Good thing we spent 20 years in Afghanistan to make sure democracy succeeded, y'all!
From the AP:
The Taliban captured Afghanistan's third-largest city and a strategic provincial capital near Kabul on Thursday, further squeezing the country's embattled government just weeks before the end of the American military mission there.
The seizure of Herat marks the biggest prize yet for the Taliban, who have taken 11 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals as part of a weeklong blitz.
Yep, well-done, everyone. It's almost like platitudes about tolerance and self-governance don't work within an Islamist worldview. It's also like you get soldiers that run away from battle when you unhitch ideas of democracy from Judeo-Christian teachings on law, human rights, and sacrificing your life for your neighbor.
I'm glad we spent a trillion dollars and lost a lot of American lives to learn that lesson.
Here's a map from Axios showing the insane amount of territory the Taliban has captured in the last week:
And another from the AP:
I don't want to downplay the sacrifice of so many soldiers who gave their lives to make sure Al-Qaeda and the Taliban couldn't terrorize people around the globe.
That being said, it's absolutely bonkers how fast they are retaking the country now that Biden announced all our troops will be leaving by the end of August. If you study the history of Afghanistan, from the conquest of the Khans to the invasion of the British Empire to the involvement of the USSR, you'll see common threads in the nation's history.
From Axios:
Herat is the third-largest city in Afghanistan. Ghazni is the closest provincial capital to Kabul to fall to the Taliban — putting their frontlines within 100 miles of the heart of Afgahn government. Capturing Ghazni also cuts off a key highway linking it with Afghanistan's southern provinces.
A newly released U.S. military assessment suggests that Kabul could come under pressure within 30 days and that the Taliban could gain control of the country within months, per AP.
Kabul is not directly under attack, but "the loss of Ghazni tightens the grip of a resurgent Taliban estimated to now hold some two-thirds of the nation," AP writes.
What tactics is the Taliban using in their emboldened advance? Just the usual: executing surrendering forces and forcing teenage girls to "marry" their own fighters.
At least they're not as backwards as our "systemically racist" country, amiright?
I'm sure Biden could just beg the Taliban not to execute POWs and not to rape young girls, just like he begged Putin not to hack our nation. That should work.
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P.S. Treat yourself a quality brain break by watching our latest video showing a psychotic deer rescuing a rabbit by stomping the life out of a dang hawk:
