August 12, 2021 will go down as the day the Taliban avenged America’s invasion and struck the blow that brought down its man in Kabul
by Pepe Escobar, posted with permission and first posted at Asia Times
August 12, 2021. History will register it as the day the Taliban, nearly 20 years after 9/11 and the subsequent toppling of their 1996-2001 reign by American bombing, struck the decisive blow against the central government in Kabul.
In a coordinated blitzkrieg, the Taliban all but captured three crucial hubs: Ghazni and Kandahar in the center, and Herat in the west. They had already captured most of the north. As it stands, the Taliban control 14 (italics mine) provincial capitals and counting.
First thing in the morning, they took Ghazni, which is situated around 140 kilometers from Kabul. The repaved highway is in good condition. Not only are the Taliban moving closer and closer to Kabul: for all practical purposes they now control the nation’s top artery, Highway 1 from Kabul to Kandahar via Ghazni.
That in itself is a strategic game-changer. It will allow the Taliban to encircle and besiege Kabul simultaneously from north and south, in a pincer movement.
Kandahar fell by nightfall after the Taliban managed to breach the security belt around the city, attacking from several directions.
In Ghazni, provincial governor Daoud Laghmani cut a deal, fled and then was arrested. In Kandahar, provincial governor Rohullah Khanzada – who belongs to the powerful Popolzai tribe – left with only a few bodyguards.
He opted to engage in an elaborate deal, convincing the Taliban to allow the remaining military to retreat to Kandahar airport and be evacuated by helicopter. All their equipment, heavy weapons and ammunition should be transferred to the Taliban.
Afghan Special Forces represented the cream of the crop in Kandahar. Yet they were only protecting a few select locations. Now their next mission may be to protect Kabul. The final deal between the governor and the Taliban should be struck soon. Kandahar has indeed fallen.
In Herat, the Taliban attacked from the east while notorious former warlord Ismail Khan, leading his militia, put up a tremendous fight from the west. The Taliban progressively conquered the police HQ, “liberated” prison inmates and laid siege to the governor’s office.
Game over: Herat has also fallen with the Taliban now controlling the whole of Western Afghanistan, all the way to the borders with Iran.
Tet Offensive, remixed
Military analysts will have a ball deconstructing this Taliban equivalent to the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam. Satellite intel may have been instrumental: it’s as if the whole battlefield progress had been coordinated from above.
Yet there are some quite prosaic reasons for the success of the onslaught apart from strategic acumen: corruption in the Afghan National Army (ANA); total disconnect between Kabul and battlefield commanders; lack of American air support; the deep political divide in Kabul itself.
In parallel, the Taliban had been secretly reaching out for months, through tribal connections and family ties, offering a deal: don’t fight us and you will be spared.
Add to it a deep sense of betrayal by the West felt by those connected with the Kabul government, mixed with fear of Taliban revenge against collaborationists.
A very sad subplot, from now on, concerns civilian helplessness – felt by those who consider themselves trapped in cities that are now controlled by the Taliban. Those that made it before the onslaught are the new Afghan IDPs, such as the ones who set up a refugee camp in the Sara-e-Shamali park in Kabul.
Rumors were swirling in Kabul that Washington had suggested to President Ashraf Ghani to resign, clearing the way for a ceasefire and the establishment of a transitional government.
On the record, what’s established is that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin promised Ghani to “remain invested” in Afghan security.
Reports indicate the Pentagon plans to redeploy 3,000 troops and Marines to Afghanistan and another 4,000 to the region to evacuate the US Embassy and US citizens in Kabul.
The alleged offer to Ghani actually originated in Doha – and came from Ghani’s people, as I confirmed with diplomatic sources.
The Kabul delegation, led by Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of something called the High Council for National Reconciliation, via Qatar mediation, offered the Taliban a power-sharing deal as long as they stop the onslaught. There’s been no mention of Ghani resigning, which is the Taliban’s number one condition for any negotiation.
The extended troika in Doha is working overtime. The US lines up immovable object Zalmay Khalilzad, widely mocked in the 2000s as “Bush’s Afghan.” The Pakistanis have special envoy Muhammad Sadiq and ambassador to Kabul Mansoor Khan.
The Russians have the Kremlin’s envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov. And the Chinese have a new Afghan envoy, Xiao Yong.
Russia-China-Pakistan are negotiating with a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) frame of mind: all three are permanent members. They emphasize a transition government, power-sharing, and recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political force.
Diplomats are already hinting that if the Taliban topple Ghani in Kabul, by whatever means, they will be recognized by Beijing as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan – something that will set up yet another incendiary geopolitical front in the confrontation against Washington.
As it stands, Beijing is just encouraging the Taliban to strike a peace agreement with Kabul.
The Pashtunistan riddle
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has minced no words as he stepped into the fray. He confirmed the Taliban leadership told him there’s no negotiation with Ghani in power – even as he tried to persuade them to reach for a peace deal.
Khan accused Washington of regarding Pakistan as “useful” only when it comes to pressing Islamabad to use its influence over the Taliban to broker a deal – without considering the “mess” the Americans left behind.
Khan once again said he “made it very clear” there will be no US military bases in Pakistan.
This is a very good analysis of how hard it is for Khan and Islamabad to explain Pakistan’s complex involvement with Afghanistan to the West and also the Global South.
The key issues are quite clear:
1. Pakistan wants a power-sharing deal and is doing what it can in Doha, along the extended troika, to reach it.
2. A Taliban takeover will lead to a new influx of refugees and may encourage jihadis of the al-Qaeda, TTP and ISIS-Khorasan kind to destabilize Pakistan.
3. It was the US that legitimized the Taliban by striking an agreement with them during the Donald Trump administration.
4. And because of the messy withdrawal, the Americans reduced their leverage – and Pakistan’s – over the Taliban.
The problem is Islamabad simply does not manage to get these messages across.
And then there are some bewildering decisions. Take the AfPak border between Chaman (in Pakistan’s Balochistan) and Spin Boldak (in Afghanistan).
The Pakistanis closed their side of the border. Every day tens of thousands of people, overwhelmingly Pashtun and Baloch, from both sides cross back and forth alongside a mega-convoy of trucks transporting merchandise from the port of Karachi to landlocked Afghanistan. To shut down such a vital commercial border is an unsustainable proposition.
