In November, 700 Intercontinental Weapons Were Launched Against the USA?

The classic call for a dictator.

Bob Wilson

 

And so odd to hear coming from people who at one time stood in service of democracy.

 

Same site says it was long thought to be cheaper to strip the newest/most sensitive components and abandon the gear in place. So far in advance that they had time to do all the stripping work successfully and present the downgraded equipment as gifts.

 

I hope they had time to disable the equipment. The article mentions that a limited amount of equipment was demilitarized. Thank you for mentioning it.

To convey the true content of the article you may want to mention these snippets also:

"Though the decision to withdraw troops was broadly popular, its execution was chaotic: Crowds of civilians swarmed Kabul’s international airport, hoping to escape the country before a Taliban takeover, and 13 U.S. troops were killed in an Islamic State suicide bombing."

"The Biden Administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal was unpopular among Democrats as well as Republicans."

"The equipment included aircraft, vehicles, weapons, ammunition and communications hardware that was given to the now-defunct U.S.-backed Afghan government, CNN said, citing a March report to Congress by the DOD that has not yet been made public."

I would suspect Russia was already assessing and disassembling some of the more specialized military equipment before the evacuation was complete.


The military does not intend to “retrieve or destroy” the hardware, though much of it requires special maintenance, CNN reported—a previous report by a DOD watchdog said many of the Afghan military’s planes won’t remain effective if U.S.-funded contractors disappear.

Trapped by Taliban takeover, Afghans who helped the U.S. fear they've been abandoned (nbcnews.com)

"Their parents had urged the women last month to flee, but they refused "because they believed in the U.S. promise that Kabul would be safe," the lawyer said."

"Thousands more Afghans like them were in peril Monday, including people who had worked alongside the U.S. as translators or advisers, and idealistic young people who worked as journalists or as activists and educators to improve the lot of women."
"Still, tens of thousands more are in danger of falling into the clutches of the Taliban, including the two young women trapped in Kabul."

A harrowing situation for these allies and one that we still can't bring ourselves to admit.

Though this is certainly not as important as how Prius Chat views this here is how an international reporting agency and ally views this behavior

Hasty, panic withdrawal from key Afghan base shows US irresponsibility - Global Times

Biden defends 'messy' US pull-out from Afghanistan - BBC News

US withdrawal from Afghanistan endangers my country and the world | Financial Times (ft.com)

U.S. ‘left behind’ 78,000 Afghan allies in chaotic withdrawal: NGO report (nbcnews.com)


I could care less what party or political affiliation was of the Administration that did this- it was cowardly, unprofessional, disorganized and totally avoidable.

I care for my country a great deal even though it is wildly unpopular to do that these days. I am glad to have served it in the service for 6 years and to be honorably discharged.

My fondest hope is that America continues to be a beacon and symbol of hope to the world while the world is becoming a little more dangerous place to live. In the world we have today it is easy to see why people would risk life and limb to come to America and be part of the American Dream. I have personally seen this dream come true for some legal immigrant families from all over the world that come through our church's immigrant support program.

I think I'll leave this thread alone now as it is really not an active discussion but more a platform for provocation, probably some even on my part. Enjoyed others' opinions and most of the responses - very stimulating.

 

Next time:

• Color balloon to be sky blue
• Make platform low radar observable
• Heat source to control altitude
• Why did Russia fail to shoot down?
• Why did Canada fail to shoot down?

Guess we’ll call it ‘owning the Reps.’

Bob Wilson

 

The Doha Agreement was signed February 29, 2020, with a scheduled pull-out date of May 1, 2021. The left 427 days to prepare: 327 days during P45, 101 days during the next Administration.

My understanding was that that first 3/4ths of available time was almost totally squandered, before the next Administration had any opportunity to add its own botches to the final 3 months of that schedule. The Special Immigrant Visa program, for interpreters and many others who helped us and would be endangered if left behind, was mandated by Congress to process applications within 9 months, but was seriously understaffed and under-resourced and flunking that mandate since forever. Even its leadership seat was empty from 1/2017 to 3/2020. By the time a new Administration rolled in, there was no way in he11 it could staff up and catch up with the backlog in just the remaining 3 months of the original schedule.

Understaffed, uncoordinated: IG outlines flaws in visa program for war zone interpreters | Stars and Stripes

 

Today:

"Adding to officials’ comments last week about the balloon that was shot down on Saturday’s ability to maneuver, [National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John] Kirby said on Monday that the balloon had “propellers” and “a rudder … to allow it to change direction.”"

That propulsion system helps explain the kilowatts of PV panels.

 

If they show propellers I'll believe it. I think this (which has been said by at least one other spokesperson) is mixup with the real flying surveillance floater used domestically in the source nation.

 

NY Times:

China denounces decision to shoot down balloon, calling it an “excessive reaction that seriously violates international convention “

China “retains the right to respond further “

 

YMMV

 

The Chinese government does sometimes need to learn how to be less shrill. It would do a lot better that way.

 

we should send china the bill:

New images of the Chinese balloon recovery show the closest glimpse yet

 

We should return it . . . like we did the MIG-25 (see Viktor Belenko.)

Bob Wilson

 

The bill for what? Shooting down their thing when it was leaving your airspace?

 

I suppose the main thing you have to hope is that China doesn't take the approach to its lost balloon that the US took to its lost F-117A in Serbia. "Accidentally" bombing the building where the wreckage is being inspected would be the height of bad manners.

 

Well, somebody sure got their money's worth riling up the foxwatchers. That balloon was pretty cheap compared to the damage done.

I feel mildly anxious to learn the next steps for re-scheduling Blinken's visit and getting diplomacy back on track, even though I have no role.