re: Taliban has taken Kabul. Terrorist attack at Airport at least 12 marines confirmed killed

The real fun is about to begin. The Taliban might not start killing off Americans until Wednesday, but if ISIS or Al Quada finds an American, then they’re dead.

“We just abandoned thousands of Americans behind enemy lines. We did it, Joe!”

I feel like I've missed so much in the past few days from focusing on the hurricane.

Blows my mind that we just left people there.

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For those who have asked about my son a small update.

He texted a little while ago and said he is good. Now here is the part that hit me in the feels-

He asked how everyone in Louisiana was doing (he has aunts and uncles in Baton Rouge and New Orleans). He is in a war zone for all intents and purposes and took a minute to ask about those affected by Ida. Man do I love the young man he has become.

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I’m so happy you’ve heard from him. You definitely have raised a fine young man. He’s the same age as my son and I can’t imagine the worry you and your wife have for him. You all have been in my prayers since you first posted (and will continue to be).

We just got service back and was able to catch up on the posts here. From what I understand we have withdrawn all military and basically said frick you to everyone else left behind? Do we think there are still private rescues happening or is that too dangerous now?

If I have missed anything important I would really appreciate an update.

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For those who have asked about my son a small update.

He texted a little while ago and said he is good. Now here is the part that hit me in the feels-

He asked how everyone in Louisiana was doing (he has aunts and uncles in Baton Rouge and New Orleans). He is in a war zone for all intents and purposes and took a minute to ask about those affected by Ida. Man do I love the young man he has become.

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You have a loud to be proud of ... wish I could buy you all a drink. Hope he's stateside quickly.

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Afghan female pilot stoned to death

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Safia Firzi, one of the four female pilots of Afghanistan, confirmed to Afghanistan Internationals that rumors about her death are not true. She & her family are safe & sound. LINK

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Between this and Hurricane Ida, my heart and stomach are not well and neither one personally actually affects me.

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+1

Our military ground presence has ended, but I think we will still launch air/drone strikes when necessary.

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While China is great at making electronics and clothing, they really suck in the vehicle department. Chinese mechanical engineering really, really sucks. Save for the AK-47 Russia has been notoriously terrible at that as well.

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Both countries are notoriously bad at stealing IP. You can make an argument that most good things have been based off US IP or training.

This argument about leaving equipment doesn't hold up, imo. Plus, Iraq says hello. If RUS or CHN wanted something bad enough. They already have it.

I am in the boat of bombing all the hardware left. If I'm the Taliban, I start moving former US allies in the bldgs that house equipment.

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Both countries are notoriously bad at stealing IP. You can make an argument that most good things have been based off US IP or training.

This argument about leaving equipment doesn't hold up, imo.

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It’s one thing to see the blueprints, it’s another to have the real thing that you can personally experiment with. The one thing China has always sucked at copying is heavy equipment and vehicles. I’ve never seen a Chinese branded vehicle in the United States and most of the Chinese buy European cars.