All of the above leads to arguably the ultimate problem: what to do about Pashtunistan?
The absolute heart of the matter when it comes to Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan and Afghan interference in the Pakistani tribal areas is the completely artificial, British Empire-designed Durand Line.
Islamabad’s definitive nightmare is another partition. Pashtuns are the largest tribe in the world and they live on both sides of the (artificial) border. Islamabad simply cannot admit a nationalist entity ruling Afghanistan because that will eventually foment a Pashtun insurrection in Pakistan.
And that explains why Islamabad prefers the Taliban compared to an Afghan nationalist government. Ideologically, conservative Pakistan is not that dissimilar from the Taliban positioning. And in foreign policy terms, the Taliban in power perfectly fit the unmovable “strategic depth” doctrine that opposes Pakistan to India.
In contrast, Afghanistan’s position is clear-cut. The Durand Line divides Pashtuns on both sides of an artificial border. So any nationalist government in Kabul will never abandon its desire for a larger, united Pashtunistan.
As the Taliban are de facto a collection of warlord militias, Islamabad has learned by experience how to deal with them. Virtually every warlord – and militia – in Afghanistan is Islamic.
Even the current Kabul arrangement is based on Islamic law and seeks advice from an Ulema council. Very few in the West know that Sharia law is the predominant trend in the current Afghan constitution.
Closing the circle, ultimately all members of the Kabul government, the military, as well as a great deal of civil society come from the same conservative tribal framework that gave birth to the Taliban.
Apart from the military onslaught, the Taliban seem to be winning the domestic PR battle because of a simple equation: they portray Ghani as a NATO and US puppet, the lackey of foreign invaders.
And to make that distinction in the graveyard of empires has always been a winning proposition.
Methinks, soon, US will go on a major bombing spree, waving the flag of freedom. Good for the MIC and all who profit from war.
agree, what chance it will be nuclear or biological? to reinforce the message that the US will do anything and send a warning to the rest of the world to fall into line.
With all the dynamics at play within Afghanistan, Pepe exposes the deep red lines of the major players. Taliban, Pakistan, China, Russia and the USA have the battlefield of diplomacy and the battlefield on the ground in country.
Then there are the energizing sources of terrorism (Taliban, AQ and ISIS) and Sharia Islamic rule over the population of Afghanistan. These are the heavy motivators for Taliban operations.
Two trillion dollars expended by the US was all for nothing.
Understand that the US had a proxy army (Afghan military) of 300,000 men and could not win, could not sufficiently cripple the enemy, and could not hold the country once it announced American retreat and abandonment.
Pity the Afghan people. The US has left them with the best of its tradecraft: chaos, death and destruction.
There are pictures of the Lion of Herat Ismail Khan and his militia sitting in the company of Taliban elders and fighters. It attests to the diplomatic savvyness of the talibs. He was a threat and commanded respect. However, he surrendered honourably and the talibs reciprocated.
Your categorisation of iSIS and AQ comparisons is exposed beautifully in the above development. Had it been AQ or ISIS he would have been strung up for all to see. The agitation in some hearts impairs the vision.
If the Talibs were in any way similar to your Alphabet proxies I’m sure Russia, China or Iran wouldn’t have hosted them. Kind of a silly generalisation really. I would suggest they know much more than you or I to be labelled as so naive.
Quite a stunning display of diplomatic and miltary skill.
I doubt the US and associated allies will ever want the world to see the reality of their crocodile tears, lies and obfuscation of anything that resembles the truth. They’ll do their utmost to sabotage the talibs stunning charge and inevitability.
“Two trillion dollars expended by the US was all for nothing.”
Not realy. I am sure shareholders and politicians close to the MIC got their fair share of the loot. As Smedley Butler said, in the US, war is a racket.
As the greatest empire the world has known mimics Brave Sir Robin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZwuTo7zKM8
Elect a Democratic President and loose a war is how RW media is spinning it. Never ending war is just too profitable for the establishment to allow us to accept the obvious lesson which is that Humanitarian Interventions by the US military always fail. Otherwise doubts might be raised as to the validity of helping Tawain with its democracy, or ensuring the freedom of the seas. But there are always a bunch of idiots in the US who can be counted on to support whatever theyre told to support. The usual suspects drown out the rational people and so the cycle continues.
The Taliban Are Preparing To Take Kabul By September 11, 2021
(Machine Translation From Original Portuguese Article)
The probability of the Taliban capturing Kabul by September 11, 2021 is increasing and in my view, it is the scenario that at this moment appears to be the most likely:
https://sputniknews.com/asia/202108121083587636-afghanistans-ambassador-to-us-pleas-for-air-support-amid-fears-taliban-may-be-in-reach-of-kabul/
The rapid advance that the Taliban are making on the ground is mainly due to the total unwillingness of the Afghan Armed Forces (FAA) military to fight. Truth be told, the FAA is relatively well equipped and even has an Air Force that, although small, operates aircraft ideal for carrying out counter-guerrilla operations, such as the A-29 Super Tucano . The FAA’s problem, therefore, is not essentially a problem of lack of equipment or lack of ammunition, but rather a problem of lack of morale among its military, coupled with poor leadership, tribalism and large-scale corruption in the FAA on the part of many FAA officers.
That said, the only force on the ground in minimal conditions to stop the current Taliban offensive , are precisely the various special forces of the FAA, where the Commandos stand out, however, these are too small in number to be able to stop an extremely determined enemy force such as the Taliban and which, according to the latest estimates, will now have more than 70,000 fighters on its side.
Everything that is now happening in Afghanistan has been predictable for years and any analyst who understands the least of the matter knows perfectly well that the Afghan government that was left in power by the US/NATO was never more than a Western fantasy, that in no way represents the ethno-religious and tribal reality of Afghanistan. The total failure of this project and its consequent destruction at the hands of the Taliban was therefore to be expected.
The Taliban seem to lack nothing at the moment and the lightning speed with which they are taking territory after territory is an example of that. In addition to this factor, it is also necessary to take into account that as they advance and consolidate their territorial gains, the Taliban are also capturing tons of weapons, ammunition and armored vehicles like the famous Humvee from the FAA and the police forces, that will only greatly increase the Taliban’s combat and mobility capabilities.
