, Afghan and U.S. officials have said

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-offers-further-air-support-afghan-troops-amid-taliban-offensive-2021-07-25/

So, the Afghan Army was in full retreat if not outright falling apart while the U.S was still providing air support.

[Libertas Vel Mors]

Obviously not the most significant thing now, but to combat the revisionist history (i.e lies) of the media and the foreign policy establishment, it's simply false that the Afghan military only fell apart after the U.S withdrew air support.

U.S offers further air support to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

The Taliban has escalated its offensive in recent weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden said in April U.S. troops would be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year foreign military presence.

"The United States has increased airstrikes in support of Afghan forces over the last several days and we're prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks," U.S. Marine General Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie told a news conference in Kabul.

Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure, Afghan and U.S. officials have said

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-offers-further-air-support-afghan-troops-amid-taliban-offensive-2021-07-25/

So, the Afghan Army was in full retreat if not outright falling apart while the U.S was still providing air support.

This is very misleading. The US did ramp up air support after the Afghan army began to collapse, but the Afghan Army still only did begin to collapse in the first place with the withdrawal of air support, and even that later ramp-up was still (to my understanding) less than the air support that was provided prior to the withdrawals beginning in the first place.

[Benjamin Frank]

Obviously not the most significant thing now, but to combat the revisionist history (i.e lies) of the media and the foreign policy establishment, it's simply false that the Afghan military only fell apart after the U.S withdrew air support.

U.S offers further air support to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

The Taliban has escalated its offensive in recent weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden said in April U.S. troops would be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year foreign military presence.

"The United States has increased airstrikes in support of Afghan forces over the last several days and we're prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks," U.S. Marine General Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie told a news conference in Kabul.

Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure, Afghan and U.S. officials have said

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-offers-further-air-support-afghan-troops-amid-taliban-offensive-2021-07-25/

So, the Afghan Army was in full retreat if not outright falling apart while the U.S was still providing air support.

This is very misleading. The US did ramp up air support after the Afghan army began to collapse, but the Afghan Army still only did begin to collapse in the first place with the withdrawal of air support, and even that later ramp-up was still (to my understanding) less than the air support that was provided prior to the withdrawals beginning in the first place.

Everything I posted there was quoted from the Reuters article.  The article mentions the Afghan army had suffered defeat after defeat to the Taliban and was in full retreat while the United States was still providing air support.  Far from me being misleading, it is you who are trying to continue the lying revisionist history.

Which is more likely to be true: an article that was written at the time that detailed what was going on, or neoconservatives speaking after the fact and trying to cover their asses and get revenge? 

[CumbrianLefty]

Biden's ratings seem to be finally taking a significant hit from all this.

(not the most important thing I know, but still)

[Utah Neolib]

We never held much of Afghanistan even before all of this. We just paid off warlords

[Libertas Vel Mors]

Obviously not the most significant thing now, but to combat the revisionist history (i.e lies) of the media and the foreign policy establishment, it's simply false that the Afghan military only fell apart after the U.S withdrew air support.

U.S offers further air support to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

The Taliban has escalated its offensive in recent weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden said in April U.S. troops would be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year foreign military presence.

"The United States has increased airstrikes in support of Afghan forces over the last several days and we're prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks," U.S. Marine General Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie told a news conference in Kabul.

Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure, Afghan and U.S. officials have said

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-offers-further-air-support-afghan-troops-amid-taliban-offensive-2021-07-25/

So, the Afghan Army was in full retreat if not outright falling apart while the U.S was still providing air support.

This is very misleading. The US did ramp up air support after the Afghan army began to collapse, but the Afghan Army still only did begin to collapse in the first place with the withdrawal of air support, and even that later ramp-up was still (to my understanding) less than the air support that was provided prior to the withdrawals beginning in the first place.

Everything I posted there was quoted from the Reuters article.  The article mentions the Afghan army had suffered defeat after defeat to the Taliban and was in full retreat while the United States was still providing air support.  Far from me being misleading, it is you who are trying to continue the lying revisionist history.

Which is more likely to be true: an article that was written at the time that detailed what was going on, or neoconservatives speaking after the fact and trying to cover their asses and get revenge?  

I never said the US stopped providing air support: only that it ramped it down, which is true. (I did say withdrawal, so I see how that could be misinterpreted, but my reference was to the withdrawal of CAS for regular Afghan units -- not to a total withdrawal). I'm neither lying nor revising history.

[Benjamin Frank]

Obviously not the most significant thing now, but to combat the revisionist history (i.e lies) of the media and the foreign policy establishment, it's simply false that the Afghan military only fell apart after the U.S withdrew air support.

U.S offers further air support to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

The Taliban has escalated its offensive in recent weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden said in April U.S. troops would be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year foreign military presence.

"The United States has increased airstrikes in support of Afghan forces over the last several days and we're prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks," U.S. Marine General Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie told a news conference in Kabul.

Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure, Afghan and U.S. officials have said

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-offers-further-air-support-afghan-troops-amid-taliban-offensive-2021-07-25/

So, the Afghan Army was in full retreat if not outright falling apart while the U.S was still providing air support.

