Taliban executions, beheadings in Afghanistan strike fear among those stuck inside country
The US embassy in Kabul said it has received reports that Taliban members were executing surrendering Afghan troops
By Michael Ruiz

Afghan citizens face executions, forced marriages and other possible war crimes as the Taliban sweeps across the country, wrestling control from ineffective government forces as the U.S. troop withdrawal nears, according to U.S. officials and watchdog groups.

The militants have seized territory at an alarming rate while Afghan government troops and their allied militias fail to put up an effective resistance - surrendering at times without even putting up a fight.

The U.S. embassy in Kabul said Wednesday that it was receiving reports that Taliban members were executing surrendering Afghan troops and unlawfully detaining some members of the government, including military leaders, provincial officials and police officers.

The executions "could constitute war crimes," the embassy tweeted.

A Taliban spokesman denied that the group was executing prisoners to the Wall Street Journal earlier this week, even as witness accounts contradicted that claim. The Taliban has also denied allegations that its militants have demanded conquered territories provide them with females aged 15 and older as brides.

Taliban fighters pose on the back of a vehicle in the city of Herat, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, after they took this province from Afghan government. The Taliban seized two more provinces and approached the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital. (AP Photo/Hamed Sarfarazi)
Taliban fighters pose on the back of a vehicle in the city of Herat, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, after they took this province from Afghan government. The Taliban seized two more provinces and approached the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital. (AP Photo/Hamed Sarfarazi)
"The Taliban's statements in Doha do not resemble their actions in Badakhshan, Ghazni, Helmand & Kandahar," Ross Wilson, the U.S. chargé d'affaires in Kabul, wrote on Twitter, referencing stalled peace talks going on in the capital of Qatar. "Attempts to monopolize power through violence, fear, & war will only lead to international isolation."

He has also accused the Taliban of "targeted assassinations."

A report from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission on civilian casualties in the country during the first six months of 2021 found that 1,677 were killed and another 3,644 wounded by the end of June.

That's an 80% increase over the same period in 2020, according to the report, and "the bloodiest six months for Afghan civilians since AIHRC started documenting."

The group blamed the Taliban for more than 900 of the deaths and over 2,000 injuries - double what it was responsible for last year. Pro-government forces were blamed for 229 deaths and 565 injuries.

A Taliban flag flies from the clocktower of the Herat provincial official office, in Herat, Afghanistan, west of Kabul, on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Hamed Sarfarazi)
A Taliban flag flies from the clocktower of the Herat provincial official office, in Herat, Afghanistan, west of Kabul, on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Hamed Sarfarazi)
Faridoon Hazeen, an Afghan translator who helped U.S. forces in the region, told Fox News on Friday that the Taliban's rapid sweep across the country left him fearing for his life.

MCCARTHY CALLS BIDEN'S AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL AN 'EMBARASSMENT TO OUR NATION'

"I feel like a man drowning," the 39-year-old father of four said. "I am reaching out to anything and anyone to save me."

The Taliban has a history of targeting translators like Hazeen, and the State Department has been working to fly many of them and their families to safety with Operation Allies Refuge. President Biden, away at Camp David, held a virtual meeting Saturday with his national security team to discuss efforts to evacuate the interpreters and other at-risk Afghans, according to the White House.

"Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk," Biden said in a statement Saturday afternoon. "We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families."

There have also been reports of attacks on Shiite Muslims - who follow a different sect of Islam than the Sunni-adhering Taliban, as well as business owners and other civilians.

Most of the civilian casualties were found in the southwestern portion of the country, which includes Kandahar and Helmand province, which the Taliban seized Friday, when it also took at least three other provincial capitals.

MCCONNELL PUSHES BIDEN TO 'HAMMER' TALIBAN WITH AIRSTRIKES AS AFGHANISTAN SPIRALS

Roughly 400,000 Afghan citizens have been displaced by the violence since May, according to the United Nations.

Amid the chaos, the U.S. is drawing down its military presence and civilian personnel.

The Pentagon announced Friday it was sending 3,000 service members to Kabul to help the State Department evacuate the embassy there. By Saturday, the number had increased to 5,000.

Other Western nations are also scaling down or shuttering their embassies in the city, and even the U.N. said it was relocating some staff members and monitoring the situation.

A passenger walks to the departures terminal of Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. As a Taliban offensive encircles the Afghan capital, there's increasingly only one way out for those fleeing the war, and only one way in for U.S. troops sent to protect American diplomats still on the ground: the airport. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A passenger walks to the departures terminal of Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. As a Taliban offensive encircles the Afghan capital, there's increasingly only one way out for those fleeing the war, and only one way in for U.S. troops sent to protect American diplomats still on the ground: the airport. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican leader from California, said the Biden administration was badly mismanaging the withdrawal in a statement Friday after a phone call with Afghanistan's ambassador to the U.S., Adela Raz.

"At a time when our troops are in harm's way, and our Afghan allies are being targeted and killed, we cannot turn a blind eye to the situation that has spiraled out of control," McCarthy said. "Our brave men and women in uniform and the allies who stood beside us for the past 20 years deserve better."

The Taliban has seized Afghanistan's second, third and fourth-largest cities, as well as more than two-thirds of the country's 34 provinces.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, has urged the Biden administration to "hammer" Taliban forces with airstrikes to counter their offensive.

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The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.

My broker says otherwise

"tRump and Pimpeo agreed to let 5,000 Taliban hardcore soldiers who were prisoners be released in exchange for a 3 month ceasefire.

The prisoners they released are now murdering and killing innocent people throughout Afghanistan."



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So if you are a surfer I wish you the prosperity that allows you more time to pursue the salt water dream, and the true happiness that comes from warm water, clean waves and the companionship of your fellow surfers. If you are an internet troll just spewing bs then f off.