In addition to the material gains that the Taliban are obtaining with each passing hour, it is also necessary to take into account that the number of Afghan military and police, who are deserting and joining the Taliban, is constantly increasing. Prisoners being released from jails, wherever the Taliban take power, is another factor that will only further increase the number of those currently fighting in the ranks of the Taliban.
It is still suspect, and even quite likely, that there are officers from the Pakistani Armed Forces and Pakistani intelligence services, infiltrating the Taliban fighters and actively contributing to assist the Taliban offensive on the ground . The Taliban movement has long been a power-projecting asset for Pakistan, which seeks to exert as much influence as possible in Afghanistan and thereby limit India’s ambitions in it as much as possible.
The end is near for the puppet government that the US/NATO left installed in Kabul…
In my opinion and I stress that this is my opinion, the Taliban aim to capture Kabul by September 11, 2021 and this is quite possible to be achieved, as even today the Taliban captured Kandahar, which is “only” Afghanistan’s second largest city. The FAA, however, as expected, continues to totally disintegrate in the face of the Taliban offensive and nothing seems to be able to stop the inevitable, namely, the takeover of Kabul by the boys whom Ronald Reagan called “freedom fighters” in the 1980s and then later – in a story that is still very poorly told- helped Mr. Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda ram two commercial planes into the Twin Towers of New York and another one into the Pentagon. The fourth plane missed its target, however, it is suspected that it was headed for the Capitol or the White House.
The takeover of Kabul by the Taliban, wherever it may go, will be a brutal slap in the face of the Anglo-Zionist Empire and if this comes to fruition by September 11, 2021 – as everything seems to indicate – the symbolism and the humiliation that this will represent for the US/NATO could not be greater.
Link to original article in Portuguese: https://toranja-mecanica.blogspot.com/2021/08/os-taliba-estao-preparar-se-para-tomar.html
Absolutely. I would predict earlier than the date you suggest unless Natoo sabotages their momentum. It seems a little bizarre to me why 3000+ US soldiers need to help evacuate their duplicitous (sorry diplomatic) staff. There seems to be a increased revival of Trky intruding into the affair of guarding Kabul in talks with the US. The talibs are not approving. Trky should heed the warnings from the talibs.
Interestingly, the lion of Herat who surrendered to the talibs is apparently leaving his region for Kabul. He has a message from the talibs. No doubt it will be one of peaceful surrender with some perks attached. However, it will almost certainly include the stepping down of Ghani. He’s overplayed his hand way too far. He should do the sensible thing. Not even really a question.
Very skillful of the talibs to give this task to ismail khan. He has respect in Afghan circles.
US troops can’t fight. But you are right. How many personnel does the US embassy have that they need 3000 troops to help evacuate them?
If US troops return to Afghanistan, the Taliban will need proper weapons to deal with them.
I doubt Russia and China are prepared to arm the Taliban with advanced weapons to attack the US. They don’t want to antagonize the US, and they certainly don’t want to empower the Taliban. (Russia wouldn’t sell Iran defensive S-300s because of US sanctions. Will they sell offensive weapons to a group they label terrorists?)
That leaves Iran and Pakistan. I don’t know what kinds of weapons the Pakistanis have to offer, but I don’t imagine the US will be pleased to find the Pakistanis arming the Taliban.
If the US returns to Afghanistan:
1. Will the Taliban continue to fight? If so, they will need real weapons like drones and rockets.
2.Will they ask the IRGC for weapons? Who else do they have to ask?
3. Will the IRGC provide the Taliban with weapons to attack the US?
4. What will become of the Taliban-IRGC relationship, if the Iranians start giving the Taliban advanced weapons?
5. Will Iran risk civil war in Afghanistan, if it means pulling the Taliban even closer? What is the risk of civil war, realistically? Who is going to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan?
The americans are not going back. We are likely only days away from video of the last chopper to leaving the US embassy rooftop in kabul, much like saigon.
The taliban never needed advanced weapons from russia, china, or iran to beat the empire. They have done it with virtually no heavy weapons. AKs, RPGs and the odd mortar. No one needs to supply them with advanced offensive weapons.
The Taliban really only started making progress after the US left. Their AKs and RPGs did not beat the empire. Bankruptcy beat the empire, imo.
I agree that the Americans are probably not going back. But if they do, the Taliban can’t do much with their AKs except a guerilla insurgency, like the last 20 years.
The truth is, we do not really know why the US left Afghanistan. Is it a strategy? Is it because they can’t afford to stay any more? Have they accepted defeat? Or what?
The US must have known that the Afghan government and security forces which the Americans set up would not be able to stand in the way of the Taliban, right?
The Iraqi government and security forces that the US trained and set up were no match for ISIS. But whereas in Mesopotamia and Syria, the endgame of the ISIS conspiracy was an Israeli-Turkish land grab plus the founding of a Kurdish state (which all failed anyway), and one could say that the US trained weak and ineffective security forces on purpose, there is no way Israel or Turkey could hold on to territory in Afghanistan. So, why did the US set up such a weak polity in Afghanistan, that is falling over with nothing more than a nudge?
Who wants to solve this riddle?
Does the US have a strategy? Or are they just shitting their pants?
US forces fled their two main bases in Kandahar and Bagram in the dead of night because they were afraid of being ambushed by the Taliban.That signifies that they were defeated. As Von Clausewitz told us in his book Vom Kriege an army at war seeks to force the enemy do do what it wants him to do. And remember that Taliban has not attacked US forces since the February 2020 agreement even as Biden violated that agreement by delaying the removal of the last US soldiers to August 31.
I gather that the Afghan military is already arming the Taliban with US heavy weapons. These are handed over as part of the deals being made to take over cities and towns. China and Russia do not need to supply weapons to the Taliban.
American weapons? Do they work?
Not hearing much about the tens of thousands of private contractors that were supposed to remain behind.
Private contractors fall under the category “diplomatic personell”.
@Anonimo: “Mr. Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda ram two commercial planes into the Twin Towers of New York and another one into the Pentagon.”
Correction: AlQaida did not belong to Mr. Bin Laden. AlQaida belongs to the CIA; together with ISIL, ISIS and all the other fake bogeymen that Uncle $cam claims to be fighting but is actually paying to spread terror. With that single correction, Anonimo’s mention of Con-911 is completely on topic because the Bush regime used that particular “AlQaida” atrocity (actually committed by the criminal U$ regime) as Uncle $cam’s excuse to invade Afghanistan. Next month will mark the 20th anniversary of Con-911, on which date the world will ironically witness the end of the Afghan chapter in that ongoing saga of criminal adventures by NATZO in general and the U$ regime in particular.
Without Afghanistan opium the CIA might have to move cultivation/production lines elsewhere to finance their jihadist armies. Myanmar?
Good for you to point out Dr.
It’s fitting that the talibs (with God’s help no doubt) are sending the greatest killing machine and threat the world has ever seen fleeing for their lives. The amount of utter barbarism, rampage and murder they have instigated in all continents, and as you rightly point to, killing their OWN citizens to justify their rampage is an abomination beyond description.
Empires don’t last long when they flee Afghanistan. Its likely, the American one will be the earliest one to fall in utter shame.
“because the Bush regime used that particular “AlQaida” atrocity (actually committed by the criminal U$ regime)”
Not to forget ‘our’ good old Khazarian friends from the Mossad.
Laughable situation indeed! (I say this facetiously.) The Taliban managed to do in a few short months what the US was unable to do in 20 years! That is, they conquered Afghanistan.
In another few years the US industries will begin investing billions there as they did in Vietnam and conveniently forget that a war costing thousands of lives ever took place.
Should we erect another black wall in memorium of those Americans who died for nothing in Afghanistan just as we did for those who died for nothing in Vietnam?
”Should we erect another black wall in memorium of those Americans who died for nothing in Afghanistan /…/ ?”
Nah, rather erect a memory to the greater glory of Zbignew Brzezinski. Political Islam was his idea, after all.
between the timing of the american debacle in afghanistan, the covd narrative collapsing to the point that western governments are smidge away from actually coercing to outright forcing vaccinations on the half that has demurred, the american and european political systems are on the precipice of a profound legitimacy crisis which will begin to cause actual panic among them very shortly if not behind closed doors already and extend well into next year with outright political terror for those now comfortably in power by next summers end.
rapidly diminishing public belief in the governments legitimacy is all that holding this rickety contraption together and there is no indication our and european elites grasp how tenuous their grip on power is being as self insulated and self absorbed as they are.
Yes, the UN will need to step in and take over for the Western governments that have failed. Never let a crisis go to waste. Looks like the plan.
The speed of the collapse suggests the more apt comparison (and fear inside the Beltway) is Tehran ’79.
MI6 has been busy. English-speaking individuals have appeared in Afghanistan, trying to infiltrate the Taliban.
https://sputniknews.com/world/202108131083593915-militants-with-british-accents-uk-jihadis-reportedly-secretly-joining-taliban-in-afghanistan/
They should remember the fate of Brits (and Yanks):
“When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains”
RE: A Saigon moment looms in Kabul
Does that mean we can look forward to images of Americans dangling from helicopters, as they flee from the US Embassy or other US installations in Kabul?
Also, you have to wonder if this guy below is still in Afghanistan or has long ago deserted the ship:
Chargé d’Affaires Ross Wilson
https://af.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/#:~:text=Ambassador%20Ross%20Wilson%20arrived%20in,the%20Islamic%20Republic%20of%20Afghanistan.
If he is still there, Mr. Wilson might want to make sure that he has an extra pair of adult diapers. Things might get very rocky for the Americans in Afghanistan.
Grab your popcorn!
Remember why the USA invaded Afghanistan in the first place? It was supposedly to capture Osama bin Laden who supposedly had directed 19 Arabs armed with box cutters to attack us on 9/11. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was the lone ‘no’ vote in Congress against the war in Afghanistan in 2001, voting against an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) shortly after the 9/11 attacks. At the time, she was reviled for being unpatriotic, even receiving death threats. “When I voted ‘no,’ I said it was a blank check and would set the stage for perpetual war, and that’s what it’s done,” she said. How right she was.
And what good have American and European troops in Afghanistan done in 20 years? How many schools have they built? How many bridges? Have they built even one industrial plant or factory that employed Afghans? Did they even try to understand the Afghan people, culture, traditions? The Russians did, but not the Americans. Rather, US and NATO troops sat in closed bases and bombed everything that moved.
Americans have this nasty habit of forgetting who our friends are and who are our enemies. In Afghanistan we initially supported the Mujahideen, including CIA operative, Osama bin Laden, against the Russians. Once the Mujahideen morphed into being the Taliban and started shutting down the lucrative opium trade, we turned on them and used Osama bin Laden as the Middle East’s boogeyman long after he actually died, shortly after 9/11. We gave Saddam Hussein all the weapons he wanted in the 1980s and then turned around and killed him for using those weapons on us in the early 2000s. That’s why Gore Vidal called us the United States of Amnesia.
Excellent concise summary.
This does remind me of Vietnam in 75. The same mix of the puppet US forces collapsing across the board and Washington D.C. going into denial of the reality on the ground, calling for “coalition governments”, political solutions and ignoring just how fast the collapse occurred. Remember D.C. in 75 only decided to evacuate 3 days before Saigon fell.
Another “Saigon”: Chinese did define the Empire early:
“Paper tiger” is a literal English translation of the Chinese phrase zhilaohu (simplified Chinese: 纸老虎; traditional Chinese: 紙老虎). The term refers to something or someone that claims or appears to be powerful or threatening, but is actually ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge. The expression became well known internationally as a slogan used by Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and leader of the People’s Republic of China, against his political opponents, particularly the U.S. government.
”The term /paper tiger/ refers to something or someone that claims or appears to be powerful or threatening, but is actually ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge.”
Minor quibble: While ’ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge’ is certainly accurate to describe Western warmongers, their militaries are still powerful and very threatening to the world’s downtrodden and oppressed peoples who are at the receiving end. But to an average Western idiot high on debauched ”culture” and never in the crosshairs of any massive firepower, that is well and good enough.
Only ‘Western idiots’ could be scared of a nation that never won a war.
Don’t be too sure.
They have nuclear weapons and a track record of using it.
Their military technology is a decade behind Russia and possibly China. Any doubt, read Martyanov.
Don’t forget, Mario, the West, or as the Saker likes to call it, the AngloZionist Empire, is not just about domination and exploitation of indigenous people like the Afghans. Zionism is at its core an apocalyptic death cult.
