Taliban seize $85 billion worth of military equipment
The Frontier Post
WASHINGTON DC (Agencies): The Taliban have seized $ 85 billion worth of US military equipment and gained access to biometric data from Afghans who have helped US Army soldiers for the past 20 years. The American congressman spoke about this.
Former US Navy reservist Jim Banks said there are 75,000 vehicles, 200 aircraft and helicopters, and 600,000 small arms and light weapons among the vast quantities of equipment and weapons abandoned in Afghanistan.
Speaking in Washington, Banks said: “Today the Taliban have more Black Hawk helicopters than 85% of the world’s countries.” The Taliban also seized night vision goggles, body armor and medical supplies, he said.
Banks is confident in these numbers because he worked as a foreign sales agent, acquiring American-supplied equipment and weapons, and then transferring them to the Afghan military.
“It’s unthinkable for me and others, but now the Taliban have biometric devices with fingerprints, eye scans and biographies of all Afghans who have been on our side and helping us for the past 20 years,” Banks said.
“The administration has no plan to return these weapons. She is not going to demand accountability for this equipment and weapons, – the congressman continued.
“If these weapons are used now or in the future to damage, injure or kill Americans, the blood will be on Joe Biden’s hands.”
His speech was spread on social media by the conservative MP and former soldier Johnny Mercer. “It’s a shame. We gave them the names of those who were preparing to fight them. And we will leave some of them, and they will become victims of the violence that we saw at the airport, ”he said. “A terrible day, causing rage and tears.”
The Taliban have already announced that they have sent an elite unit with high-tech equipment to guard facilities in the Afghan capital.
Militant propaganda channels aired an impressive film about the unit, the 313rd Badri Brigade, stating that it would serve on the streets of Kabul and guard the presidential palace. The footage shows militants in modern helmets, sunglasses, body armor and with machine guns like the Afghan army.
Reports emerged Thursday that US officials had given the Taliban lists of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies to expedite airport transfers and evacuations.
The Defense Ministry harshly criticized this decision, which was reported by Politiko. One military official said the Taliban had practically got “death lists”.
“It’s terrible, it’s shocking, it makes your hands look dirty,” he added.
A spokesman for US Central Command declined to comment.
Banks was also outraged by the events near the Kabul airport, to which he responded with the following words: “The responsibility for this tragedy lies entirely with Biden. Because of his incompetence, American blood was shed. This could have been avoided, and therefore it is unforgivable.”