Afghanistan

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More US troops killed today than over the last 4 years . Pulling put has cost more deaths of US troops than staying there.
Afghans now being slaughtered.
Massive fail from Biden following Trumps pull out.

Very, very 😔

The deadline is the 31st August. So when Johnson said they'd continue until the very last minute, that was another lie

The deadline for the US was 31st. They are running the show and that is an end to that. For people not paying attention, the UK is impotent without US backing. And for all the grumbles about Ben Wallace, he's been honest about that. And the US is now only supporting the US.

But - to coin a phrase - this is what the UK has repeatedly voted for.

If only there had been some sort of similar military crisis in the past where it was clear the UK was nothing without the US, we might have done things differently. But, of course, who learned about Suez - ever ?

"Oh, btw, I missed the bit about people being thrown under a bus to save a rabbit."

Yes because it's nonsense.

Read Pen’s book One Dog at a Time about the animal rescue he started, it might just help people see exactly what he and the workers are doing and why .

@TeloMere

Why don’t they carry on evacuating up to the deadline if there are so many more people to save?

I'm sure they would if they could but the US and UK can't just keep evacuating and then drop everything and leave on 31Aug, it has to be done in stages especially as the terrorist threat increases as departure time gets closer.
The Taliban will be in there rifling through everything once the deadline's reached so there's a lot to be sorted. And presumably there's equipment that has to be either loaded or destroyed to prevent the Taliban getting their hands on it

The UK pulled all their troops out yesterday, didn't they? No stages. Just withdrew the lot.

"And presumably there's equipment that has to be either loaded or destroyed to prevent the Taliban getting their hands on it"

The Taliban have got their hands on it.

I'm wondering if any of those believing all the nasty stories about Farthing have any direct experience of dealing with this UK government and their departments?

Personally almost as much direct experience as PF of “dealing” with MOD and despite that I have severe doubts about many aspects of his story.

@Rhannion

Read Pen’s book One Dog at a Time about the animal rescue he started, it might just help people see exactly what he and the workers are doing and why .

I did, some time ago. All sold out everywhere, and sellers charging very high prices now.

@HarrietPierce

"Oh, btw, I missed the bit about people being thrown under a bus to save a rabbit."

Yes because it's nonsense.

Indeed

Someone did say they'd throw someone under a bus to save their rabbit, or was that on a thread that was deleted. I saw the post and the poster confirming they would.

I'd imagine the last few days were a bloody logistical nightmare. Those poor soldiers being tasked with getting civilians out whilst worrying if they were going to be blown up by a suicide bomber. Imagine if your child were serving over there you'd just be happy that they got out safely.

I think it's all well and good giving your two penny's worth about what should be done and when whilst knowing nothing about the complications of the situation and international law but it's very much like all of those who were bleating on about how the scientists were wrong at the start of Covid and what they would do whilst knowing nothing about the legalities and scientific basis for decisions that were made.

We're all sitting safe and sound without the huge burden of people's lives being on our shoulders and it's crazy and naive to suggest we'd do better in that situation.

@HarrietPierce

"And presumably there's equipment that has to be either loaded or destroyed to prevent the Taliban getting their hands on it"

The Taliban have got their hands on it.

The US has admitted they are leaving $85 billion of equipment behind (and the UK is leaving a lot of could-have-been-spent-on-hospitals kit behind too). Mainly Black Hawks, Humvees and 625,000 assault rifles and the like.

Presumably time to buy shares in Northrop etc ?

Re the animals PF saved - I read somewhere (can't remember where) that they're all already spoken for.

On a separate note. I wonder how/if Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson et al are sleeping at night these days?
My emotions have changed. The last few days, I've felt desperate. Desperately sad. I still do. I was looking on in horror. But now Britain's role in the air evacuation is over, I obviously still feel just as sad, but that's also evolved into anger. I've just been hearing about all the unopened emails from desperate people with a legitimate right to evacuation. Totally ignored by ministers. I'm brimming over with righteous anger, on behalf of innocent Afghan people who worked with the allies, who are now in hiding, and living in terror.
Details of Afghan staff carelessly left behind to fall into the Taliban's hands etc etc. Yes, I'm overjoyed for those who got out, and think the forces personnel made an amazing humanitarian effort, and nothing but praise for them. But the number of people left behind, who are at huge risk, and who had a right to leave, is far higher I fear, than we've being led to believe. That's primarily on government ministries and politicians. Shame on them

That comment was related to chaosrabbitland’s stupid comment that she would throw a human under a bus to save a rabbit. Which delegitimised everything else she says as it proves her perspective is way off. Some seriously alarming whacky comments on this thread demonstrating that perhaps British priorities in general are totally off kilter with basic decency

[quote Doodlebug71]**@ancientgran* Well the people in charge, military and govt, are saying the military having to deal with him has diverted them from helping others.*

The people in charge would be Wallace. The Home Office is Priti Patel. Neither are shining examples of decency or humanity. Patel is trying to make it illegal to claim asylum in the UK, despite government rules that one has to be on British soil to claim asylum.