Most Zionists in the USA are so-called Christian. They’ve become the heart and soul of the Republican Party. At this point in time, they’re afflicted with what Eric Hoffer called true-believer syndrome. The more they become invested in a particular belief, the more value they will place in this belief and, as a consequence, be more resistant to facts, evidence or reality that contradict this belief.
These are the Rapture-me-outta-here folks who actually look to WWIII as the apocalyptic conflict between “good” (them) and “evil” (everyone else) that will bring their warrior messiah back to Earth to smite all the unbelievers. Their Christian Zionist pastors preach vengeance and wrath, not the Gospel of justice, compassion, and truth.
”Diplomats are already hinting that if the Taliban topple Ghani in Kabul, by whatever means, they will be recognized by Beijing as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan – something that will set up yet another incendiary geopolitical front in the confrontation against Washington.”
And that’s what makes this look way more promising than the prevalent conditions of the late 1970s. The Soviets responded to the plea from the progressive Afghan government to defend it against the Islamists; the latter backed up not just by the usual suspects but also by China. However, the USSR was on the decline, and neoliberalism hadn’t begun hollowing out the productive and fiscal base of the imperialist countries. China in cahoots with the US and its satrapies proved too much for the USSR and the government of Afghanistan.
40 years on, it is the ascendancy this century of China and Russia accompanied by the West’s neoliberal cult of unrestrained greed, corruption, and incompetence which has taken its toll. If the Sunni Islamists in the past could close ranks at Washington’s request, this is certainly nowhere to be seen today. The Talibs are an entirely different breed in terms of diplomatic skills, grasp of the world, national leadership capabilities, and battle-hardened experience. Contrast this to the sorry lot of Sunni Islamists still remaining at the disposal of the West: Al Qaeda, ISIS, The Magnificent Sultan RTE, and the Outhouse of Saud. Utter garbage like their Western kith and kin.
BTW, Taliban are almost entirely Sunni, so is the majority of Muslim population around the world.
Takfiri is the right term I think.
@Nussiminen
Eloquently, on the spot. Thanks.
Pepe gives some “quite prosaic reasons for the success of the [Resistance] onslaught”. He mentions “corruption in the [U$ puppet] Afghan National Army (ANA)” and “lack of [U$] American air support”. Among those “quite prosaic reasons” Pepe also mentions that “the Taliban had been secretly reaching out for months, through tribal connections and family ties, offering a deal: don’t fight us and you will be spared.”
Might I add an absurdly poetical reason: Patriotism (an English word derived from the ancient Indo-European word for Father). Among those “tribal connections and family ties” which Pepe rightly mentions as something “quite prosaic”, and behind the prosaic talk of “a deal” an ancestral memory is poetically whispering: “The Yanks are not our Fathers.”
If I may quote White Whale on August 11, 2021 · at 12:53 am EST/EDT:
“We’re supposed to believe it’s remarkable that some guys could formulate and execute a plan to take back their country.”
PS: It is a poetic mistake of the first order to rely on U$ air power to prop up a puppet regime.
“The Pashtunistan riddle” as Escobar calls it, is easily explained: Basically, these Pashto menfolks don’t wand any kind af state authority to rule over, manipulate or tax them at all.
The great anthropologist F. Barth. ons tried to explain this to some Norwegian politicians (including Stoltenberg and the foreign secretary who is now installed as a main organizer of the Davos World Economic Forum). Those social democrats had to confess they could not understand what he attempted to
“Basically, these Pashto menfolks don’t wand any kind af state authority to rule over, manipulate or tax them at all.”
Didn’t know that most of people I know are Pashto menfolks!
Afghan politics are very simple — and thus difficult for those who want to build a modern state: The Pashtunwallah (traditional law of the Pashtu trimes men) consists of one basic premise: I’m a free man and won’t be ruled or reciev orders from any central state authority. And especially not be foced to pay taxes or surrender my guns. The leader of the Afghan Academy of science in Kabul (one professor von Munthe af Morgenstiæren) tried over and over again to make the British Imperialists in India grasp this simple truth — but in wane. Later on, in 2007the great anthropologist Barth tried to tell Stoltenberg and the present main administrator og the Dawos World Economic Council (who was at thet time Norway’s Secretary of foreign affars) of the same truth about Pashtoon menfolks. To no avail: They both professed true incomprehension.
Not Davos “council” but “forum” — ‘off course’.
A telling story. Thanks for sharing. I suppose it makes sense. Only free men can grasp what freedom is all about. For people without honor the concept of freedom (in this case from bondage to the state/authority) is impossible to comprehend.
Portuguese version at
https://www.resistir.info/p_escobar/cabul_13ago21.html
The fight will be over quickly. Washington has always understood that the Taliban is the majority in Afghanistan. If democracy really ever existed in Afghanistan, the Taliban would be in charge. The US government acts like they are surprised at the speed of the retaking of Afghanistan by the Taliban. This is just PR. They well knew that those very same people they have been training were going to swoop sides as some as the US pulled out. The truth is the US government has know for some time that they have been training the Taliban loyalist in the Afghan Armys ranks.
If the idea is that the US Armed Forces are no longer used to crush small countries, but exclusively to isolate Russia and to prevent China from developing the “Silk Roads”, the strategy that could now be glimpsed in Afghanistan is coherent with the Cebrowski doctrine.
“There’s been no mention of Ghani resigning, which is the Taliban’s number one condition for any negotiation.” Pepe points out.
An eventual endless civil war would destabilize also Pakistan, the other various Stans, and even Iran, with a new Sunni front to beware of.
An endless chaos that the US has all the tools to feed even from Quatar. Turkey plays an important role. We will soon see if the fall of Kabul will be equivalent to that of Saigon. Perhaps it is a retreat, perhaps a repositioning.
To the Saker
FM 23-90 W CH 1.pdf
I am sending you this link as to show you the mental conflict faced in Afghanistan. Try teaching section on safety to the average Afghanistan troop, God willing. If they didn’t spike that motar leg, it was God’s will and the dead guys in the motar pit are his martyrs.
Talibans openly threatened with offensive if US do not pull out all troops before promised date. That means they had prepared themselves for a final showdown with Kabul regime – with or without US support.
What changed after 20 years of guerilla warfare? Something obviously did, just it is not advertised.
Someone noticed that Taliban recent moves looks like they are coordinated via satellite. It’s because they probably are.