This is very misleading. The US did ramp up air support after the Afghan army began to collapse, but the Afghan Army still only did begin to collapse in the first place with the withdrawal of air support, and even that later ramp-up was still (to my understanding) less than the air support that was provided prior to the withdrawals beginning in the first place.

Everything I posted there was quoted from the Reuters article.  The article mentions the Afghan army had suffered defeat after defeat to the Taliban and was in full retreat while the United States was still providing air support.  Far from me being misleading, it is you who are trying to continue the lying revisionist history.

Which is more likely to be true: an article that was written at the time that detailed what was going on, or neoconservatives speaking after the fact and trying to cover their asses and get revenge?  

I never said the US stopped providing air support: only that it ramped it down, which is true. (I did say withdrawal, so I see how that could be misinterpreted, but my reference was to the withdrawal of CAS for regular Afghan units -- not to a total withdrawal). I'm neither lying nor revising history.

The reality is that there was still significant air support at the time that the Afghan Army was being rapidly defeated and forced to retreat.  The claim that it was the loss of U.S air support that caused the Afghan Army to cave is a lie.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Bit of background: ISIS-K is a Taliban splinter group based in remote rural areas on either side of the Durand Line. The areas of Afghanistan where they are active are largely Ghiji Pashtun, but the leadership and core cadre has largely come from smaller tribes on the Pakistan side of the border, particularly in the Kurram Valley. The organisation has been extremely active since 2015 and has perpetrated regular massacres, particularly of Hazaras, who, as Shia, are regarded as heretics. While the Taliban (on both sides of the Line) is functionally an arm of a rogue part of the Pakistani Deep State and operates accordingly, ISIS-K is much more of an independent actor.

[Libertas Vel Mors]

Obviously not the most significant thing now, but to combat the revisionist history (i.e lies) of the media and the foreign policy establishment, it's simply false that the Afghan military only fell apart after the U.S withdrew air support.

U.S offers further air support to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

The Taliban has escalated its offensive in recent weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden said in April U.S. troops would be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year foreign military presence.

"The United States has increased airstrikes in support of Afghan forces over the last several days and we're prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks," U.S. Marine General Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie told a news conference in Kabul.

Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure, Afghan and U.S. officials have said

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-offers-further-air-support-afghan-troops-amid-taliban-offensive-2021-07-25/

So, the Afghan Army was in full retreat if not outright falling apart while the U.S was still providing air support.

This is very misleading. The US did ramp up air support after the Afghan army began to collapse, but the Afghan Army still only did begin to collapse in the first place with the withdrawal of air support, and even that later ramp-up was still (to my understanding) less than the air support that was provided prior to the withdrawals beginning in the first place.

Everything I posted there was quoted from the Reuters article.  The article mentions the Afghan army had suffered defeat after defeat to the Taliban and was in full retreat while the United States was still providing air support.  Far from me being misleading, it is you who are trying to continue the lying revisionist history.

Which is more likely to be true: an article that was written at the time that detailed what was going on, or neoconservatives speaking after the fact and trying to cover their asses and get revenge?  

I never said the US stopped providing air support: only that it ramped it down, which is true. (I did say withdrawal, so I see how that could be misinterpreted, but my reference was to the withdrawal of CAS for regular Afghan units -- not to a total withdrawal). I'm neither lying nor revising history.

The reality is that there was still significant air support at the time that the Afghan Army was being rapidly defeated and forced to retreat.  The claim that it was the loss of U.S air support that caused the Afghan Army to cave is a lie.

I'm sorry, this is really a strange debate. Are you claiming that the US withdrawal did not cause the collapse of the Afghan government?

[Benjamin Frank]

Obviously not the most significant thing now, but to combat the revisionist history (i.e lies) of the media and the foreign policy establishment, it's simply false that the Afghan military only fell apart after the U.S withdrew air support.

U.S offers further air support to Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

The Taliban has escalated its offensive in recent weeks, taking rural districts and surrounding provincial capitals, after U.S. President Joe Biden said in April U.S. troops would be withdrawn by September, ending a 20-year foreign military presence.

"The United States has increased airstrikes in support of Afghan forces over the last several days and we're prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks," U.S. Marine General Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie told a news conference in Kabul.

Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure, Afghan and U.S. officials have said

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-offers-further-air-support-afghan-troops-amid-taliban-offensive-2021-07-25/

So, the Afghan Army was in full retreat if not outright falling apart while the U.S was still providing air support.

This is very misleading. The US did ramp up air support after the Afghan army began to collapse, but the Afghan Army still only did begin to collapse in the first place with the withdrawal of air support, and even that later ramp-up was still (to my understanding) less than the air support that was provided prior to the withdrawals beginning in the first place.

Everything I posted there was quoted from the Reuters article.  The article mentions the Afghan army had suffered defeat after defeat to the Taliban and was in full retreat while the United States was still providing air support.  Far from me being misleading, it is you who are trying to continue the lying revisionist history.

