Many are comparing what is happening now in Kabul, on what happened before in Saigon when the US is trying to pull-out from Vietnam, in the 1970's. It's not the same. The US never defeated the Viet-Cong, and North Vietnam in the Vietnam War. They might have caused casualties, and damages. But they never defeated Vietnam. On the other hand, they defeated Taliban, and got the revenge of 911, by killing Osama Bin Laden. But why did the Taliban return, and takeover the capital?
The simple answer is, US fought a two prong war. One in Afghanistan, and one in Iraq. And both ended in failures. The adventures in Iraq, didn't prove anything on the accusations of weapons of mass destruction. And as many people have said, Saddam might be a tyrant, but he stabilizes the region. That even the Saudis, disagrees on the attack on the country. They took out Saddam, and what happened? They unemployed all member of Saddam's political party, from the government. Which is stupid, why? They didn't do that in Germany after World War 2, because they can't. No one will run Germany, if they take out all Nazi party members, in the government. They only took out those who they deemed responsible for war crimes. But they didn't do that with Iraq, those who became unemployed, especially army personnels became the foundation of the ISIS. It destabilizes Iraq, and Syria. And they pulled out, which the other powers, Iran, Turkey, Russia, maybe in a way China, took the opportunity to get in. Which I believe is not in the US foreign policies interest, and their allies to in the region.
Now Afghanistan. As the time progress, and the objectives are fulfilled. I think they lost interest on it in a way. Maybe because of high cost of maintenance, and criticism at home. Then President, declared that they will pull out completely from Afghanistan, with the deadline in September 11, 2021.
So how did the Taliban took over? How did they get the arms and weapons? I don't know. But what I know is, as US is pulling out, China and Russia are getting in. One Taliban leader, even met the Chinese Foreign Minister in China. Another angle was, US is pulling out, so that China will have these problem Afghanistan. That they may pivot to China, because of the treatment of the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. But that's not confirmed, and only the days will tell, if that will happen.
The images of the exodus are horrifying. People in fear of the return, of the Taliban, hang on to planes as it flies. And of course they will fall. Why did it happened? Because they never treated Iraq, and Afghanistan, like the Germany of 1945. Had they done so, we might have a different Afghanistan and Iraq. But some may say, that can't happen because of the culture and the people. I don't think so. Japan are a warring state, and a backward society, before they became like this. China also are a warring state, and a backward society, before they became like this. Even the US is like that in the beginning, and they are a superpower. Everything can be changed. Not even many, only one has to will it, and it will happen.
So why is Kabul not Saigon? US retreated in Saigon, and it remains a superpower nation. One other country retreated in Afghanistan, years ago. That is the Soviet Union. Four years after they collapse. Will the US collapsed in four years? We can never tell. But US is in a free fall decline, as a superpower.
And it also says something, about Duterte's foreign policy, not being to reliant on the US. And to those advocating we forcefully retake lost territories in the West Philippine Sea, because we have the US backing us. First of all, we don't have the force. Second is, we may not have, the US backing us, despite promises. Last time, the Philippines were in trouble because of an Asian power. They flee first. Remember that, and just look what is happening in Afghanistan now.
