Yes, the Khashoggi murder was swept under the carpet by Trump (disgracefully) to keep the kingdom on side for the US. But then, that was apparently in US best interests.
Sorry Stroller i was getting a bit irked by it all yesterday and apologise for adding in a few afters.
Cheers Stainesy, I'll buy you a pint next time I see you, or a half-pint in your case ... or a short. I'll also take you to Thorpe Park but you won't be able to get on any of the rides
For me there was a complete inevitability about this. The idea that the West would ever be able to train up a national army when there is no such thing as an Afghan nation and safely leave it to them was flawed from the start. But then when you invade a country with only one headline goal - to capture and or/kill Bin Laden and his team but can't really be arsed to plan for the rebuilding afterwards it's always doomed for disaster. Now for the cries of something has to be done to protect those who helped us. 'Fine as long as they don't want to come to the West. At least not my country.' Iraq, Libya. Plenty of precedent for short sighted foreign policy.
Really sad and scary scenes at Kabul airport, where no one seems to be in control at all. Respect for Ben Wallace, another ex soldier, who clearly takes this fiasco very personally and has the courage to admit that some people, people with the right to escape here, will be ‘left behind’ and to say ‘what the west has done is……very sad’. A few days ago he said that we could send 10,000 troops into Afghanistan if needed. I think he’ll be resigning soon.
US actively considering abandoning its Afghan allies and only evacuating US citizens. Out of control.
Was gonna say the same…seems eerily reminiscent of the scenes on the abandonment of Saigon. Seems just as bad being a friend of the ‘good ol’ US of A’ than that being an enemy.
They will never change their modus operandi. If the likely outcome is very good, they'll help you. Otherwise, no chance. Our SF are at the airport supporting our Paras. Hope all get out safe.
Like Obama before him……certain elements were so sure he was the hope for a new era but sadly it’s just the same old, same old.
The irony isn’t lost that the great enemy, the followers of Mullah Omar, were once backed by the USA, like the Mujahadeen before them when they were engaged in a war the USA believes was right. They seem to create a lot of problems that later befall them.
geography is not a strong point with this one please log in to view this image UK is with EU @ukiswitheu Why isn’t the UK’s £3.2 billion HMS Queen Elizabeth helping evacuate Brits and Afghani support staff? £3,200,000,000 on a boat which doesn’t even show up to help