Civic Register
| 8.18.21
National Security Officials Warn of Renewed Terrorism Threat From Afghanistan Following Taliban Takeover
Are you concerned about the reemergence of al Qaeda and/or other terror groups in Afghanistan?
What’s the story?
- The U.S. is nearing the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks that killed 2,977 people and which were coordinated by al Qaeda from bases in Afghanistan and enabled by the Taliban, and with the Taliban’s stunning return to power over the last week, national security officials are expressing concern that a renewed terror threat may emerge from the country.
- Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told Politico on Monday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has informed members of Congress that the U.S. will need to reassess the ability of terror groups like al Qaeda and ISIS to reconstitute themselves in Afghanistan, where the military is currently conducting an airlift evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies. General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made similar comments to lawmakers according to the Associated Press.
- After President Joe Biden announced in April that his administration will withdraw U.S. forces by September 11th (later moved up to August 31st), Austin and Milley in June told senators in a hearing that it would take “possibly two years” for al Qaeda or ISIS to regenerate in Afghanistan after the departure of American forces. Those estimates were likely premised on the continued existence of the Afghan national government and its security forces, which have largely been routed by the Taliban.
- In its annual worldwide threat assessment released in April, the Intelligence Community (IC) warned that “the Afghan Government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support” and the “Taliban is confident it can achieve military victory.” That stands in stark contrast to President Joe Biden’s remarks on July 8th that “the likelihood there’s going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely.” Further, the IC’s assessment noted that al Qaeda “will exploit local conflicts and ungoverned spaces to threaten US and Western interests”.
- The speed with which the Taliban toppled the Afghan government has heightened concerns about a resurgence of terror groups in Afghanistan. Those concerns have risen after thousands of Taliban, al Qaeda, and ISIS terrorists who had been held in Afghan prisons were released by the Taliban after they defeated security forces, videos of which spread widely on social media in the past week.
- Concerns about those now ex-prisoners returning to terrorism are likely to be reinforced by the role played by previously imprisoned Taliban leaders in their group’s rout of the Afghan government and have since returned to Afghanistan.
- Khairullah Khairkhwa, who was arrested in 2002 during the U.S. response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and held at Guantanamo Bay as an alleged close associate of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, was one of the “Taliban Five” released by the Obama administration in 2014 as part of a prisoner swap deal to secure the return of Bowe Bergdahl (who later pleaded guilty to deserting his Army unit in Afghanistan). He has been part of the Taliban’s negotiating team in peace talks and has reportedly played a leading role in the group’s strategy to regain control of Afghanistan.
- Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a cofounder of the Taliban movement with Mullah Mohammed Omar, was imprisoned from 2010 to 2018 in Pakistan and released by that government at the urging of the Trump administration, which was seeking a peace deal with the Taliban. Baradar also played a leading role in the Taliban’s negotiating team in Qatar and, like Khairkhwa, has returned to Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover.
- Mohammad Fazl, also a member of the “Taliban Five'' released from Guantanamo Bay in 2014, was a frontline commander for the Taliban and worked as the group’s deputy defense minister. He is accused of playing a key role in several massacres and summary executions of Afghan civilians in the 1999 to 2001 period.
— Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: newsonline via Flickr / Creative Commons)
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Check out the new docuseries, “Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror” on Netflix. It is an expansive and detailed historical study about HOW & WHY we got to 9/11, with an almost complete history of WHEN & WHY Afghanistan became a focal point for the American government and the American people. This 5 episode series explains so much and in such detail, afterwards you’ll know EXACTLY WHY we left Afghanistan, and WHY we should have left much sooner than August of 2021! It’s ALL there. And it’s ALL the TRUTH! The main idea I got out of it is this: Never go to war without a clear exit strategy that leaves the invaded country better than you found it. NOT doing so will be catastrophic!
I would rather fight terrorists in Afghanistan than here in America. They will attack us here. I am concerned about our open border in the south. One could drive a tank thru it. Biden doesn't care.
No real vetting on the Southern Border, so I don’t expect anything different here. Are we supposed to believe the people who got us into this mess are capable of vetting those escaping this horror. In case you have forgotten, 911 was planned and carried out by Afghanistan. Totally disgusted by what is coming out of Washington. America has been abandoned by the Democrats. All they seem to be good at is racking up more debt and putting America last. Do we need another catastrophe before our Southern Border is closed? Do you in Congress not think the terrorists from Afghanistan aren’t capable of breaching the open border you have created? Far as those coming from Kabul are concerned, did we honestly have 40,000 interpreters. I believe 100 Taliban and one Isis members have already been detained. It only takes one to get through as we witnessed this week. Thirteen of the best America has to offer slaughtered by incompetence from Biden/Harris an military command. You know who you are and you will live with that stain forever. So yes, I am very worried about terrorism and your lack concern in preventing it. For God’s sake do something that puts America first for a change.
this cluster was 20 yrs in the making, oviously we didnt learn from Vietnam and it was a money making deal for the military industrail complex and the cost of American blood. The blame starts with Bush and every congress person that voted for it and every prez inbetween and it does not help that Trump released 5000 captuered Taliban prisoners before we pulled out which made thier capture in vain ! I do applaud Biden to have the balls to pull out he has handled it poorly ! Why do we continuely pursue wars beyond our own borders ? we are not fighting for freedom what are we fighting for?
