Why wasn't the abandoned equipment destroyed?

[bellisarius]

That question has been haunting me for a bit now. Why?

The small arms and ammunition I can understand. It wasn't sitting in some warehouse(s) where some demo charges could be set, most of it had been disbursed among the Afghan forces.

The same cannot be said for the heavy equipment such as the aircraft, vehicles (not all), and heavier munitions. Those all could have been destroyed easily and within minutes of the order being given. And that's the point, no order was given. Why was no order given? One small thermite grenade, strategically placed, and it's done.

Even in the absence of an order from on high why didn't the local commanders on the ground act on their own initiative? Here's where I can go into a host of stories where service members, acting on their own initiative, have had their careers ruined. Not because they did the wrong thing, merely because they hadn't received explicit orders. I'm certain that if their are more recently separated service members here they can relate their own stories.

My take is that the military has become ever more lawyerized/politicized to the point that paralysis is setting in. It's not that these people are incapable of making the right decision at the right time. It's that they're scared to death of being second guessed and punished by people that weren't there, had no idea of the situation, and generally speaking just want to exercise power.

So while we can all blame Biden, legitimately, for not issuing orders to destroy that equipment the fact that it wasn't destroyed anyway lies at a far deeper level. Biden shouldn't have had to order that equipment be destroyed in-order for it to happen.

 

[LukSkyFokker]

Why was the equipment there?

 

[BidudeinWi]

The fucking muslim Obama. He wanted to arm the shitbag muslim Taliban. Duh!

 

[RobDownSouth]

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/81488003/heres-your-fainting-couch-your-clutching-pearls-are-on-the-table.jpg

 

[ll74]

That question has been haunting me for a bit now. Why?

The small arms and ammunition I can understand. It wasn't sitting in some warehouse(s) where some demo charges could be set, most of it had been disbursed among the Afghan forces.

The same cannot be said for the heavy equipment such as the aircraft, vehicles (not all), and heavier munitions. Those all could have been destroyed easily and within minutes of the order being given. And that's the point, no order was given. Why was no order given? One small thermite grenade, strategically placed, and it's done.

Even in the absence of an order from on high why didn't the local commanders on the ground act on their own initiative? Here's where I can go into a host of stories where service members, acting on their own initiative, have had their careers ruined. Not because they did the wrong thing, merely because they hadn't received explicit orders. I'm certain that if their are more recently separated service members here they can relate their own stories.

My take is that the military has become ever more lawyerized/politicized to the point that paralysis is setting in. It's not that these people are incapable of making the right decision at the right time. It's that they're scared to death of being second guessed and punished by people that weren't there, had no idea of the situation, and generally speaking just want to exercise power.

So while we can all blame Biden, legitimately, for not issuing orders to destroy that equipment the fact that it wasn't destroyed anyway lies at a far deeper level. Biden shouldn't have had to order that equipment be destroyed in-order for it to happen.

Your entire "question" is based purely on speculation. There is no actual list of inventory available to the public. The closest I've seen is a list for evey single piece of equipment since 2001...which is certainly not an accurate inventory.

Plenty of equipment was likely removed during troop drawdown. Some was already given to Afghans who worked with us. And the military has confirmed a large amount of equipment was destroyed or left completely inoperable.

 

[BidudeinWi]

Your entire "question" is based purely on speculation. There is no actual list of inventory available to the public. The closest I've seen is a list for evey single piece of equipment since 2001...which is certainly not an accurate inventory.

Plenty of equipment was likely removed during troop drawdown. Some was already given to Afghans who worked with us. And the military has confirmed a large amount of equipment was destroyed or left completely inoperable.

Ok you marxist bitch. Go duck yourself!

 

[ishtat]

The question is legitimate but more disturbing because since the troops were essentially confined to base for most of the last two years and their withdrawal was certain after Doha; no General, Politician, official, or anybody from either party or administration seems to have considered the possibility, and they had plenty of time.

George C Marshall was a firm believer in the dictum that all commanders need to be relieved of their command from time to time for their own benefit and for the forces they serve. The US armed land forces clearly need to throw out most of its current top brass in much the same way that Marshall relieved from command over 100 generals and senior officers between 1939 and 41.

Unfortunately, the responsible politicians and bureaucrats, of all parties, are harder to get rid of.

One guarantee: the military and the politicians will bury any intelligence on the Taliban advance so deep that we will not see it for years - maybe never.

 

[KeithD]

On what basis does anyone here claim to know how much equipment was abandoned, how much was gotten out, and how much was destroyed in place?

The Trumpettes are just asserting something they know nothing about so that they can rag on the administration. The only goal here is to rag on the administration. Instructions from Moscow, you understand.

