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Japan to evacuate embassy in Kabul

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People get angry we are there. People get angry when we leave. We tried to train Afghans to defend themselves, but they didn't take training seriously enough. Did they really expect us to stay forever?

18 ( +32 / -14 )

Japan better move fast, things are happening quickly and the window of escape is closing.

27 ( +29 / -2 )

Japan to evacuate embassy in Kabul

All member of famous coalition forces' embassy just runaway one by one.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

The Western liberal democracies have abandoned the Afghan people to the Taliban. I wonder if this decision will be challenged by future events, but the US and its allies have to let the will of the Afghan people decide their own future. A very stormy sea to navigate....

11 ( +15 / -4 )

It's the same old story from the same old book. Go in foreign countries kill, pillage, plunder and leave. Afghanistan has been robbed of rare earth mi erals, copper, etc and the country devastated and now it's time to cut and run. Over US$ 3 trillion gone ! Ala Iraq, Lybia, Syria and Iran is soon to follow.

-4 ( +12 / -16 )

It's the same old story from the same old book. Go in foreign countries kill, pillage, plunder and leave. Afghanistan has been robbed of rare earth mi erals, copper, etc and the country devastated and now it's time to cut and run. Over US$ 3 trillion gone ! Ala Iraq, Lybia, Syria and Iran is soon to follow.

I guess it's Chinas turn now.

18 ( +20 / -2 )

I have exactly zero military experience and couldn't tell one end of a gun from the other, but I read a fascinating book by an ex-military guy. A SEAL, to be precise. He was stationed in Iraq, and one day his superiors handed down an order that all missions were to be executed in co-operation with local Iraqi troops, or "jundhi".

Our guy found this hard to understand, because the local troops were, for the most part, absolutely terrible soldiers: undertrained, often cowardly, and lacking in decent equipment, although they found that they could be useful in other ways through their deeper knowledge of the local culture.

After trying to work out why this order had come down, he had a flash of insight, which he shared with the men under him: roughly speaking, "If we don't get the Iraqi soldiers up to a level where they can defend their own country against insurgents, then who's going to do it? The next generation of soldiers. And the next. And the next". The implication being that it would never end.

Trouble is, it seems like the Afghan forces, even with whatever help they got, just didn't have whatever it took to beat back the Taliban. So that leaves a question mark over either the quality of the Afghan soldiers, the quality of the help they got, or both.

All said, a right mess.

20 ( +22 / -2 )

We tried to train Afghans to defend themselves

Yeah, you'd think those decades of drone bombing would've taught them some peace eh...

-4 ( +11 / -15 )

"The situation is developing very quickly," one of the sources said. "We are gathering information in cooperation with the United States and European countries."

Read this to say - “we have basically no insights & intelligence as to what the hell is happening in Kabul right now. We will do our famous giron/discussions by setting up a committee to decide how to evacuate our embassy staff. While we do that we will urge the taliban not to harm our embassy staff as they have already taken control of kabul”

1 ( +7 / -6 )

, because the local troops were, for the most part, absolutely terrible soldiers: undertrained, often cowardly, and lacking in decent equipment, although they found that they could be useful in other ways through their deeper knowledge of the local culture.

After trying to work out why this order had come down, he had a flash of insight, which he shared with the men under him: roughly speaking, "If we don't get the Iraqi soldiers up to a level where they can defend their own country against insurgents, then who's going to do it? The next generation of soldiers. And the next. And the next". The implication being that it would never end.

40 years ago after they left Saigon what actually happened to well trained South Vietnamese army when they finally need to face army from north?

Today, they spent trillions for training and equipment at the end after coalition left, all those training just useless.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Sakurasuki,after 76 years in Japan,why are Japanese,not able to defend themselves,maybe by stop putting their foot in their mouth,their nobody that can liberate a country,but it people

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The old saying remains true…”Afghanistan the grave yard of empires”!

10 ( +11 / -1 )

The real problem with this development is, that they now also will feel encouraged and unbeatable at all other corners of the planet. Afghanistan is lost and not worth further discussion, but now take more care especially outside of Afghanistan. They are already everywhere , have been let in, will continued be let in, as you surely know. That’s the much bigger error, not that war lost there in Afghanistan.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Lots of money was being siphon off ,by American contractors and corrupt Afghanistan official ,that coward of a Afghanistan President,ran with his tail tuck between his leg

6 ( +8 / -2 )

"Yeah, you'd think those decades of drone bombing would've taught them some peace eh..."