If we dismiss ridiculous assumption that Americans made themselves laughingstock in front of the whole planet, just to pull ludicrous regime change scheme, then only couple of culprits are left with satellite capabilities.
Such help always come with large amount of game changing weapons. Highly likely, its “helping Syrian rebels” scenario 2.0, but this time, Americans are given the opportunity to taste their own medicine. All kinds of TOWs, MANPADs, suicide drones. Houthi style.
Naturally, no-one will confess involvement in such devious activities. God forbid.
“I doubt Russia and China are prepared to arm the Taliban with advanced weapons to attack the US. They don’t want to antagonize the US” – Right, recently, US is all sweet&friendly.
One thing still works flawlessly in the US domain, and that is intelligence. (NOT “thinking rationally” one).
They know everything, but, bitterly, are unable to change ugly truth. So what they did is to wait to the last moment, hoping for some miracle, only to slip away, without warning, in the middle of the night.
Leaving their useful idiots at the mercy of sisters, mothers and widows of murdered Afgans.
Since mentioned non-exisistent hardware is not needed against unworthy opponent it will stay tucked in the bottom of the Afgan caves until the “…Pentagon plans to redeploy 3,000 troops and Marines to Afghanistan and another 4,000 to the region …” is finished.
After Talibans secure their position, only then we will see their true face.
And, since all we know little about them, except Hollywood version from 20 years ago, I believe we will be surprised. Those Talibans were CIA assets. Today, Talibans are betrayed ones. Big difference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjmjqlOPd6A
Many thinks it will be “business as usual” in no time. It won’t.
The second thing Talibans will do is to purge their own ranks of those with “business as usual” mindset. (I think most of us agree that he first thing will be cleaning the Kabul swamp.)
Afghanistan is now on the same page with powerful countries, bound to stripe Empire of its colonies one by one. Knowing that overblown militaries, left without vast amount of free resources, crumble without fight. Or worst. Like turning on the host country.
Everything changed in the last 20 years. World changed. Except for those lucky enough to sleep&dream all the way.
20,000 Taliban surrounded 5,000 NATO soldiers
In total, the Taliban have transported 20,000 soldiers around Kabul, while 5,000 NATO forces are trapped inside the city.
The Taliban use all the American weaponry they acquired from the raids on American weapons depots. They now have artillery, weapons, tanks, drones and even helicopters.
Reports point to the capital being pounded by artillery and tanks.
Inside Kabul there are 5,000 NATO forces from the US, Britain, and there is also a danger to aircraft landing at Kabul airport.
The Taliban have MANPADS in abundance…
War news blog by Vasilis Kapoula
How long will American forces last?
How long will the new Us aid last against a host of Taliban jihadist fanatics, members of ISIS and al-Qaeda?
Russian analysts believe U.S. forces could delay the fall of Kabul by a maximum of 24 hours.
Even if the Americans’ weaponry is much superior, American forces won’t be able to hold out for long.
“Although the US has strategic bombers, fighters, satellites and other weapons, they cannot use them inside Kabul.
All key areas around Kabul fell into taliban hands within 24 hours.
The Americans won’t last any longer,” they say.
is this real?
Source:
Columnist: Vasilis Kapoulas
War News 24 / 7
14/08/2021 – 13:04
I think the talibs will consolidate in areas around Kabul and let the US leave. They seem to be strategically taking control. The talibs have abided by Doha agreement even though Biden extended it. So the onus is now on the US to leave. They will let them go and probably hope Kabul will surrender or Ghani step down in the process, maybe leave too. They have managed to secure much of the country in a relatively bloodless takeover. They wouldn’t want to spoil things unnecessarily. However, if they don’t lave in the 2 weeks there could be trouble.
abdullah, thank you for your past summations. what you are suggesting somewhat supports what lavrov said yesterday during a Q&A, when asked why the russians weren’t evacuating their embassy in kabul; he said the taliban were planning to present their case @ the UNSC. russia, as well as china, like to have everything certified under the umbrella of international law, bt what effect would that have on the taliban?
Nice of you to point out. Interesting tidbit. I can understand the talibs are somewhat desirous of legitimacy so this news out of Lavrov is intriguing.
It’s possible talks between the talibs with Russia and China have urged the talibs to adapt and secure a consensus rule in the country in exchange for recognition. This obviously includes respecting borders and reigning in radical groups. Its a positive strategy if true and a strategic gain for the Russia, China and Eurasian Integration powerplay.
I wasn’t sure such expertise was possible within the talib ranks. They must be tired of fighting though. They have surprised many with their negotiation efforts that have endured but also extended onto the world stage.
They’re a pretty straightforward people and the demands of international law and norms is a huge step and perhaps even beyond them. I don’t think they were too interested before. They see it as upholding a secular distorted worldview. A means of undue control by world powers. What have the world powers ever done for Palestinians or the kashmiris next door in over 70 years. So the talibs won’t have much faith in such a so called world body. Ultimately, its charter goes against many basic principles from a religious perspective that go against the Quran. Sovereignty belongs to the Lord God and cannot to the demands of the security Council. The Quran advocates financial sovereignty and warns the believers against fictitious markets and currencies. The agenda of the liberal world order is simply not happening. In other words there is serious incompatibility so I think its problematic to a degree.
However, the talibs are thinking expediently. So perhaps there’s some initiative and Russia, China are giving impetus for stability in the region. In the long run I see it as very problematic. But there may be wiser heads in them then I can know.
Ghani is probably going to stay in the same house Hamid K. lived in, in London. This is Hamid 2.0. The US better hope the Taliban can restrain itself from the revenge they want. Air support. I can see the next movie “Where is Ambassador Chris?”. Close air support on the Embassy. Here comes that airpower Joe Bob was talking about. If you have a soul, and you do, pray for them that are there, that the Taliban might find mercy.
@Marcus Chapman
“Ghani is probably going to stay in the same house Hamid K. lived in, in London”
Thank you for clarifying what in Weasels lingo “to remain invested in Afghan security” really means.
There are quite a few Pakistani elites who invested wisely in Western dwellings. In the weasels definition you provide. Thank you.
Several weeks ago former prime minister who absconded prison (with short term legitimate permission) for urgent health treatment, which is now heading towards two years, met with the Proxy Afghan National intelligence head. This head had recently maligned pakistanis in derogatory language which caused an uproar. Yet a former Pak PM charged with corruption, jettisoned out of the country, living lavishly in London met with an adversary as cordially as one can.