Which is more likely to be true: an article that was written at the time that detailed what was going on, or neoconservatives speaking after the fact and trying to cover their asses and get revenge?  

I never said the US stopped providing air support: only that it ramped it down, which is true. (I did say withdrawal, so I see how that could be misinterpreted, but my reference was to the withdrawal of CAS for regular Afghan units -- not to a total withdrawal). I'm neither lying nor revising history.

The reality is that there was still significant air support at the time that the Afghan Army was being rapidly defeated and forced to retreat.  The claim that it was the loss of U.S air support that caused the Afghan Army to cave is a lie.

I'm sorry, this is really a strange debate. Are you claiming that the US withdrawal did not cause the collapse of the Afghan government?

How would you get that I said that when I have been continuously been referring to U.S air support.  I'll say it again then: it's a lie that the Afghan army collapsed because they did not have U.S air support.  The Afghan Army was already being steadily defeated and forced to retreat, if not already in a state of collapse, while they still had U.S air support.

[Annatar]

The Afghan army was already losing control of the country to the Taliban prior to the final American withdrawal, the choice for America was to see the Afghan government fall slowly or fall quickly. People who claim the situation was stable with 2,500 troops are being dishonest, the Taliban were continuously gaining territory all throughout 2019 and 2020 and the only way to stop that would have been for America to massively increase its troop presence and go back to directly fighting the Taliban.

The key point here is that the Afghan army was losing the war in 2019 and 2020, it was losing territory, its personnel losses were also so high they were depleting its numerical strength,

[NOVA Green]

Sigh.... now that most Americans and the International Community are first learning about ISIS-K, we are being asked to use a shorter acronym ISKP to refer to the Daesh.   

Whatever... meanwhile we some reports that the Taliban are conducting house-to-house searches in Kabul to round up ISKP members.

https://twitter.com/MuradGazdiev/status/1431311728206299138?s=20

Also, reports that the Taliban is requesting the US maintain a diplomatic mission in Afghanistan post 8/31/21:

The Taliban has asked the United States to keep a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan beyond the Aug. 31 withdrawal of U.S. military forces, an option the Biden administration is “actively discussing,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Friday.

The request comes as the Taliban seeks international recognition following its rapid takeover of the country and grapples with a dire economic landscape after billions of dollars of international aid to Afghanistan was frozen.

In considering retaining a diplomatic presence, Price said the safety and security of U.S. personnel in that mission would be “first and foremost on our minds,” particularly after Thursday’s deadly suicide bombing.

President Biden has said the United States will help Afghan allies seeking to leave the country even after U.S. troops leave, an effort that could be easier if it retains a diplomatic mission....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/27/afghanistan-kabul-taliban-live-updates/#link-KFQMWZKFSNH4DBBMK2VAJMAZF4

Also, extremely heavy TB "elite" presence in areas around the airport, using US Military gear, courtesy of the ANA...

https://twitter.com/Natsecjeff/status/1431215542958968842?s=20

Meanwhile in Nangarhar Province (One of the few ISKP remaining areas of significant activity):

https://twitter.com/Natsecjeff/status/1431191393800753152?s=20

I won't even post all of the old footage from 2018 of ANA units evacuating ISKP members in Zawjzan Province, but suffice it to say that the Taliban have long and historical "beef" with the ISKP, which if anything will likely accelerate as various foreign "Jihadis" shift to Afghanistan vs elsewhere in the Taliban 2.0 GVT.

I believe that although we all have legitimate reasons to be extremely skeptical and cautious regarding the Taliban, considering their previous history when it comes to all types of atrocious and egregious human rights violations, that the Taliban are legit when it comes to fighting against ISKP and similar allied and aligned elements, as they attempt to claw their way back into at least a veneer of domestic and international respectability almost 20 years since 9/11/01, not to mention since they first achieved de facto control of the country way back in 1996.

Sure... it could seem like a bad spin off the classic movie Casablanca when it comes to "Round up the Usual Suspects", with names provided by US SIGINT sources, various other Intelligence agencies etc, possibly some local TB Intel, but at this point it does appear that the Taliban are seriously trying to address the ISKP movement, which is apparently not only trying to poke an eye and establish legitimacy for killing Americans, but also effectively declaring war against the Taliban regime itself...

Towards the end of the movie set during French Vichy (But NAZI controlled North Africa), a classic scene (Couldn't find a short clip from the start of the movie where "round up the usual suspects" line was first used), is still a relevant part of Americana regardless of age & generations....

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I mean, as much as anything else, they're splitters aren't they? So naturally there's genuine loathing.

[NOVA Green]

*** Breaking NEWS ***

US has conducted unmanned airstrikes against ISKP in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

https://twitter.com/elizondogabriel/status/1431430974626271232?s=20

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

Sigh.... now that most Americans and the International Community are first learning about ISIS-K, we are being asked to use a shorter acronym ISKP to refer to the Daesh.   

It was kind of silly to act like they have anything to do with Iraq or Syria in the first place. ISK makes more sense.