The Lounge

[Richie]

It took a while before Germany's rescue operation gained momentum. Now we've flown out about 3,000 people.
What annoys me is all the arms fallen into the hands of the Taliban. While it was clear from the outset and had always been part of Washington's and the Pentagon's scenarios because that number of heavy equipment could never have been transferred back to the States I wonder why those arms were not blown up.
We're talking about 600 armoured vehicles Type M1117, about 8,500 Humvees, 150 „MaxxPro“, 100,000 military enhanced Toyota Hilux und Ford Ranger, plus 68 combat helis MD 500 „Defender“, 16 „Blackhawk“, four C-130 „Hercules“. Apart from those the Taliban also own more than 100 Russian helis (Mi-17 und Mi-24) as well as 1,000 armoured vehicles and tanks of Soviet origin. They also found several US high-tech "Scan-Eagle" drones and face-recognition systems which they are now using to detect activists seeking shelter in save houses. We can only hope that many of those arms become dated and can't be used due to spareparts and the necessary training lacking.

The lesson to be learnt from all this clearly is for the West to stop trying to bring freedom by military intervention to other countries which despise western values and political systems. It has never worked neither in Asia nor in Africa. Foreigners are the actual problem in these countries, not the solution. As Biden said, in the end the majority of people in those countries will always be loyal to their own people, beliefs, and governments as 300,000 Afghan soldiers have demonstrated. Such a policy will imply, however, that the West should not revert back to its old ways when the next crisis in other countries comes but should rather rely on diplomatic channels exclusively but then energetically.

600 armoured vehicles Type M1117, about 8,500 Humvees, 150 „MaxxPro“, 100,000 military enhanced Toyota Hilux und Ford Ranger, plus 68 combat helis MD 500 „Defender“, 16 „Blackhawk“, four C-130 „Hercules“

I read that all of the above was left by the fleeing Afghan forces. Some $A15 Billion worth all generously given to them by America. So I'm guessing the Yanks did not have time to destroy any of this massive military stockpile before the Taliban took possession. I think America will have a long, hard ponder before they assist Afghanistan again. Our forces spent 20 years of hard and dangerous graft training this useless excuse for an army.. and as soon as they are confronted with a real conflict they turn and run like yellow bellies. I recall the Iraqis doing the same in Desert Storm. The Taliban needs to shut its mouth and not threaten the US over staying past the withdrawal date while they repatriate their personnel. If so I can see Biden being advised to order his air force to destroy all those munitions before the Taliban has a chance to use them against its own people...

 

[BettyBoo]

600 armoured vehicles Type M1117, about 8,500 Humvees, 150 „MaxxPro“, 100,000 military enhanced Toyota Hilux und Ford Ranger, plus 68 combat helis MD 500 „Defender“, 16 „Blackhawk“, four C-130 „Hercules“

I read that all of the above was left by the fleeing Afghan forces. Some $A15 Billion worth all generously given to them by America. So I'm guessing the Yanks did not have time to destroy any of this massive military stockpile before the Taliban took possession. I think America will have a long, hard ponder before they assist Afghanistan again. Our forces spent 20 years of hard and dangerous graft training this useless excuse for an army.. and as soon as they are confronted with a real conflict they turn and run like yellow bellies. I recall the Iraqis doing the same in Desert Storm. The Taliban needs to shut its mouth and not threaten the US over staying past the withdrawal date while they repatriate their personnel. If so I can see Biden being advised to order his air force to destroy all those munitions before the Taliban has a chance to use them against its own people...

I read that the UK could be on alert for a terrorist attack.
I'm hoping that when all civilians and innocent people are safe then Afghanistan is blown off the map, terrorists and weapons included.
I don't normally get involved in the politics of anything so I am actually learning here on this thread about the backstory of what's happened in Afghanistan.

 

[Richie]

Afghanistan is blown off the map, terrorists

..and a few more Middle Eastern terrorist ridden nations to join them.

 

[BettyBoo]

Richie and Thomas I know you both love dogs/animals, pray that British ex military man Pen Farthing escapes Afghanistan with his rescued dogs and cats and his staff. He was promised safe passage to Kabul airport but has been stopped by the Taliban, animals deserve a chance too

 

[looker-on]

Richie and Thomas I know you both love dogs/animals, pray that British ex military man Pen Farthing escapes Afghanistan with his rescued dogs and cats and his staff. He was promised safe passage to Kabul airport but has been stopped by the Taliban, animals deserve a chance too

I do!
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-58340272

 

[Richie]

Bloody Taliban. Pen Farthing.. that is not a trick name is it Jess.

Bloody ISIS.. animals.. no that is an insult to our pets.. the monsters have killed Afghan men, women and kids in a bombing at the airport. A quick death is too good for these poor excuse for human beings. The Taliban now needs to use its new found power to rid their country of the Daesh whose hard line form of Islam makes the Taliban look like Sunday school teachers..

 

[BettyBoo]

Bloody Taliban. Pen Farthing.. that is not a trick name is it Jess.