No, my learned friend, they'll learn said peace from the Taliban and their noble example of honor killings, genital mutilations and child rape.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Gathering information so they can have lots of meetings with half the old men attending asleep. Snoring will wake them up or the noise of the fax machine.

Do they have helicopters waiting?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

No, my learned friend, they'll learn said peace from the Taliban and their noble example of honor killings, genital mutilations and child rape.

While I've heard about honor killings and child rape in that part of the world (much of it from Pakistan and India, not so much Afghanistan), I have never heard of the Taliban doing genital mutilations. That just sounds like total fear mongering B.S.. In parts of Africa, female genital circumcision is a "thing" but this is the first time I've heard of that in Afghanistan. Care to site your source?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Japanese diplomats are still stuck in Kabul?

Why are Japanese actions so slow? Other foreign diplomats already fled Kabul.

-13 ( +5 / -18 )

No, it's not Saigon... That was a more organized force heavily backed/armed by China.

Here in the resident's own words:

“The Taliban is not the North Vietnamese army,” Biden said. “They’re not remotely comparable in terms of capability.”

“There’s going to be no circumstance where you are going to see people being lifted off the roof of an embassy of the United States from Afghanistan,” he added. “It is not at all comparable.”

1 ( +3 / -2 )

No, it's not Saigon... That was a more organized force heavily backed/armed by China.

Yeah, It's Kabul.... The Taliban is a more organized force only lightly backed/armed by China:

China Offers the Taliban a Warm Welcome While Urging Peace Talks

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/world/asia/china-taliban-afghanistan.html

And Russia:

Russia seeks to forge ties with Taliban as US troops leave Afghanistan

https://www.ft.com/content/38c0dd0c-6f69-41bd-9866-fb77a94fb2cd

Seriously, didn't you ever wonder how the Taliban got all those AK-47s? And the RPGs? Not to mention, decades worth of ammo?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This shows how inept the Japanese government is.

Russia embassy staff is staying and the chinese have left month ago, yet the japanese are still trusting the US and the euros.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

I know its a complicated situation, but perhaps Japan should try and work something out with the Taliban, because if they don't the Chinese will.

It is a pity, because Japan is highly respected in a lot of these countries.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Tora

Japan companies and japanese people may be, but not the japanese government, which as shown, is just clueless American puppet.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Why are Japanese actions so slow? Other foreign diplomats already fled Kabul.

You win. Your country's diplomats are much better at running away.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I wonder what would have happened if the west just left the Soviet invasion alone in the early 80's. Why does the US always have the habit of backing one side and then finding out that the side they're backing turns rogue?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Pukey2

US backed the Mujahiden, not the Taliban.

The Taliban arose to fight against Mujahiden.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

What a waste of 20 years and all that money. Good thing I’m not American.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

perhaps Japan should try and work something out with the Taliban, because if they don't the Chinese will.

Too late, China already did.

From the Nikkei Asia:

China moves swiftly to exploit the void in Afghanistan

US military exit is likely to become Beijing's strategic gain

https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/China-moves-swiftly-to-exploit-the-void-in-Afghanistan

China plans to finally build a road linking the two countries through their small border.

See here:

A new road to an inaccessible land

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210701-a-new-road-to-an-inaccessible-land

And though this plan was agreed upon with the (now former) Afghan government, China hosted officials from the Taliban just a couple weeks ago

China hosts Taliban leaders as U.S. withdraws troops from Afghanistan

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/taliban-china-afghanistan/2021/07/28/fdfbe024-ef88-11eb-81b2-9b7061a582d8_story.html

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The Afghan section of UnoCal's TAPI pipeline (from Kandahar to Herat) was finally completed earlier this year and the Taliban have agreed on a price for gas from Turmenistan to transit their territory.

Mission accomplished folks. Time to go home.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The Kabul govt fell a lot faster than many predicted. Probably shows just how unpopular it really was. If the US /Nato had stayed it would have been endless conflict propping up a corrupt inept govt. Better it ends fast with less bloodshed. The Great Game ends again.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

What a waste of 20 years and all that money. Good thing I’m not American.

Yes, it's a good thing your not.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

It is a pity, because Japan is highly respected in a lot of these countries.