Biden didn't draw down the troops this low. It was Trump.

Biden didn't negotiate with Taliban and offer them a bed at Camp David. That was Trump.

Biden didn't negotiate the withdraw of American Troops. Trump did.

Biden is actually doing what others promised. To leave.

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So if you are a surfer I wish you the prosperity that allows you more time to pursue the salt water dream, and the true happiness that comes from warm water, clean waves and the companionship of your fellow surfers. If you are an internet troll just spewing bs then f off.

Biden had the balls to do what 95% of Americans wanted and accept the inevitable consequences.

No one is happy about the Taliban taking over, but if 20 years wasn't enough to get the Afghans to stand on their feet than nothing short of forced colonization would have been effective.

HE SET A DATE! WHAT A FUCKED UP FOOL!
Trump never said WHEN he was going to remove the troops...NOR a date!
Biden did!
ASSHOLE!



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The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.

Edited: 08/15/2021 at 07:39 AM by Fish Killer

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is under mounting pressure as he weighs whether to fully withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1, a deadline negotiated by the Trump administration.


He set a date FOOL!!

TRUMP!! TOTAL FAILURE!!

Your stupidity keeps all of us laughing. lol

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I was right.

"Don't underestimate Joe's ability to fuck things up." - Barack Obama

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"The government who robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul," - George Bernard Shaw

“Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f—k things up.” - Barack Obama

“End of quote. Repeat the line.” - wise words from Joe Biden

BIDEN IS A FUCKING DISASTER!

FACT!

U.S. embassy in Afghanistan advises Americans to 'shelter in place' as Kabul airport under fire
The U.S. embassy issued new guidance for American citizens attempting to flee the country as the Taliban take control of the government.

Previously, nationals were told to head to the Kabul airport, but the embassy advised that the airport was now "taking fire," and the security situation has changed.

"We are instructing U.S. citizens to shelter in place," a statement from the embassy read.

The embassy also posted a Repatriation Assistance Request form and advised U.S. citizens to not call the embassy for updates or details on flights.



-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.

Coleslaw...the moron of 2ndLight!

FUCKING FACT!

-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.

The US abandoned the Climate.

The US abandoned a Pandemic.

Big whoop.

BIDEN IS A FUCKING DISASTER!

FACT!

U.S. embassy in Afghanistan advises Americans to 'shelter in place' as Kabul airport under fire
The U.S. embassy issued new guidance for American citizens attempting to flee the country as the Taliban take control of the government.

Previously, nationals were told to head to the Kabul airport, but the embassy advised that the airport was now "taking fire," and the security situation has changed.

"We are instructing U.S. citizens to shelter in place," a statement from the embassy read.

The embassy also posted a Repatriation Assistance Request form and advised U.S. citizens to not call the embassy for updates or details on flights.


-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.

May 1, a deadline negotiated by the Trump administration.


Biden actually postponed our departure, but couldn't stop the release of 5,000 Taliban terrorists.

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I was right.

BIDEN CAN DO WHATEVER THE FUCK HE WANTS!

BIDEN IS A FUCKING DISASTER!

FACT!

U.S. embassy in Afghanistan advises Americans to 'shelter in place' as Kabul airport under fire
The U.S. embassy issued new guidance for American citizens attempting to flee the country as the Taliban take control of the government.

Previously, nationals were told to head to the Kabul airport, but the embassy advised that the airport was now "taking fire," and the security situation has changed.

"We are instructing U.S. citizens to shelter in place," a statement from the embassy read.

The embassy also posted a Repatriation Assistance Request form and advised U.S. citizens to not call the embassy for updates or details on flights.

-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.

My broker says otherwise. Economy going nuts with Biden in charge.

Oh Afghanistan? A $hit unwinnable war.

The time to have withdrawn was sometime in 2003, but Bush/Cheney/Rummy/Wolfie had grand plans and pushed them with a vengeance hoping we would be there forever. Just ask Colin Powell.

So, we had four Presidents involved with this war. Biden chose to stop the madness and take the heat. If we left 5 years ago or 10 years from now it would have been exactly the same situation. That part of the world is not like ours, they play the long game and would have waited a generation for us to leave if necessary, and the results would be the same.

We could have nuked the Tora Bora valley in December of 2001, took out O-man, made a profound statement, and been the bad guys on the world stage for 10 years or so and the world would have been over it by now. Might have been worth it.


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If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC - KV


Edited: 08/15/2021 at 02:33 PM by Bamboo

"One more year, or five more years, of U.S. military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country.
And an endless American presence in the middle of another country's civil conflict was not acceptable" J. Biden, president
"I think that deal that was done in Doha was a rotten deal," the. UK defense secretary said. "It told a Taliban that wasn't winning that they were winning, and it undermined the government of Afghanistan, and now we're in this position where the Taliban have clearly the momentum across the country."
Chumpf made his own deal, with: himself....didn't bother including or informing the afghan govt what he did.
Completely caved in on standing up to the towelban his entire term.
So much winning

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It's a democratic hoax

Look at these clowns clamoring to return to Bush's follies of endless foreign engagements. Here they've been talking about wanting to focus on getting out of these expensive unwinnable entanglements. Looks like they were bluffing all along.

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...

Bamboo speaks the truth.

If anyone has any doubt, please read "The Forever War".
Written in 2008 it - in hindsight - is a flashlight into the future.
Today.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse...war-by-dexter-filkins/

Everybody knew the Taliban were just sitting and waiting. This would have happened 10 years ago 5 years ago or any number of years in the future. Would have saved a lot of money if we had done this 10 or 15 years ago. Fuck those people. Isolate them and let them fend for themselves.

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