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Enjoy : https://sandrermakoff.livejournal.com/641744.html

Grumman 1950s kitties I can keep up, at least Lands easy

Afghanistan always has had a problem of tribal leaders not following the government. It's just how it works. Now for my opinion it seems that Trump started the process and Biden finished it. And now they (as you pointed out) by changing the narrative and going against Biden. Fact of the matter is that it probably would have blown up in Trump's face if he had a second term. Just like the Middle East peace deal it fell apart. As for my opinion given my tour, I think it's pretty messed up the hard work we put in there just goes away with the Taliban took over. Sure feels like my tour there was a waste. Nothing changed and we still didn't defeat the Taliban, and as they say, "You have the watches, we have the time." They simply just waited for us to begin to leave in order to take over. They knew we wouldn't stay there forever and this just shows that they waited whether we would have been there for thirty or fifty years.

It was known from the outset back in 2001 by most not writing in crayon that rule number One of the colonial war handbook (which this is despite the remarketing) is never invade Afghanistan! Therefore the exit strategy was also known to be very difficult but they have had 20 years to work something out which could only include getting the natives onside. That quote just goes along with how do you turn a nation so backward into some kind of democracy when the majority of Afghans probably see foreign invaders with values that do nothing but insult their beliefs! Also why should they have other peoples ideals forced upon them by military invasion..........just provides more recruits for the Taliban. The chosen exit strategy appears to be an exact replica of Nixon's in Nam and I am not just talking about a few Helicopter shots.............. even starting with a half arsed deal that didn't suit the Afghan government and left the Taliban in control of large parts of the country before pulling out! On the face of it these people running this don't appear to have 2 brain cells to rub together.............it is an absolute farce and a demonstration of outright stupidity on an international scale!!

I know I was just a fobbit over there, but feel free to message me if you need to talk. These are hard times for a lot of OEF vets. Unfortunate fun fact: one of the State Department Air Wing CH-46s that was taking part in the Kabul evacuation was on the USS Hancock during Operation Frequent Wind.

Maybe? https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42005/800-people-evacuated-from-kabul-aboard-a-single-c-17-cargo-jet-reports

Yeah our terp got out before so he's on my FB friend list doing good. But for the others we'll have to see...

heard a tale from a grunt one time, while in Kuwait after R&R waiting to head north (early 2012) his merry band of Strykers pulled up into a village, and everyone's "oh shit" meter pegged when the entire village took to the hills. everyone except this old man the terp asked the old man he didnt run first. "i had a good life, do what you will with me" he says asked what he menant, he replied "you Russians always shoot all the men" this was 2011, 2012 timeframe. that village still thought they were fighting the Soviet Union. that is not a good country to nation build and promote democracy my friends. as to how its all going, i can only look at the Nam guys and say so that how it feels. i hope the rest of ours get out ok, and there are some ANA i worked with that i hope got out sometime between the last year and now. but many of the others i worked with .... not suprised a bit

The Taliban were started by Pakistan back in the 2000s, after doing a marketing research campaign on the general public. We went into Afghanistan after Al-Qaeda but the Taliban were in charge then and they are now. Pakistan is back to their old tricks of wanting Afghanistan through proxy. Not sure we'll ever do anything there with Pakistan next door. The allies forces dropped a shit ton of money into an endless pit. I think finally getting out there just had to be done. The departure was always going to be shit show.

Wish you guys the best. A friend of a friend sent to help said you were having it bad between the fires and the floods.

Some reading 1) President Trump signing an agreement with the Taliban and now the GOP trying to flip the narrative. https://www.newsweek.com/gop-removes-webpage-praising-trumps-historic-peace-deal-taliban-1619605 2) Some valid criticism of the Biden Administration. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/06/07/what-the-biden-administrations-narrative-on-afghanistan-gets-wrong/ 3) The 30,000 domestic troops had frontlines that were being starved of ammunition and rations by the Afghanistan leadership. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/13/world/asia/afghanistan-rapid-military-collapse.html Click to read full page

Those people will never complain about coach seating ever again.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/american-c-17-evacuates-800-people-in-single-flight/?fbclid=IwAR3BfmbOTah_wROysujz9POon4aQ9sTNEUn3Nw0YeGVmwiqspTC_B_iqo84 damn if its true

Definitely some comparisons with the pull out of Nam but also correct to say South Vietnam did initially put up a fight...........it took much longer for the North to break through instead of this stroll in the park. A Vet was on TV today bemused at how much time he / they had spent training up the Afghan forces over the last decades......so at least the Talibans army will be better trained if we have to go back

Convair 201. Service designation of the US-Navy F-13A Seagull. A pair of F-13A of VF-31Tomcatters during SEAD mission.

Convair 201 of the German Navy is taking off from temporary runway in Norway. This bird is called "Orkan" (hurricane in english) by the german forces.

Intercepted a Libyan MiG-23 that was getting little too close to the battle group.. I don't think he saw us in the sun.. Reversed and then slid in alongside him. I think he got he shock of his life! Made sure he was pointing back to the south and then let him go on his way..

After the Falklands war the British government and military chiefs had a re-think, much to the annoyance of the Royal Navy....the ageing Vulcan was given a reprieve and a massive upgrade programme was started.......... To be continued.........

July 1st, 1985... first flight of the prototype of the Mirage 2000CR-01 ! Unknown customer...

BAC Lightning F.6A - 'The Yellowjacks', No.4 Flying Training School, Royal Air Force, 1967

Brexit.

Going Feet Dry.

McDonnell Douglas F-4J(FN) - Flotille 12F, Aéronavale, 1979

De Havilland Vixen F.2A - No.19 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1972

Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star - Royal Norwegian Air Force, 1952

Mirage 5AL ready for take off at runway on Faroe islands. (The plane and skin are part of ValAstures Mirage III and 5 pack for Germany. I only renamed his Mirage 5G into Mirage5AL, because the french call Germany Allemagne.)

Checking the deck, Frenchie!

Black Knights come on 2..... Good Morning Mr Bear