With the last service people now gone from Afghanistan, we have left behind millions of dollars in high-tech weapons and military hardware that is now in possession of the Taliban. But Democrats are trying to spin the Taliban takeover of US weaponry and military gear as “no big deal.”
For example, Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., attempted to spin reports of Taliban militants showing off their newly acquired US weaponry, arguing that the equipment was actually “property of the Afghan government” when it was seized during the Taliban’s takeover of the country.
“Almost all of the American military equipment was removed from Afghanistan prior to this mission of evacuating from the Kabul airport,” Garamendi, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, told MSNBC on Monday. “Now, that equipment is gone.”
“There’s often the misunderstanding here about other American equipment,” he continued. “The US has armed the previous Afghan government, 300,000 soldiers, and all of the equipment that goes with it. We have been doing that for the last 20 years. With the collapse and total disappearance of the Ghani government, that equipment fell into the hands of the Taliban, and they now have it. Indeed, it is American equipment, but it was the property of the Afghan government.”
The US has provided an estimated $83 billion worth of training and equipment – including aircraft, armored vehicles, rifles, and tactical gear – to Afghan security forces since 2001. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces surrendered many of those weapons as the Taliban made their way through Afghanistan. After the central Afghan government collapsed to the Taliban on Aug. 15, pictures and videos have shown militants admiring their newly acquired weaponry.
“We don’t have a complete picture, obviously, of where every article of defense materials has gone, but certainly, a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the Taliban,” President Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Aug. 17.
Garamendi said, “almost all of the American military equipment” was removed from Afghanistan, despite multiple reports saying the US military equipment Taliban acquired was worth billions of dollars. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was called out earlier this month for attempting to spin similar reports, saying, “This is what happens when you withdraw.”
The US evacuation effort at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, concluded Tuesday, more than two weeks after the capital’s collapse on Aug. 15.
“With regard to equipment and machinery that was brought in to deal with this particular evacuation, yes, that will be able to be evacuated. Some of it already is,” Garamendi said Monday.
Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of US Central Command, said some of the equipment had been “demilitarized,” essentially rendered inoperable. Troops probably used thermite grenades, which burn at temperatures of 4,000 degrees, to destroy key components of the equipment, according to a defense department official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Some pieces of equipment probably were blown up. Another defense official, also not authorized to speak publicly, acknowledged that a blast heard last week at the airport was related to destroying equipment.
According to USA Today, all told, the Pentagon left behind tens of billions of dollars worth of equipment given to Afghan security forces. The US government spent $83 billion to train and equip the Afghan army, according to the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction. The Pentagon and White House had maintained that Afghan army ranks totaled 300,000 soldiers, but in reality, there were far fewer. In the weeks and months before the Taliban takeover, facing the withdrawal of support from US support, many Afghan troops stopped fighting for a corrupt, ineffective government.
Never forget who got us into this mess where this could even be possible (if it is true and not just some more GOP bullshit)
I actually am not sure who got into this mess but I do know who botched up the exit. I know who handed them equipment, who bowed to their every whim, who keeps trying to blame others but this is the truth, Biden is the President, he is the man responsible for his decision. The buck stops here as they say…he wants to blame others especially Trump. I am not a fan of Trump, not a fan of most politicians at the moment. This group of people who call themselves politicians work for themselves. Pelosi according the news reports today, forced the Democrats to vote for her bill they passed yesterday. I thought it worked the other way around, she is the speaker of the house, not the dictator of the house. Our government officials are supposed to work for the American people, ALL of the American people not Pelosi. Does she pay their salaries out of her pocket, no I believe we, the taxpayers are paying for all of their salaries. IT IS TIME for ALL of them to start protecting the rights of Americans all over the world. It is time for them to understand we, The People of the United States of America pay their salaries. We put them in office to UPHOLD the constitution of the United States of America. If you want to be Pelosi YES men and women, go work for some other country.
A.en but I think her and her Guennies need too be EXPELLED FROM CONGRESS WITHOUT THEIR RETIREMENT PAY SINCE ITS NOT SOCIAL SECURITY.
Weapons – Democrats- Violence – Death both here and overseas. They say they are against it but the Democrats are integral in every occurrence PROMOTING it.
Obama wanted his Muslim buddies to have our equipment. Just one of the reasons he told Biding to pull our troops out. If we get Biding out of office he’ll have his mammy Harris in place, just like he planned. Hard to believe Americans are stupid enough to go along with him
The far left is giving our liberties, freedoms, and country away. It’s weaponry now and soon to be our taxpayer monies. What a bunch of traitors.
Wake up America…we have been hand shoved so much contradictory information about everything. I will stick to those brave souls that have actually been fired from the military for speaking out about the truth that happened in Afghanistan. I have watched more than one video of soldiers reporting the truth knowing they will suffer severe consequences for their actions. But because they were there on the ground for many months and they are losing a lot by talking, YES, I believe what they are saying. I also stand with the mother of the soldier killed in bombing…WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEMAND THE TRUTH. Our politicians are doing what they do best, caving into Pelosi although I don’t know why. Why does she seem to have more power in making legislators vote her way than the American voters do? Why with all the comments I have heard from people is Biden still in charge? Why are all of the UNAMERICAN policies being supported in this administration? The biggest question here…WHEN ARE WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, (including our government officials) GOING TO TELL THE TOP THREE, BIDEN, HARRIS AND PELOSI, GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT. How does Pelosi have so much power she can make the congress vote her way? Grow a pair, Senators, Assembly men and women, DO YOUR JOBS TO REPRESENT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE PAY YOUR SALARIES, YOU WORK FOR US, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. It is time you start talking to your public before taxing that public to the point of extinction. Then who will pay your outrageous salaries?
Well, if the Dumocrats have said it, it must be TRUE! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha —- oh my sides are splitting, I’m laughing so hard!
BS. It could have been taken back to U. S. when we left Bagram; or taken back when we saw that Afghan military was losing. Who would have stopped us? The liars will never stop lying to us. We need to make them stop.
We have lost our European allies now. They are discussing building their own military force because of this fiasco of Biden’s doing. Many democrats continue to lie for him and spin it like its no big deal. Are we stupid? They think we are. Are we passive. We have been. e have to make them remember that they work for us Americans. They are not kings. They are not above us. They are not better than us. They are us. No more and no less.
Our government in the U.S is as hopeless and dim witted as Joe Biden,Stupid is is stupid does !
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