[AllSeason]

We should never have left valuable material behind. How often has our own money and technology been used against us? We need to learn out lesson and do better. If we planned on leaving we had time to get that type of technology out of there first or destroyed the equipment beyond the point of repair.

[asimpletune]

I don't think "hate the West" is even the right way to put it. They're much more concerned with the islamic world, and turning "bad" (secular) muslims into "good" (shariah) muslims. It's not like they love the west either, but they fully expect non-muslims nations to be evil and don't care nearly as much.

The west is more of a useful propaganda tool to achieve the real goal of establishing the islamic caliphate (like from ottoman days).

[throwawayswede]

That's a pretty naive and reductive way to describe the situation. The relationship between early al qaeda days and various US agencies who armed and trained them is very well established.

[kodah]

Both what you and GP said can be true simultaneously, and in my opinion is.

[throwawayswede]

Thank you for your informative contribution.

[kodah]

What else would you like me to say?

It is factually true that the Taliban and ISIS wanted to achieve cultural domination. Al Queda I'm not so sure about, but hell, they're religious extremists who sometimes masquerade as a violent and totalitarian political party.

It is also true that back in the 80's the US funded, specifically, Al Queda and the Taliban for various things. It doesn't mean they were our allies, just an underhanded way of doing policy. You saw this on repeat in Syria where we were giving weapons and funding to people that we'd, in any larger context, consider terrorists.

That just agrees with what's already been said. If you want me to disagree with anything it's your use of "naive". Ironically, if you can't perceive both as true (since they're both factually true), who is the naive one? My guess is on the person telling themselves a half baked truth.

[lalaland1125]

The material wasn't "left behind". It was given to the ANA for them to fight the Taliban.

[AllSeason]

But the ANA was folding so fast according to news reports. Maybe there was no way to prevent biometric equipment from falling into the Talban's hands. I guess my hope is that there were better solutions that didn't hurt us.

I'm actually surprised at the response to my comment. I think I'm not expressing myself clearly. My thoughts keep wandering to what could have been done and the costs of the Taliban possessing advanced technology. Sorry for the Pollyanna mindset here.

[op00to]

How do you get the stuff to a place where you can get it out of country? Once it’s there, how can you get enough planes to get it out? Is the equipment even worth it now that we are not fighting a forever war here?

[AllSeason]

Those are valid points: Is it too expensive to get technology out? Or is it even possible?

If this is the case can't we destroy the equipment so that it can't be repaired or ever used again? My hope is their is a solution that doesn't involve allowing our technology to fall into the wrong hands.

[geofft]

We didn't plan on leaving. We planned on winning.

Unfortunately, it was a bad plan.

[ridiculous_leke]

Taliban would love to use any technology that's available to them considering their position.

[AllSeason]

Agreed.