Well considering current matters his short-sightedness must be really giving him underlying health conditions.
‘You really shouldn’t tempt fate’
Ecclesiastes 1:9
New International Version
9 What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
“Ecclesiastes is the wisdom of the prudent businessman.” — Bertrand Russel
I prefer the wisdom of the great evolutionary scientist, Wolfgang von Goethe, celebrating the infinite variety of Life’s adventure:
“Nature! Without asking, or warning, she snatches us up into her circling dance, and whirls us on until we are tired, and drop from her arms.
She is ever shaping new forms: what is, has never yet been; what has been, comes not again. Everything is new, and yet nought but the old.”
Afghanistan appears to be falling faster than the US Capital.
Estou a acompanhar as últimas reportagens de Pepe Escobar. Magnifico. As vitórias sabem mesmo bem. Reporta-las também.
Machine translation: I’m following up on Pepe Escobar’s latest reports. Magnificent. The victories really taste good. Report them, too.
The fine sources at Colonel Cassad’s Live Journal report the Taliban as being 11 km outside Kabul, with 1500 already embedded within the city..
After their world-class blitzkrieg, it is for the Taliban to decide on a bloodbath or not..
With hordes of people lined-up toward the airport, a “Saigon-moment” is inevitable..
The purpose of war is war, Gentlemen..
1500 infiltrated fighters seems to me very little for a city of 2.4 million inhabitants. By all possible means this number is surely increasing rapidly. Incredible moments.
The Taliban have taken Mazar Sharif early this morning. The number of provinces under their control is now 25.
The US is now saying they will send 5000 troops to Afghanistan.
Is this serious?
Biden orders INCREASE in US presence in Afghanistan as he threatens Taliban with ‘strong’ military response if interests attacked
https://www.rt.com/usa/532071-biden-afghanistan-increase-taliban/
Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.
I suggest it’s a ghost warning (if you know what I mean).
Biden wants a pullout now and a safe one. It’s been embarrassing enough back home with all the questioning.
He’s trying to make sure the talibs dont get up to any funny business. I don’t think they will.
Having the motivation to go to war is a very difficult personal choice. Terrible oppression or the imminence of terrible oppression are the most common motivations. For these motivations to be real they must be part of a collective feeling of oppression. It is the strength of the collective that is the basis for victory. So American instructors are not bad instructors, but everywhere they go they are the problem and thus have no truly motivated people to train. This is why the ANA is falling apart so fast. The ANA fighters are fighting to maintain foreign oppression, like the Harki in Algeria, and the mountains tribes in Vietnam. The ANA’s rapid defeat is thus easily explained.
The ANA’s rapid defeat is thus easily explained. I conclude without forgetting to pay tribute to the courage and skill of those who liberated their country from US oppression.
https://newsmedia.tasnimnews.com/Tasnim/Uploaded/Image/1399/04/28/1399042816390326520794284.jpg — The Taliban have issued a statement claiming that they are outside the gates of Kabul, but they will not enter until negotiations bear fruit.
According to the statement, the Taliban do not wish to enter the city through force or bloodshed, and they are currently negotiating a peaceful entry.
The statement continues by stating that the Taliban are engaging in negotiations to make sure that their entry to Kabul does not result in any violence or loss of life, and that they wish for this transfer of power to happen as seamlessly and peacefully as possible for the people of Kabul.
The Taliban have requested that all their fighters wait outside the city, and no one try to enter.
The Taliban have stressed that until the transfer of power is completed, the safety and security of people in Kabul is on the Afghan government.
The Taliban have also emphasized that they have no desire to take revenge on anyone, and that everyone who serves in military or non-military positions has been pardoned and are safe.
According to the Taliban statement, in the past 24 hours, the provincial capitals of Nuristan, Balkh, Faryab, Loqman, and 5 other capitals have been taken.
The Taliban now control 29 out of 34 provincial capitals.
So what they gonna do? Is this Berlin airlift 2? Shoulder fired missles and drones will make that absolutely impossible. Lots of guns lots of hate. My father told me, if you put enough guns and guys in a small enough area somebody going to to get shot on accident or purpose.
It’s simply stunning. They have surprised everyone and all. They have the means to complete a full takeover but there’s wisdom in their approach. They resist revenge even though the platter is set up. They are sons of the land and they respect that. They are granting amnesty to those that worked for the foreign occupation, for businesses and occupations to continue. The picture that was painted of them is no longer up for sale.
I don’t think any intelligence agency envisaged such a blitz. A relatively bloodless charge. Consultations with elders and leaders of provinces. Warlords have been tamed. Those who never had the collective interest of the people have fled. Trky finally seeing the writing on the wall. It’s now joining the call to evacuate its forces. The speed of events have paralysed the plotters. There plan B’s remain on the table.
The panic in the city of Kabul seems to have calmed as most residents return to their homes and the heavy traffic clears. Officials have told media a peaceful transition of power is expected, as the Taliban has stated. They have instructed their fighters to stay at the gates and not take the city by force. They say, “negotiations are under way to ensure that the transition process is completed safely and securely, without compromising the lives, property and honour of anyone, and without compromising the lives of Kabulis.”
I hope the talibs rectify themselves as best as possible and increase in maturity. Moreover, I hope their amazing resilience gives further impetus to others to drive away the barbarism and imperialism of the Anglo Zio world order. The huffs and puffs and the cries of horror are most emanating in their quarters.
Whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make them mad.
Update: a peaceful handover of power by NATZO’s puppet government in Kabul.
Even sky news had a moment of truth. But it just about fumbled out of his mouth. But eventually the transmission was losing circuit.
Hope the guy gets home safely.
https://youtu.be/x8VLq0Jz1LY
“According to the statement, the Taliban do not wish to enter the city through force or bloodshed, and they are currently negotiating a peaceful entry.”
Kabul comprador elite should negotiate reeeally fast, because very soon they will be facing angry mob inside the city.
When that happens, Talibans will look like Angels to them.
In every possible way I think that Taliban are infiltrating in order to create a momentum of popular insurgency that will leave ANA and Ghani completely naked. The cultural unity of Afghans allows this last move to be a checkmate.
