Islamic state seemed to use the media in a horrendous, but very savvy way, by publicising their attrocities against captured Iraqi army prisoners. This appeared to create a prevalence of fear amongst Iraqi forces, who often fled combat, even when numbers were overwhelmingly in their favour.

Whilst there has been no direct release of videoed war crimes by the Taliban, there have been rumours of captured Afghan soldiers being tortured and shot.

With Kabul now the final piece of the Afghan Government pending a decisive conflict, I think (and it's only my opinion) that the media coverage of the Taliban rapid advances has maybe already created/contributed to a climate of fear/defeat amongst the Afghan military.

With coherent verifiable information so difficult to find, am wondering whether the Afghan Government will capitulate, or whether there is any fight left within the Government forces.

Personally, i just see carnage ahead, with no winners, just losers (except the arms manufacturers). I really think the Afghan army is a busted flush, and only western military intervention can prevent a humanitarian disaster that will last for years.

"The facts have changed", Rishi Sunak

That's exactly why there is a disaster there right now. The only way to stop these ridiculous situations is to stop attacking these countries. It all started with the 'Gulf war', that's when we saw the terrorist attacks start on the west by groups out of these countries. When you punch someone in the face, expect to be punched back and that punch might be even stronger. That's the reason the US and UK are now running away from Afghanistan, they failed and lost against the local militia.

Pro China, EU & Palestine

Having to stick to the 'rules' and the enemy knowing this didn't help. Don't shoot unless that RPG is fired at your jeep doesn't give you much chance to put fear in the enemy. The Western governments capitulated to the do gooders and thats why the taliban are so strong.
If we go back in then no quarter should be given as they don't. See a gun shoot the man. Under those conditions the west will wipe the floor with them but if a squaddie might get sent to jail for doing their job as has happened then what is the point really.
Let them get on with it as they are reaping what they have had 20 years to sow.

In my view the oil meme in Iraq is a myth as it doesn't fit with what actually happened....the Iraqi government control their oil and America get their oil elsewhere anyway. But the left screamed about it so much that people became convinced and still are.

We shouldn't be concerned with how Afghanistan governs itself in future....it's likely to revert to its historical practice of a loose Taliban administration with warlords continually infighting for regional control within it.

We shouldn't be concerned because it'll be just one of numerous failed states around the world. All we need to concern ourselves with will be whether groups that wish to attack the west reside there. If they do we now have drones to attack them with instead of feet on the ground.

I'm sure a message of 'you leave us alone and we'll leave you alone' has been given. However, the movement within Islam to attack the west, is an ideology within Islam that's been around for 150 years.....and it isn't negotiable once you understand why.....unfortunately our idiot 'global village' politicians have imported this into our own country....and now the little people have to suffer periodic attacks.

As for the mistakes of trying to convert a poor mainly rural/mountainous Islamic country into a westernised democracy. Well, that was done by people ignorant of history and it cost many lives.

Those people should be held to account for that madness.....but that won't happen as elites protect their own.....it's the little people that suffer.

Edited by Stirlingsays (15 Aug 2021 10.46am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Yep, I think you said it first on these boards.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Yup

We should never have invaded better to make it clear that if they support attacks on the west we will bomb them back to the stone age, but it will be a limited campaign.
You kill 3000 Americans we will bomb 30,000 in retaliation and then stop.

In short you leave us alone we will do the same.

Edited by Badger11 (15 Aug 2021 11.13am)

One more point