Myth: "We left $85 billion in sophisticated weaponry!"

[BartenderElite]

And guess where it started? Trump was the 1st one to say that. Immediately, talk radio, Fox & his supporters started parroting it.

The figure for actual weapons is closer to $18 billion. Of that, the vast majority was demilitarized and rendered useless prior to the U.S.. leaving Afghanistan. Anything remaining had already been gifted to the Afghan army and was likely in Taliban hands, but the military considered most of it to be primitive and defunct.

Getting any of that out would have complicated, time-consuming and likely would have cost lives.

But when did the idea that something is a complete lie get in the GOP's way? They no longer care about truth, at all.

[Earl]

And of course you are wrong...as usual.

Even after the troop withdrawal, the US has left equipment worth billions in Afghanistan.

As per a Government Accountability Office report, the US purchased and provided 75,898 vehicles and 208 aircraft to the afghan army and security forces between 2003 and 2016.


Also read | Afghan domestic flights to resume Friday in a bid to restore normalcy

According to Forbes, these are the estimated vehicle costs:

Armoured personnel carriers like the M113A2 cost $170,000 each, and recent M577A2 post carrier purchases cost $333,333 each.

The cost of mine-resistant vehicles ranges between $412,000 and $767,000. However, the total price tag could range from $382 million to $711 million.

Recovery vehicles such as the ‘truck, wrecker’ range in price from $168,960 for the base model to $880,674 for super strength versions.

Also, the cost of a medium-range tactical vehicle, which includes a 5-tonne cargo and general transport truck, was $67,139.

The MTV heavy vehicle family ranged in price from $235,500 to $724,820. The cost of cargo trucks used to transport aeroplanes is $800,865.

The price of an ambulance ranged from $37,943 to $142,918 with the majority at $96,466, cargo prices start at $104,682.

The average price for a utility Humvee was $91,429.

The 12,000-pound troop transport version, on the other hand, can cost up to $329,000.

Fast attack combat vehicles cost $69,400, and passenger motor vehicles were $65,500.

These are examples of light tactical vehicles.

According to military databases, all-terrain four-wheel vehicles can cost up to $42,273.

***The Taliban has now seized Black Hawk helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano attack planes earlier this month. ***

The cost of a Black Hawk helicopter can reach $ 21 million.

The US ordered a total of 20 A-29 Super Tucano attack planes for $427 million in 2013 or $21.3 million per plane.

Other types of specialised helicopters can cost up to $37 million per unit.

As per the report by GAO, the US has provided at least 600,000 infantry weapons, including M16 rifles, 162,000 pieces of communication equipment, and 16,000 night-vision goggle devices to Afghan forces since 2003.

As per Forbes, the sights on night-vision sniper rifle scopes can cost up to $35,000, but the majority cost between $5,000 and $10,000

https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/h...anistan-410472



It’s 83 BILLION, not 18 million.

[BartenderElite]

And of course you are wrong...as usual.

Even after the troop withdrawal, the US has left equipment worth billions in Afghanistan.

As per a Government Accountability Office report, the US purchased and provided 75,898 vehicles and 208 aircraft to the afghan army and security forces between 2003 and 2016.


Also read | Afghan domestic flights to resume Friday in a bid to restore normalcy

According to Forbes, these are the estimated vehicle costs:

Armoured personnel carriers like the M113A2 cost $170,000 each, and recent M577A2 post carrier purchases cost $333,333 each.

The cost of mine-resistant vehicles ranges between $412,000 and $767,000. However, the total price tag could range from $382 million to $711 million.

Recovery vehicles such as the ‘truck, wrecker’ range in price from $168,960 for the base model to $880,674 for super strength versions.

Also, the cost of a medium-range tactical vehicle, which includes a 5-tonne cargo and general transport truck, was $67,139.

The MTV heavy vehicle family ranged in price from $235,500 to $724,820. The cost of cargo trucks used to transport aeroplanes is $800,865.

The price of an ambulance ranged from $37,943 to $142,918 with the majority at $96,466, cargo prices start at $104,682.

The average price for a utility Humvee was $91,429.

The 12,000-pound troop transport version, on the other hand, can cost up to $329,000.

Fast attack combat vehicles cost $69,400, and passenger motor vehicles were $65,500.

These are examples of light tactical vehicles.

According to military databases, all-terrain four-wheel vehicles can cost up to $42,273.

The Taliban has now seized Black Hawk helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano attack planes earlier this month.

The cost of a Black Hawk helicopter can reach $ 21 million.

The US ordered a total of 20 A-29 Super Tucano attack planes for $427 million in 2013 or $21.3 million per plane.

Other types of specialised helicopters can cost up to $37 million per unit.

As per the report by GAO, the US has provided at least 600,000 infantry weapons, including M16 rifles, 162,000 pieces of communication equipment, and 16,000 night-vision goggle devices to Afghan forces since 2003.

