Australian military rescue mission to Afghanistan to proceed 'when situation allows'

[Neferti]

Australian military rescue mission to Afghanistan to proceed 'when situation allows'

Cabinet's National Security Committee has approved a military evacuation plan to rescue Australians in Afghanistan, as well as Afghans who once served with the ADF.

The ABC has been told the mission involves a RAAF C-17 aircraft and other Defence assets from across Australia.

In total, more than 250 troops will be sent as part of the mission — but not all will be in Afghanistan, with others sent to the Middle East.

A government source says given the "deteriorating security situation" in Kabul, it is unclear when aircraft will be able to land, but planning for an airlift is proceeding for when "the situation allows".

The ABC understands the government intends to bring home Australians, journalists and some former Kabul embassy staff.

Taliban insurgents have seized the presidential palace in Kabul after taking control of nearly all of Afghanistan in just over a week.

Fighters took control of much of the capital city overnight, rolling in "from all sides" and encountering no resistance as they completed a dizzying sweep back to power two decades after they were overthrown by a US-led invasion.

Thousands of people are stranded at Hamid Karzai international airport in Kabul in an attempt to flee the country amid the takeover.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne told Sky News work was underway to organise how to get people out of the city, including working with the United States on security at Hamid Karzai airport.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been engaged right across this last weekend in particular in ensuring that we're able to support those Australians, those permanent representatives and visa holders," she said.

"But in terms of the detail, I don't want to go into that detail publicly so I can ensure that we help them in as safe a way as possible."

Earlier today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 430 locally engaged employees, Afghans and their families had been brought to Australia since April.

In a joint statement, Mr Morrison, Senator Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton said there were 130 Australians in Afghanistan that the government was working to bring home.

"The Taliban must cease all violence against civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law and the human rights all Afghans are entitled to expect, in particular women and girls," they said.

"The Taliban will be held fully accountable for any killing or other mistreatment of Afghan military and other security forces who have surrendered or been captured.

"Afghan government officials and elected political leaders are fully entitled to be treated with safety, respect and dignity."

Fears for those who helped ADF

Former defence chief Admiral Chris Barrie, who led Australia into a war in Afghanistan, said Australia was far too slow to evacuate those who helped Australian troops.

He said Afghans who had been left behind would bear the brunt of Taliban reprisals.

"There will be reprisals, there will be paybacks, there will be all sorts of brutalities that, I guess, will dribble out over the next period of time," Admiral Barrie said.

"For all of those people who helped us — God help them. God help them."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-16/ ... /100381278

[Bobby]

Joe Biden caused this.
He's an idiot.

[Aussie]

Joe Biden caused this.
He's an idiot.

That simply will not wash Bobby. I dunno why you waste time making that silly allegation. This rot set in the minute after the US shot bin Laden many years ago. That was when we all should have pissed off out of the place.

Do you want to know why the Aussie Flights have been delayed? They are waiting until the US properly secures control of Kabul Airport.

[Bobby]

Joe Biden caused this.
He's an idiot.

That simply will not wash Bobby. I dunno why you waste time making that silly allegation. This rot set in the minute after the US shot bin Laden many years ago. That was when we all should have pissed off out of the place.

Do you want to know why the Aussie Flights have been delayed? They are waiting until the US properly secures control of Kabul Airport.

There is plenty of blame to go around.

I wonder if the Taliban will attack the airport and kill American and Australian soldiers?

[Aussie]

Joe Biden caused this.
He's an idiot.

That simply will not wash Bobby. I dunno why you waste time making that silly allegation. This rot set in the minute after the US shot bin Laden many years ago. That was when we all should have pissed off out of the place.

Do you want to know why the Aussie Flights have been delayed? They are waiting until the US properly secures control of Kabul Airport.

There is plenty of blame to go around.

I wonder if the Taliban will attack the airport and kill American and Australian soldiers?

You can bet that the US will secure an impenetrable perimeter (backed up by air power,) around that airport, allowing only flight seekers in....gawd knows how those fleeing get there....but.....sucks to be losers in a War.

If any Aussies are still there, put that down to Morrison and especially, Payne.

[Bobby]

Joe Biden caused this.
He's an idiot.

That simply will not wash Bobby. I dunno why you waste time making that silly allegation. This rot set in the minute after the US shot bin Laden many years ago. That was when we all should have pissed off out of the place.

Do you want to know why the Aussie Flights have been delayed? They are waiting until the US properly secures control of Kabul Airport.

There is plenty of blame to go around.

I wonder if the Taliban will attack the airport and kill American and Australian soldiers?

You can bet that the US will secure an impenetrable perimeter (backed up by air power,) around that airport, allowing only flight seekers in....gawd knows how those fleeing get there....but.....sucks to be losers in a War.

If any Aussies are still there, put that down to Morrison and especially, Payne.

I think the Taliban could take the airport anytime they wanted to.
They would outnumber the Yanks and Aussies 100 to 1.

[Aussie]

No...with US air support, Taliban would be pinned down easily outside a heavily defended perimeter.

[Aussie]

Just listen to this weasel...pathetic.......does anyone buy this sugar coating bullshit?

Link.

[Bobby]

No...with US air support, Taliban would be pinned down easily outside a heavily defended perimeter.

If the Taliban wanted to they would take the airport -
after all they took a whole country.

[Aussie]

No...with US air support, Taliban would be pinned down easily outside a heavily defended perimeter.

If the Taliban wanted to they would take the airport -
after all they took a whole country.

Focus Bobby....on a small patch of urban Earth bristling with weapons...with an unchallenged Air Force on tap to nuke the shit out of anyone nasty approaching that small patch.

If the West cannot defend that small patch.......the West is truly screwed.