This is a moment of complete disaster for Afghanistan and for families across the country. The failure of the US to stay the course has challenged the credibility of American power and could have repercussions thousands of miles away.
The precipitous withdrawal is a demonstration of a lack of the strategic patience essential to being a credible ally. We have pulled the rug from under the feet of our Afghan partners and others are watching.
Many of us gave all we could and for some the toll was impossibly high. The operation tore families apart, left children orphans and parents to cry alone. For me, the memory that will haunt me every time I carry my child is that of a father I saw carrying his bloodied daughter as he desperately looked for help.
Over two decades, through failures and hardship, we had changed the odds. It stopped being the US or Nato fighting the enemy, but instead the Afghan police and army. We built trust and gave the support they needed to sustain operations.
We trained these forces to fight as we do, not just with us. We helped them to learn the strength of slim supply lines, air power, and the ability to partner with allies. Our air support and logistics chains provided the capability to succeed.
US contractors serviced the helicopters we used, and supplied the weapons we all shared. That made us interoperable in battle, and made the Afghans dependent. So when those contractors were withdrawn as a result of the withdrawal deadline, the helicopters were grounded and the air support gone. Without that, our allies were left outmatched and untrained for what was to come.
Worse, our presence was a force multiplier. Nato 10,000-strong deployment was the spine of the Afghan security forces, giving confidence of an enduring commitment to the almost 400,000 Afghan police and army. For us, that’s an efficient force ratio of almost 40:1 and it gave us time to train up the logistics and technical skills for complex kit.
That all gave the alliance the sustainable standoff that saw Afghan civic institutions grow, slowly, in the shadow of a government that was learning the ropes. It was not perfect but time was allowing the culture of cooperation to sink roots into communities across the nation. Earlier this year, Kandahar, the capital of the south, had girls’ schools, colleges and opportunity.
But, instead of waiting like we did in Germany, South Korea, Japan and Cyprus, we have pulled out. The 2,500 US soldiers that were pulled out of Afghanistan were barely a tenth those deployed constantly in the Gulf and, since combat operations ceased for the Nato troops a number of years ago, barely at greater risk.
The last British soldier killed in combat died in 2013 and it has been a few years since US troops had been engaged in combat. Those few thousands of troops that were left were knitting together the army and police that held the state together.
Now the future looks all too predictable. We have seen this play out before. Ungoverned space allows for the growth of terror groups such as ISIS that threatened the Middle East, or the East Turkestan Islamic Movement that seeks to break Xinjiang away from China, both of which have been reported to be active in Afghanistan recently.
Could this be America's Suez moment – that point when it demonstrates to the world it no longer has the will, or perhaps ability, to play the role it has held for the past 80 years? America's allies and friends will hope not. US leadership is essential to the freedoms we enjoy and the prosperity we now expect.
Whatever this is, it’s a massive step change in US, and Nato, credibility and it changes the dynamics of our impact around the world. Some allies will question us, and that will leave us all weakened.
While our government should be updating counterterrorism plans the first task of administrations in Nato is to update strategic alliances and rethink our commitments to make it clear they matter. While others use loans and arms to buy support, we can open up investment, trade and travel.
We can rebuild our partnerships and alliances, as people from every nation demonstrate daily, people yearn for the freedom we offer, not the silence of tyranny, but it will mean investing in supporting friends and building coalitions. It will cost money and take time but the reward is a world of free people to trade with, share our values and not live in fear.
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
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MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)