2/3 of Pushtuns live in Pakistan. 1/2 of Afghanistan is Pushtun. The city with the largest Pushtun population is Karachi.
The PM of Pakistan is an ethnic Pushtun.
The NATO installed Kabul regime had dreams of a greater Afghanistan (supported by Bharat). What they don’t tell is that Pakistani Pushtuns are happy with Pakistan. They also dont tell you that 1/2 of Afghanistan would not want the Pushtun population of Afghanistan to increase.
If they wany to reunite with Pushtuns across the Durand-Khan border then the Pushtun areas of Afghanistan should join with Pakistan. Or just focus on Afghanistan. Pakistani Pushtuns are doing well in their own country.
This is the ideaL moment for Putin and Xi to show there brilliance. Start sending humanitarian Chinese and Russian airlift flights to Kabul. Pickup everybody and drop them ofF in the coalition countries that sponsored this rodeo. China has lots of nice new big aero plans. Demand it at the UN Security council. Scream for accountability at the UN.
I like that thought.
As a side note, if I was advising the president, make sure that first humanitarian flight lands at Ben Gurion.
Kabul is falling now,
https://fr.sputniknews.com/international/202108151046000982-les-talibans-ont-commence-a-entrer-dans-kaboul-/
https://sputniknews.com/asia/202108151083607003-taliban-launches-offensive-on-kabul-afghan-interior-ministry-says/
The Taliban has created momentum in a brilliant way. The retreat from the provincial capitals is not complete. These forces have not yet received new assignments in Kabul. Without waiting the Taliban are pushing their advantage.Checkmate, game over, truly unbelievable, I am flabbergasted.
What a stunning moment.
Tass reports:
Afghan president to step down within few hours, Al Arabiya says referring to sources
The president will resign within a few hours and an interim government will be formed
https://tass.com/world/1326047
Generally, the reporting that I see, is that the Taliban is reasonable, saying those that must go, must go. They will not stand in their way or start violence. All of the state apparatus, medical services, and other support services will keep operating.
Let’s hope that the crazies can be stopped from stupid violence. There are always crazies in these situations.
The last that I see is this also from Tass
Russia ready to cooperate with Afghanistan’s interim government – embassy in Kabul
MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. Russia ready to cooperate with Afghanistan’s interim government, the Russian embassy in Kabul told TASS on Sunday.
“Yes, Russia is ready to cooperate with the interim government,” the embassy said in reply to the corresponding question.
Dollars and Apaches don’t win you wars.
Faith and conviction win you wars.
Its a watershed moment.
Breathtaking.
Saigon looms now Sai-gone.
Ashraf Ghani has fled Afghanistan.
The butt-hurt force is alive in the US. Do yourselves a favor – go and take a look at just the headlines on Fox news and the other majors .. don’t stay long .. lol. Just check the headlines. I pray for peace, if only to shut these mouths.
WRT to the peaceful handover, willing to wait etc… Will Taliban behave? Like a tiger losing its spots? What they’ve learnt is not to be barbarians at the gate. That’s all.
Nothing has and will change. As far as Pakistan petting this snake, all it has done is empower TTK to follow AT’s steps.
As I see, Russia, China are just putting on a brave face. Till the talibs spit on their face too…
This is not over by a long shot.
Very bitter thoughts.
You should apply to certain intelligence agencies with that level of hate. It may enhance your application
”Will Taliban behave?”
No, they won’t. They will rebuild and modernize their country without any assistance from National Endowment for Democracy. It’s horrendous, right?
The US Empire has been defeated by men with mopeds and kalachnicovs.
The ‘best army of this planet’ has left in panic and in the dark of night.
Imagine what would happen if they would provoke real armies, like China or Russia.
Feels like ‘Independence Day’, but a real one.
Cheers from France.
No more transitional government.
Taliban commanders claim they took control of the presidential palace in Kabul shortly after President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan. The group says it expects a total handover of power.
https://www.rt.com/news/532104-ghani-left-afghanistan/
Prescient, the Saigon moment arrived today.
Ynakistani statements ridiculous and pathetic.
Dementia patient in White House uttering nonsensical gibberish
Now that Afghanistan’s post-NATO era has begun I am very curious about how these questions will play out:
1) Has the Taliban truly reformed, or will they act behave like savages?
2) When will China, Russia, and the rest of the SCO remove the Taliban from the list of terror organisations? (Who cares about NATO’s opinion!)
3) Will the Taliban eliminate the opium trade, or simply take it over like other Afghan groups?
4) Will Pakistan continue its support of the Taliban, to the point of interfering in Afghanistan’s politics?
5) Will the Pashtun elements of the Taliban attempt to annex the Pashtun lands of Pakistan?
6) What happens if drugs & terrorism floods from Afghanistan into China and the former USSR?
7) Is the Taliban strong enough to defeat the remnants of ISIS and al-Qaeda?
Another stooge government bites the dust. Congratulations to the Talibs and the tormented Afghan people who have inflicted an utter defeat on their Zionazi oppressors including the latters’ Afghan quislings after all these years.
The Talibs show a formidable degree of political dexterity accompanied by plain common sense right in the moment of epic triumph. They could have opted for some really juicy ”sweet revenge”, thereby prolonging the chaos, but evidently they understood perfectly well what kind of ”blessings” that would bring in its train: Bloody Erdogan gorging on and rooting about in the mayhem just like he does in other war-torn Muslim countries. And the Talibs also seem to have grasped very well the crucial lesson from Xinjiang. In short: By restoring peace and going with the readily available Chinese infrastructure projects (for the country’s reconstruction and modernization), the Talibs keep dregs like Erdogan and the Saudis at bay. This time around, they will all stand naked as the new government of Afghanistan will be one of very solid Sunni fundamentalist credentials.
When they are shooting at you when you leave, you lost.
Korea, 1953, ‘DMZ’.
When they are shooting at you when you leave, you lost.
Saigon, 1975.
When they are shooting at you when you leave, you lost.
Afghan. 2021
Auslander
Author http://rhauslander.com/
Never The Last One, ebook edition. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZGCY8KK A deep look in to Russia, her culture and her Armed Forces, in essence a look at the emergence of Russian Federation.
An Incident On Simonka, ebook version. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERKH3IU March 2014. NATO Is invited to leave Sevastopol, one way or the other.