Bloody ISIS.. animals.. no that is an insult to our pets.. the monsters have killed Afghan men, women and kids in a bombing at the airport. A quick death is too good for these poor excuse for human beings. The Taliban now needs to use its new found power to rid their country of the Daesh whose hard line form of Islam makes the Taliban look like Sunday school teachers..

I think his real name is Paul, Pen is probably his nickname. Anyway he's safely touched down in Heathrow with his rescued animals, a modern day version of Noahs Ark

 

[looker-on]

I think his real name is Paul, Pen is probably his nickname. Anyway he's safely touched down in Heathrow with his rescued animals, a modern day version of Noahs Ark ❤

Good to hear.

 

[looker-on]

How are your little ones, Richie?

 

[Richie]

How are your little ones, Richie?

Bonnie has fully recovered from her infection while Bubbles is almost back to full mobility.. a little unsteady still on his left hind leg.. the one that was practically paralysed. Thanks for your concern Thomas. How is Sari?

 

[Richie]

Take a gander at this Jess and Thomas.
We have all seen these teen Chinese divers. This video may explain why they win gold medals at 14/15 and why Commie China is such a sporting powerhouse.

 

[looker-on]

Take a gander at this Jess and Thomas.
We have all seen these teen Chinese divers. This video may explain why they win gold medals at 14/15 and why Commie China is such a sporting powerhouse.

Quite unusual to put it mildly. At least he checks before pushing them... But state-controlled doping youngsters isn't any better as we see in other countries. At the end of their career some athletes get even with their coaches and complain about training methods and conditions but not earlier...Big time sport is just far from being innocent. Athletes and parents should be aware of that.

 

[Richie]

In China's centralist sporting system only the extra special survive. It is the process used by its harsh govt officials and coaches (see video) to sort the weak from the strong that we in the West will find abhorrent.

 

[BettyBoo]

Take a gander at this Jess and Thomas.
We have all seen these teen Chinese divers. This video may explain why they win gold medals at 14/15 and why Commie China is such a sporting powerhouse.

That is hilarious
We could do with something similar here to get some lazy Brits off their backsides and get them looking for a job

 

[BettyBoo]

I read recently that the animals rescued from Afghanistan are all spoken for, they all have new homes lined up for them

We were battered by rain yesterday, much needed rain for our gardens and wildlife

 

[BettyBoo]

An update on Pen Farthings staff in Afghanistan, they have all been rescued and taken to a place of safety

 

[BettyBoo]

A 'British' tennis player has won at Flushing Meadows, but she was born in Canada, we had the same with Greg Rusedski. I can't help but feel if you're not born on British soil then you're not British

 

[looker-on]

A 'British' tennis player has won at Flushing Meadows, but she was born in Canada, we had the same with Greg Rusedski. I can't help but feel if you're not born on British soil then you're not British

That's quite a narrow, almost juristic view on citizenship, isn't it? If somebody was born in London and moved to Germany aged two and has lived here ever since, I guess only few people would say s/he were not German because they wouldn't know that s/he was born elsewhere. Raducanu was even born in a former Dominion.
Things may be slightly different, though, if a person has Asiatic looks and makes a point holding two passports and taking a reserved attitude towards the German culture and political system. There are, BTW, also a lot of Germans who have dual citizenship but hardly anybody knows. For example actors born in Austria and having got rid of that accent would be taken for a German. And then there are people with a foreign background but being fully integrated and socialized in Germany and speaking impeccable German so that it would be odd to say they are not German. In the end it would depend on how those persons see themselves.

 

[BettyBoo]

That's quite a narrow, almost juristic view on citizenship, isn't it? If somebody was born in London and moved to Germany aged two and has lived here ever since, I guess only few people would say s/he were not German because they wouldn't know that s/he was born elsewhere. Raducanu was even born in a former Dominion.
Things may be slightly different, though, if a person has Asiatic looks and makes a point holding two passports and taking a reserved attitude towards the German culture and political system. There are, BTW, also a lot of Germans who have dual citizenship but hardly anybody knows. For example actors born in Austria and having got rid of that accent would be taken for a German. And then there are people with a foreign background but being fully integrated and socialized in Germany and speaking impeccable German so that it would be odd to say they are not German. In the end it would depend on how those persons see themselves.

I understand how it works Thomas, I just don't agree with it.
Emma was born in Canada, her parents are from Romania, they land on our shores and call themselves British. Not in my eyes, plenty have agreed with me too

 

[looker-on]

I understand how it works Thomas, I just don't agree with it.
Emma was born in Canada, her parents are from Romania, they land on our shores and call themselves British. Not in my eyes, plenty have agreed with me too

I take your point. Would you then say she's Canadian?
Out of curiosity, is being "British" actually a nationality? If so, what is being "English" then? Would/Could Emma also say that she's English because she was raised there?
There's a similar view over here that distinguishes between "Bio-Germans" (biological) and the rest. Based on that definition, who would be (US) "American", I wonder. Would Condoleeza Rice or Kamala Harris not be "Americans"?