Your kidding us right?

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Why does the US always have the habit of backing one side and then finding out that the side they're backing turns rogue?

They learned from England, which did pretty much the same thing with pirates in the Caribbean 300 years ago.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Japanese government or consular staff should have watched the TV series Homeland a few years ago which had parts set in Afghanistan. They can find it with subtitles even on Netflix. Then they would know things like the Afghani politician who created a totally fake military unit, that did not exist, that got huge amounts of money and equipment that just went into his own pockets were perfectly true. And thus could have predicted this quick take-over and evacuated their staff more timely.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

anon99999

Why watch Hollywood, all the japanese staff have to do is ask the russian and the chinese.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Point is pretty much moot now, there's shooting around the airport and all non-military flights have stopped operating. Either the embassy staff are out by this point or they're going to have to clench their nethers and hunker down for a while.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I guess it's Chinas turn now.

Indeed, they'll be more than happy to demonstrate their military strength and get another colony in the process. They'd have zero to lose.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The Afghanistan army didn't fight for ideology, just to have job in one the poorest country in Asia.

Government, Army, Taliban etc. they are all Afghans. Whatever the laws are, unity and peace must be placed forward.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Its worth looking back to see how this all began on 9/11. What motivated the attackers? Apparently it was US support for a certain country I won't name, but its crazy that you can trace most problems in the middle east to that same country.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

O'BrienToday  07:58 am JST

He was stationed in Iraq, and one day his superiors handed down an order that all missions were to be executed in co-operation with local Iraqi troops, or "jundhi". Our guy found this hard to understand, because the local troops were, for the most part, absolutely terrible soldiers: undertrained, often cowardly, and lacking in decent equipment

There are similarities but each situation is also different.

In Iraq, the US disbanded the Republican Guard and basically made them pariahs. They were the best military force the Iraqis had. Many of them joined Al Qaeda and other extremist groups, So all who were left to support US forces were basically your typical recruits so it's not surprising they were subpar soliders.

Back in the 70's after the US supported the Mujahadeen against the Soviets. Then after the Soviets left, so did the US leading to the demise of the Mujahadeen and the rise of the Taliban.

In one case the US, ostracized the nation's best soldiers and in the other, they abandoned them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I've heard 100's of reasons why the Afghanistan experiment collapsed.. training, weapons, no air support blah blah... but its very simple, you can never impose your will or views on a people whose religious, tribal beliefs and culture are opposed to it. Never!!!!! The regular Aghan soldier's religious, cultural world view is very much closer to the Talibans rather than to US and NATO. He's just in the Army for a paycheck but not to lay his life for ideas like foreign ideas like Capitalism, LGBT, Feminism etc I highly doubt a majority US soldier fights for these ideals either, in a war zone, he just fights so he and his mates can go back home safely.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japan, slow as usual.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

My guess is that Japanese Embassy personnel would have little to fear from the Taliban unless Japan's role in harming Afghans has been larger than made public. The Taliban ARE Afghanistan and the invaders, and their opportunistic and treasonous Afghani collaborators never were. The French had the same opinion of those who collaborated with the NAZIs as the Afghanis have for the imposed Kabul 'Vichy' government. We were NOT invited into Afghanistan. Bush was pressured into invading Afghanistan because IRAN lies BETWEEN Iraq and Afghanistan and when America was finally pushed and manipulated into attacking Iran by our 'allies', we would have the strategic advantage of controlling both sides of the Iran front. But Iraq said no and now the patriots of Afghanistan have made their 'NO' as emphatic as the Iraqis have. And the Empire once again slinks home with tail between legs having been defeated by the PEOPLE of Afghanistan. And to blame Biden is beyond pathological given that Bush was the corrupt 'leader' who started this 20 year sacrifice of Afghani and American lives and resources while, at home, poison was spread through the less educated by wormtongue traitors using the new media resulting in a homicidal U.S. eating itself with hatred and guns as we see today. Bush, Obama, trump, same guys. Biden's no different, really, but 20 years...and we see the rats leaving the ship with the chief Afghani rat safe in Tajikistan "... left, saying to avoid bloodshed..." his own undoubtedly. All of America's destruction in the Middle East has been at the behest of MONEY, blackmail, extortion, threats to family by our 'friends' in the Mideast who see and use the U.S. as their personal THUG. And we obey. But, again, to blame Biden is just nonsense and to praise him for getting us out of a 20 year exercise in mindless pathology against a people who never wanted us there and 20 years of lies and the blood those lies allowed should easily nominate him for a DESERVED Peace Prize. But our controlled media will make him the scapegoat and the fools will blame him that we 'lost' what we clearly never had, the minds of the Afghani People. If we truly were interested in the REAL enemies of the U.S., we would have droned Rupert Murdoch YEARS ago. But Americans are easily fooled as the entire history of the 20th Century from T. Roosevelt in 1898 will tell one if they really care to learn. This outcome in NOT America's loss but a great gain for the World. I love my country but we have been made the most pathological country onplanet by people who care nothing for us but to use us. That, after a hundred plus years, we cannot learn that is the doom that all blind people must suffer and have suffered throughout Human history.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The US retreat from Kabul is rapidly proving to be even more ignominious than the famous flight from Saigon:

The US Ambassador to Afghanistan and some of his staff were seen fleeing their Kabul workplace with the stars and stripes flag Sunday, as the Pentagon increased the number of troops deployed in the region by 1,000 to 6,000.

Ambassador Ross Wilson and the flag were both seen arriving at Kabul Airport, as other Americans still in the country were ordered to shelter in place, with shots being fired at the city’s airport.

Embassy staff will be evacuated within the next 72 hours, as the Taliban makes stunning advances into the Afghan capital city, which worst-case scenarios estimated lasting at least 30 days after the US withdrew from it.

An official security alert was issued by the US government after shots were fired at the airport, sparking fears American jets could be shot down as they try to flee the country, which the Taliban have vowed to rename the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The Imperial USA has not yet been destroyed, but this marks another step toward its eventual collapse. The nations are rising.

Only 1.85 million people in a nation of 36 million bothered to vote in the last Afghan election. The Afghans knew they were being ruled by an illegitimate foreign government.

Just like Americans.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

 Western liberal democracies have abandoned the Afghan people to the Taliban

The Afghan government and military abandoned the Afghan people to the Taliban. IMHO

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Someone on another thread boldly stated that there is no oil in Afghanistan, which seemed to get a lot of upvotes.

That's funny, considering that it has been known for many decades that Afghanistan has a wealth of natural resources, including oil reserves, in parts of its country. I will say it again, I am ecstatic that this war for oil is finally over after so many godforsaken years.

And downvoting is not a proper response.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-18/australia-backs-afghan27s-struggling-miners/4698082

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/01/the-new-war-for-afghanistans-untapped-oil/267010/

https://www.ogj.com/pipelines-transportation/pipelines/article/14188746/tapi-pipeline-afghanistan-construction-to-start-in-herat

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@zichi

Your posts are very difficult to read when you post a large block. How about paragraphs, please.

Given the general tone here often, I'm just surprised anyone actually reads them except the Mods and I'm not so sure they do either...but I will try to do better. My mind doesn't write in paragraphs naturally or that IS a paragraph in my mind(?)...Thank you for your suggestion.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

perhaps Japan should try and work something out with the Taliban, because if they don't the Chinese will.

Too late, China already did.

The difference is that China seeks to build up a country and America seeks to blow up a country. But that is the British cultural poison that is deep in the heart of the American psychopaths who view domination and thievery as superior to co-operation and mutual benefit...and America will go the way Britain has gone...down.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Americans are not very good at learning history but they are good at invading poorer

countries.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

do you call this a "victory" in war against terrorism?

Just to be sure, by "terrorism" you mean disobedience to American Corporate domination and thievery, right?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Too much stimulation, last one here:

I have never heard of the Taliban doing genital mutilations. That just sounds like total fear mongering B.S.. In parts of Africa, female genital circumcision is a "thing" but this is the first time I've heard of that in Afghanistan. Care to site your source?

America does genital mutilations routinely and certain people have even convinced many foolish American physicians that it is a 'good' thing despite having serious effects upon sexual satisfaction. Perhaps that is how you forge an angry and aggressive male population by slicing off some of the most neurally dense sensory tissue on the Human male organ so that 'full satisfaction' is never achieved which, of course, the victim, having been abused and mutilated in early infancy, is never aware of. And the number of permanent injuries this horrendous practice causes are never advertised because of the political power of the monsters who desire this mutilation for their male children. The unconscionable child abuse of sexual mutilation ain't just for women...but is ignored because it has been made to seem so 'normal'. That's the power of propaganda...