Of course we’re concerned. What really bothers me about all of this happening in Afghanistan, it’s with Joe Biden‘s plan was a bad one. It was backwards. And what does he do he tries to blame Donald Trump. This is not Donald Trump‘s watch Mr. Biden this is your watch decisions were made by YOU, every time Joe Biden gets caught he brings up Donald Trump‘s name well for eight months Joe Biden, Donald Trump has not been president. The decisions that have been made for America have been yours. Have you seen the price of gas, the price of food, things in America her nap better. They’re much worse. We have more killing and murders in Chicago then we’ve ever had before, this is a new year Watch Joe. Not Donald Trump’s yours you were going to change everything and make it better. I haven’t seen any of that. Yeah the buck stops with you Joe stop trying to blame other people for your decisions
We need to restrict all travel into and out of the area. They hate us because we interfere with their way of life and religion. Leave them alone. They will take their country to the time in history that they want it to be. It is none of our business. If the women want to improve their position they can wait till their men are asleep or hungry and take care of business.
I am concerned about all terrorism groups everywhere including within my own country. I pray that they all see the light and stop these inhumane brute force tactics. People who act in these ways are very insecure with themselves and want to force their beliefs and hatred on others. Like spoiled children having a tantrum and wanting their own way without thinking of anyone else but themselves. Thank g d their in the minority. Violence, greed, lies and hate never really solve anything and should have no place at the table.
If anyone thinks the Taliban will exert any effort to thwart terrorist groups from resuming platforms in Afghanistan they are dreaming.
We should have learned from IRAQ when we first left, it took just thirty days for the enemy to retake control back. It will take less for Afghan region to return to a secular Nation. If a nation does not learn from its mistake's it is bound to repeat tham. ie. vietnam/iraq/afghanistan ! We have to stop nation building and take care of are own internal problems.
Biden has now armed the Taliban with more weapons of mass destruction than they’ve ever had in the past they have technology and fire power equaling our own to use against us our citizens and our country of the United States of America. Biden needs to be removed from office he’s senile. And it shows he does not care about the United States or its citizens leaving open borders on South America transporting Afghanistan into United States without proper vetting and arming the Taliban
We the People knew this was coming. We expect our reps and senators to stand against all of this mess in DC. If you can't do the job get out of the race. We the People do not put our faith in you, we look to our God to deliver us because all of you have allowed the take over of the Presidency and the evil to control the House and the Senate.
CONCERNED ABOUT ALL TERRORISTS HERE AND ABROAD!!! LET'S FOCUS ON DOMESTIC FIRST .
The Biden administration has directly fed the Islamic terrorists ability to do us harm. The total surrender and flight from Afghanistan emboldens those who wish to harm us and leaving weapons, vehicles, aircraft, etc. for them to use against us and our allies was an act of betrayal. We need a full investigation of this massive security threat and the betrayal of all our allies.
These so-called terrorist groups are not currently a threat to this country. If they do become a threat in the future, it's what we get for the foreign entanglements our Founding Fathers warned us about. We've got no business being in the Middle East when our country is infested with BLM/ANTIFA domestic terrorists that we should be dealing with. Kent College, Ruby Ridge, Waco, lots of White dead bodies, but when it comes to BLM/ANTIFA, the government is out of bullets so they can continue to riot, loot, burn and destroy precious monuments and statues. Wonder how they will feel when the White population has had enough and start destroying Martin Lucifer King statues?
Let the Taliban deal with the rest of the terrorists. They want Afghanistan. Let them handle it. Enough interference.
If one isn't then one is emotionally imbalanced.
TRUMP AND HIS BAND OF CORRUPT ASSHOLES CAUSED THE HORRIBLE CONDITION IN AFGHANISTAN THRU THEIR HORRIBLE "GOVERNING"! THEY ALL NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY AND ALL DEATHS!!! AND I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOME GROWN TERRORISTS THAT TRUMP AND HIS BAND OF ASSHOLES HAVE ENABLED !!!!
America has left a residual force in South Korea, Japan and Germany. We should have left such a force there forever. We gave up the best Airbase in the region when we pulled out of Bagram! The whole withdrawal is a prime example of what NOT TO DO! We will eventually have to go back to clean up again when they export their terror!
The Navy Seal who killed Bin Laden recently said we should have popped them first thing and gotten out. 20 ears later... chaos.
America has left a residual force in South Korea, Japan and Germany. We should have left such a force there forever. We gave up the best Airbase in the region when we pulled out of Bagram! The whole withdrawal is a prime example of what NOT TO DO! We will eventually have to go back to clean up again when they export their terror!