All their platititudes about building a system for those who need to claim asylum from Afghanistan are just that: empty platitudes. They're running a massive smear campaign against one man, because he *tried to save people.

It's stunning that so many people believe everything the UK govt says, despite their history of lying through their teeth.

I'm wondering if any of those believing all the nasty stories about Farthing have any direct experience of dealing with this UK government and their departments? Anyone who's tried to apply for PIP or any other form of welfare support will know how this govt works.[/quote]
I wasn't thinking of Patel, I try not to, but Wallace has been honest about what is going on. He said we wouldn't get everyone out way before anyone else would admit it. He said there was a priority list and Farthing was on it and would be called when it was his turn but that didn't seem good enough for him or his supporters.

I was also thinking of the military people who have commented, sorry can't remember their names.

I've had dealing with govt departments, I've been my husband's carer for 30 years.

Apart from anything else it is surely commonsense that if soldiers are supporting him with his animals and then loading them onto planes they can't be doing other things. I can't see how there can be any argument about that.

I will be interested to find out the truth about him and his staff having clearance to leave and him refusing to go without the animals, then he left his staff behind and left with the animals. That isn't a good look if it's true but I will wait for the full story, I don't jump to conclusions.

I'd also like to hear how much support he needed, how many soldiers were involved and for how long.

A good man, who desperately tried to get his workforce out, but was let down by Government agencies, both UK and US will have his name smeared and scapegoated as a distraction for Government failures.

Twinkie1 How right you are. Armchair pundits have no idea of the logistics of moving troops, equipment etc, safely. We had to leave first because the US were leaving and they were running the airport.

@Guavaf1sh

That comment was related to chaosrabbitland’s stupid comment that she would throw a human under a bus to save a rabbit. Which delegitimised everything else she says as it proves her perspective is way off. Some seriously alarming whacky comments on this thread demonstrating that perhaps British priorities in general are totally off kilter with basic decency

That’s a nasty comment you’ve made , , British people generally have good sense of injustice and fairness. It’s not wacky to care

@WanderingFruitWonderer

Re the animals PF saved - I read somewhere (can't remember where) that they're all already spoken for.

On a separate note. I wonder how/if Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson et al are sleeping at night these days?
My emotions have changed. The last few days, I've felt desperate. Desperately sad. I still do. I was looking on in horror. But now Britain's role in the air evacuation is over, I obviously still feel just as sad, but that's also evolved into anger. I've just been hearing about all the unopened emails from desperate people with a legitimate right to evacuation. Totally ignored by ministers. I'm brimming over with righteous anger, on behalf of innocent Afghan people who worked with the allies, who are now in hiding, and living in terror.
Details of Afghan staff carelessly left behind to fall into the Taliban's hands etc etc. Yes, I'm overjoyed for those who got out, and think the forces personnel made an amazing humanitarian effort, and nothing but praise for them. But the number of people left behind, who are at huge risk, and who had a right to leave, is far higher I fear, than we've being led to believe. That's primarily on government ministries and politicians. Shame on them

I hope the inadequacy of the politicians involved in this, in all the countries, is lead bare when the full version is told, however there is that saying that a lie goes around the world before the truth has go its shoes on...

Depends what constitutes British feeling. If it’s the likes of chaosrabbitland then yes I stand by what I say. Animals over people. Horrible. If it’s the more sensible posters here such as ancientgran then I am wrong.

So SOME people here are whacky and disguising

Haven't read the whole thread but my understanding is Pen Farthing and his animals left on a private chartered plane - with the animals in the cargo hold. People cannot travel in the hold.

I was also thinking of the military people who have commented, sorry can't remember their names.

Charlie Herbert has been commenting a lot (retired Maj Gen, well respected)

He had this to say this morning, and I could not agree more. People need to get some perspective, cut through the pet noise and hold the actual people to account responsible for the overall mess, and that's not one man and his dog(s).

https://twitter.com/charlie533080/status/1431875309633253382?s=21

You must be a troll, that’s a vile comment, you are disgusting

Personal attacks achieve nothing - you may not like an unpalatable truth but that pp was right. When people are starving they will eat anything.

@OrchestraOfWankery

Haven't read the whole thread but my understanding is Pen Farthing and his animals left on a private chartered plane - with the animals in the cargo hold. People cannot travel in the hold.

The one group of people who come out looking good in this is the crew of that plane who were willing to risk their lives in a dangerous place. I wouldn't want to fly into Kabul - or out again - knowing I could be shot down at any second.

When I hear the hand wringing about how approximately 1000 Afghans who had the required documentation were left behind I blame the thousands of randoms who clogged the airport and prevented the genuine cases from getting into the queue. Bofore blaming the British government or the military for abandoning them they should place the blame where it justly belongs.

@simitra

When I hear the hand wringing about how approximately 1000 Afghans who had the required documentation were left behind I blame the thousands of randoms who clogged the airport and prevented the genuine cases from getting into the queue. Bofore blaming the British government or the military for abandoning them they should place the blame where it justly belongs.

Wow.

This is one of the worst takes I've seen so far.