 

[Lazaran]

The question is legitimate but more disturbing because since the troops were essentially confined to base for most of the last two years and their withdrawal was certain after Doha; no General, Politician, official, or anybody from either party or administration seems to have considered the possibility, and they had plenty of time.

George C Marshall was a firm believer in the dictum that all commanders need to be relieved of their command from time to time for their own benefit and for the forces they serve. The US armed land forces clearly need to throw out most of its current top brass in much the same way that Marshall relieved from command over 100 generals and senior officers between 1939 and 41.

Unfortunately, the responsible politicians and bureaucrats, of all parties, are harder to get rid of.

One guarantee: the military and the politicians will bury any intelligence on the Taliban advance so deep that we will not see it for years - maybe never.

We will never know what was left in the possession of the Afghan military to defend themselves. The Afghan government had million of dollars to hire contractors on their own to maintain the equipment, and the Afghan military had years of training in how to use it. Would it have made sense to remove or destroy that equipment many months or weeks earlier when the fall of the Afghan government and military was less certain???

In hindsight the answer is obvious, but at least now the Afghan government and its military can never claim that the U.S. left them defenseless. The Afghan government and its military disgraced themselves. I refuse to let that reflect negatively on the sacrifice of American blood and treasure.

 

[Champakian]

Your entire "question" is based purely on speculation. There is no actual list of inventory available to the public. The closest I've seen is a list for evey single piece of equipment since 2001...which is certainly not an accurate inventory.

Plenty of equipment was likely removed during troop drawdown. Some was already given to Afghans who worked with us. And the military has confirmed a large amount of equipment was destroyed or left completely inoperable.

The morning news reality check shows happy Taliban parading American equipment.

I guess they got it from their fellow Afghans.

In no way can we blame the
leader of the retreat.

That would be...

Unpatriotic.

 

[Champakian]

...

In hindsight the answer is obvious, but at least now the Afghan government and its military can never claim that the U.S. left them defenseless. The Afghan government and its military disgraced themselves. I refuse to let that reflect negatively on the sacrifice of American blood and treasure.

Funny how this took certain elements among us by surprise.

Most of us knew that the only way to deny al Qaeda
a return to their Taliban-held base of operations
was to stay active in the area for as long as
the Taliban was still operational...

Now, we've not only returned to leading from behind,
but we have sent a clear signal to allies and enemy alike.
You do not need to be an expert in smoke signals to read it.

 

[jaF0]

Why was the equipment there?

To line Cheney's pocket.

 

[jaF0]

The morning news reality check shows happy Taliban parading American equipment.

I guess they got it from their fellow Afghans.

Which may well be true since most of the Afghan 'army' seems to have either tucked tail and ran without a shot, defected, sold it for personal profit or were Tallies to begin with.

 

[Champakian]

Already said that...

 

[jaF0]

The Afghan government had million of dollars to hire contractors on their own to maintain the equipment,

Had.

What's his name absconded with it.

 

[PersianPrincess23]

The morning news reality check shows happy Taliban parading American equipment.

I guess they got it from their fellow Afghans.

In no way can we blame the
leader of the retreat.

That would be...

Unpatriotic.

As an Iranian girl, this whole operation of the US was a huge failure. The USA and the Afghan government should both hang their heads in shame.

 

[millionairenextdoor]

On what basis does anyone here claim to know how much equipment was abandoned, how much was gotten out, and how much was destroyed in place?

The Trumpettes are just asserting something they know nothing about so that they can rag on the administration. The only goal here is to rag on the administration. Instructions from Moscow, you understand.

Total FUBAR by Biden and his PC (inept) appointees.

 

[Champakian]

Yeah, I really trust a one post entrant into any political discussion.

 

[jaF0]

The Moronnextdoor .....

 

[ll74]

Ok you marxist bitch. Go duck yourself!

Good response.

 

[ll74]

The morning news reality check shows happy Taliban parading American equipment.

I guess they got it from their fellow Afghans.

In no way can we blame the
leader of the retreat.

That would be...

Unpatriotic.

I'm not saying there was no equipment left behind. It's obvious there was SOME. The question is one of dishonesty which assumes irresponsibility rather than a typical response to chaotic moments. It assumes the worst based on extrapolation and bad faith.

You want to talk about why equipment was left behind...fine. But we didn't leave every single piece of equipment behind and there's no way that the best military in the world, regardless of leadership, did not take at least some measures to protect our interests.

 

[millionairenextdoor]

The Moronnextdoor .....

Typical dumb response- attack the messenger WHEN YOU GOT NUTHIN.

 

[millionairenextdoor]

Yeah, I really trust a one post entrant into any political discussion.

Another genius.

 

[Champakian]

The anti-Billy Prestons:


Nothin' from nothin' leaves something,
If you want to think like me...

 

[Adre]

The commanding General stated that the equipment had been “demilitarized “ and was utterly inoperable. Does OP think he was lying?