Airlift

[TSR2]

Over the past few days I've been watching intently as the situation unfolds in Afghanistan.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs and timing of events, the work that has been done by air forces from around the world has been incredible (and the support staff and security forces etc). I've seen the US, UK, Dutch, Spanish, Italians, Polish, Hungarian, French, Swedish, Belgians, Turks and even the Australians operating, not only the evacuation flights, but the refuelling sorties etc too. Also several civilian charters who appear to be taking evacuees from various airports in the Emirates back home, freeing up the air forces to use their capacity locally.

While the situation is not ideal, these men and women are doing a fantastic job.

On a lighter note, I bet the crews of the A400's and C17 are glad they aren't in the Hercules. I didn't realise just how slow they are!

[Nigel H-J]

Regardless of the rights and wrongs and timing of events, the work that has been done by air forces from around the world has been incredible (and the support staff and security forces etc). I've seen the US, UK, Dutch, Spanish, Italians, Polish, Hungarian, French, Swedish, Belgians, Turks and even the Australians operating, not only the evacuation flights, but the refuelling sorties etc too. Also several civilian charters who appear to be taking evacuees from various airports in the Emirates back home, freeing up the air forces to use their capacity locally.

Very sad also to learn that some Afghans were so desperate to leave that they actually hung onto one USAF Aircraft as it took off and they fell to their deaths!!

The Taliban as we all know have said that they have changed, we will wait and see but my thoughts are for those who gave their lives and also those whose lives have been drastically changed due to injuries and I question now, was it all for nothing??

Regards
Nigel.

[TSR2]

It’s all just a big game. I watched a Qatar C17 fly over Iranian airspace to Kabul yesterday, and thought, that’s odd. Little did I know it was the Taliban leadership returning. All those lives lost just pawns in the game. Very sad.

[Nigel H-J]

Hi Ben, just been watching a video from parliament, ignore the headlines but scroll down to the 2nd video of Tom Tugendhat speech!!

I have never heard such a moving speech since God knows when but this is a really moving speech from an MP who was stationed in Afghanistan. I hope all those MP's who decry the government over the handling of withdrawing troops now remember what this MP said before again, criticising the government.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58254794

Regards
Nigel.

[cstorey]

The most powerful speech I have heard certainly since Thatcher at the time of the Falklands, and possibly the most powerful speech of my adult life . Not least , it impressed me to find that though we tend to deride modern politicians, there are still people of real staure in the House of Commons

[Airspeed]

I AM going to criticise governments.
Apart from talking about rescuing those who assisted the Allies, there has been very little reported about what was actually done about it.
Recently, our PM refused to speak on the effort because it would endanger the military operation. What bs.
Australia eventually managed to get a SINGLE C-17 into Kabul, and that 188 passenger aircraft took 26 people on board. I am disgusted with them all.

[simondix]

I AM going to criticise governments.
Apart from talking about rescuing those who assisted the Allies, there has been very little reported about what was actually done about it.
Recently, our PM refused to speak on the effort because it would endanger the military operation. What bs.
Australia eventually managed to get a SINGLE C-17 into Kabul, and that 188 passenger aircraft took 26 people on board. I am disgusted with them all.

So am I. Ever since the announcement was first made about a withdrawal their has been pressure on this present rabble to do something about all those Afghans who are vulnerable ie those who assisted us and other forces and so on. This rabble have vacillated and prevaricated and now we are down to this. They should hang their heads in shame. But they wont as they have shown as in the past they are shameless. May they rot.

[cstorey]

Oh, let's keep politics out of this board. Meaningless pejorative terms such as " this rabble" achieve nothing

[simondix]

Trouble is the situation is politics.

[TSR2]

We now have both Titan's 757 gainfully employed and an A321, in addition to the two WAMOS A330's. This means that most of the RAF aircraft can be used to ferry back to Dubai.

With the focus very much on Kabul, its hard to imagine what those poor souls who helped us in Kandahar and other places must be going through. Thoughts and prayers with all of them at this time.