As per Forbes, the sights on night-vision sniper rifle scopes can cost up to $35,000, but the majority cost between $5,000 and $10,000

https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/h...anistan-410472



It’s 83 BILLION, not 18 million.

The bolded is funny, since less than half an hour ago, you were saying it was all weapons.

I just corrected my post. It's $18 billion, not million. Nowhere close to $85 billion.

And most of that $18 billion was demilitarized. The rest was considered primitive.

How many lives would have been willing to put in harm's way to save a relatively small amount of primitive equipment (not weapons)?

[Earl]

Getting out did cost lives...13 American soldiers . Americans and Afghans left behind, abandoned, hostages.

Afghanistan is now a terrorist nation state, all so that Bloody zBiden could meet an artificial deadline and crow on tge anniversary of 911.

Impeach Bloody Biden in 2023 after flipping the House and Senate in 2022.

[BartenderElite]

Getting out did cost lives...13 American soldiers . Americans and Afghans left behind, abandoned, hostages.

The Supreme Afghanistan is now a terrorist nation state, all so that Bloody zBiden could meet an artificial deadline and crow on tge anniversary of 911.

Impeach Bloody Biden in 2023 after flipping the House and Senate in 2022.

Getting out was always likely going to cost lives. That's war.

It would have cost MANY more to stay there, as you seem to be suggesting, and to try to "rescue" defunct, primitive equipment.

You're contradicting yourself.

[Earl]

The bolded is funny, since less than half an hour ago, you were saying it was all weapons.

I just corrected my post. It's $18 billion, not million. Nowhere close to $85 billion.

And most of that $18 billion was demilitarized. The rest was considered primitive.

How many lives would have been willing to put in harm's way to save a relatively small amount of primitive equipment (not weapons)?

No, I did not say it was all weapons, I listed weapons that you grossly undervalued.

The value is 83 billion and it is now in the hands of a terrorist nation state.

Some of that equipment was seen in Iran.

No American lives were lost in Afghanistan during the last year of President Trump’s presidency.

The withdrawal of the military before the civilians has been a bloody debacle for Bloody Biden.

[Earl]

Americans are not buying your BS either.

Americans give Biden low marks on Afghanistan pullout: Reuters/Ipsos poll
By Chris Kahn and James Oliphant


NEW YORK, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Less than 40% of Americans approve of President Joe Biden's handling of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, and three quarters wanted U.S. forces to remain in the country until all American civilians could get out, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Monday.

The national survey, conducted Aug. 27-30, found that 51% disapproved of Biden's approach to the pullout while 38% approved.

[ExpressLane]

Leaving 85 billion or even 18 billion dollars worth of armored truck helicopters and planes plus a shit load of small arms to a bunch of terrorist is INSANE!

[ExpressLane]

Getting out was always likely going to cost lives. That's war.

It would have cost MANY more to stay there, as you seem to be suggesting, and to try to "rescue" defunct, primitive equipment.

You're contradicting yourself.

Bull shit.

[dukkha]

ONLY the weapons at Kabul storage were dismantled.


https://www.npr.org/2021/08/21/10294...apons-captured
The Taliban wasted no time in gloating over their new war booty. Photos and video posted to social media show Taliban posing with captured aircraft, trucks, Humvees, artillery guns and night-vision goggles. Such equipment could be used to suppress internal dissent or fight off their rivals. assault weapons and uniforms

[BartenderElite]

No, I did not say it was all weapons, I listed weapons that you grossly undervalued.

The value is 83 billion and it is now in the hands of a terrorist nation state.

Some of that equipment was seen in Iran.

No American lives were lost in Afghanistan during the last year of President Trump’s presidency.

The withdrawal of the military before the civilians has been a bloody debacle for Bloody Biden.

This entire response is factually inaccurate.

You DID say weapons. And it's $18 billion - not $83 billion. That's an absurd exaggeration.

Withdrawing is much different from occupying. Again - war. That's why it's not good to start 'em.

[BartenderElite]

ONLY the weapons at Kabul storage were dismantled.


https://www.npr.org/2021/08/21/10294...apons-captured
The Taliban wasted no time in gloating over their new war booty. Photos and video posted to social media show Taliban posing with captured aircraft, trucks, Humvees, artillery guns and night-vision goggles. Such equipment could be used to suppress internal dissent or fight off their rivals. assault weapons and uniforms

You think a video of the Taliban celebrating is some kind of "proof" of anything?

LOL

Oh, man - you guys are literally too much. That's what they're going to do. It wouldn't matter if all we left was a jeep.

[BartenderElite]

Bull shit.

Most of the equipment was already in the hands of the Taliban.

How do you think we would have avoided conflict taking it back? Just ask nicely?

[BartenderElite]

Leaving 85 billion or even 18 billion dollars worth of armored truck helicopters and planes plus a shit load of small arms to a bunch of terrorist is INSANE!

Not compared to the alternative.

[BartenderElite]

Trump supporters just want to criticize. They haven't thought through the alternative, or the other options.

Any other option would have put more people in harm's way, for longer. Period.