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@William Bjornson

I also read your posts and the lack of paragraphs don't really bother me!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Kentarogaijin: “Better evacuate as soon as possible because this is not Japan's problem..”

Try not to mention this to Tetsu Nakamura’s family, my friend, as you cheer on the Taliban (not only on this thread) taking the nation back over again. They shot that rear Japanese physician to death. But hey, not your problem, right?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

smithinjapan

Nope, not japanese problem.

He knew the risk.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

US should stop being police of whole world and deal with own problems in the country

These are the same Talibans funded by America to fight Soviet Union at that time they were called freedom fighters by US when US was using these talibans against Russia 20years of war number 1 military in the world and Talibans took less then a month to take control back

words of Talibans you have the watches we have the time let’s fight for 20 more years then we will talk

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wrong.if Japan agreed to be there and establish ties, it is indeed their problem as well.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@Slayer

I guess it's Chinas turn now.

When uncouth barbarians gather for dinner, you'll expect quite a few broken Chinaware ( lol) and lots of mess won't you ? Someone has to pick and clean up it up. Like you,I guess China is the next MOST suited for the job, rather civil I'd think.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

smithinjapan

If Japan knows what's good for them, they would establish ties with the Taliban just like chinese and russian just did.

Too much following the US, the loser here.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Wrong.if Japan agreed to be there and establish ties, it is indeed their problem as well.

Japan is bang in the thick of it. They're now sending the foreign minister to the ME to discuss Afghanistan among other things. They're squirming back to scr#wing Afghanistan, this time using " reconstruction aid" and such.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Cogito: exactly, and like with the Junta in Myanmar, when the Taliban takes over they’ll be among the first to promise them aid and infrastructure, or at least companies will set up shop again there, and first deny it to the international community, then be asked to be made an exception on sanctions. Bottom line here is, they are absolutely involved, and it is definitely in part their problem. It’s the world’s problem.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

smithinjapan

That's not a problem. That's opportunity.

Japan is there to make money, and not killing anyone, that should be ideal.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Afghanistan or the region anyway goes back to the way it was for the last 50,000 years. No outsider has been able to change it in all that time, not British nor Russians nor Americans...

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Iron Lad: “That's not a problem. That's opportunity.”

yeah, says Kirin breweries and Mitsubishi while denying they dela with the Junta, and the Japanese government going into damage control on the world stage, or says Japan when getting gunned down en masse at a fueling station in a war torn country — not a problem… until it is.

Funny how you’ll accept praise for the actions of brave people like Doctor Nakamura and claim Japan is helping and involved in Afganistán, and being a victim when he’s killed by the Taliban, but when Japan’s time to run comes? “Not our problem. Nothing to see here! Pardon me! Not here.” Imagine if and when nations take this attitude when disaster or war strike here.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

20 years of soldering in an antique society followed by a sudden withdrawal. Even the taliban will have changed their ways in this time. As has the image of western no.1 country with an equally 

ancient political two party system.

Still the most admired model of human development?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

smithinjapan

There's no contradiction here, not like Dr. Nakamura was killed by the specific taliban who is taking control of Afghanistan.

Japan should learn from China, and shouldn't take sides on meaningless issues.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

They better get onto it quick smart.

I wonder if they will be evacuating any Afghan staff etc who assisted or worked for them?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We have seen about everyone fail, and don’t look what has been, just go out of thebiggest cities that ever have been,

0 ( +0 / -0 )

These are the same Talibans funded by America to fight Soviet Union 

no they’re not.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yakyak:

It is a pity, because Japan is highly respected in a lot of these countries

>

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yakyak:

It is a pity, because Japan is highly respected in a lot of these countries.

Suggest you look up Tetsu Nakamura for a start. You'd be surprised. And yep, Japan is highly regarded, known as a peaceful country with great technology and expertise in a variety of fields. Here is an excellent documentary:

https://youtu.be/U_gxTsT6khg

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Mostly peaceful" takeover...

Strengthens Chinese position in Central Asia.

Opens Pakistan to Taliban influence.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-08/17/c_1310132408.htm

Seems like the evacuation is already back in Sunday.

The chinese news is quicker than the English news.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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