Thread by @Charles_Lister

NEW - #Taliban prepping for a conference inside #Afghanistan's Presidential Palace.

Reports said they planned to re-proclaim the Islamic Emirate of #Afghanistan.

During the AJA-televised conference, one #Taliban commander (is that Mullah Zakir?) says he spent 8yrs in #Guantanamo.

A clear salt-in-wound moment for the U.S.

One #Taliban commander speaking from #Afghanistan's Presidential Palace says #Taliban forces have been "coordinating with" U.S. officials today, amid their entry into #Kabul.

4 months ago, 3,000 U.S. troops were in #Afghanistan -- the ANDF was tenaciously fighting & holding almost all frontlines.

Today, 6,000 U.S. troops have returned -- 100% of #Afghanistan has fallen to the #Taliban & #NATO forces are desperately evacuating their citizens for good.

Taking into consideration all the prisons captured & emptied over the past 2 weeks, it'd seem reasonable to say that 1,000s of #Taliban fighters & 100s of #AlQaeda & #ISIS operatives have found freedom in #Afghanistan.

AQ (AQ & AQIS ) in particular given new life lately.

Now that the U.S. has disengaged from #Afghanistan & 99% of intelligence networks have been dissolved, U.S. officials are suggesting #AlQaeda could regenerate "much faster than expected."

... No sh*t Sherlock.

apnews.com/article/joe-bi…

1,000s of Afghans are stuck at #Kabul Airport desperate to get on a flight out of #Afghanistan -- but U.S. forces stopped civilian flights today for security reasons.

Multiple reports of injuries amid desperate runs on gates, while U.S. troops have been firing into the air.

This plane took off from #Kabul this morning reportedly carrying more than x5 the number of people it’s designed to — some of those left behind tied themselves to the rear & fell off after takeoff.

I have no words. #Afghanistan

As #Kabul awoke to its first full day of #Taliban rule since 2001, @clarissaward of @CNN is reporting from the streets — extraordinary reporting from the very best in the business:

@clarissaward @CNN “It’s very easy to say #Trump set us up for this & we’re just simply following through, but any responsible leader who was listening to all of the advice he was getting would have taken a more measured approach.”

- My comments to @nwadhams
of @business:

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

@clarissaward @CNN @nwadhams @business When the US announced withdrawal, the #UK pushed #NATO states to form a new coalition to stay in #Afghanistan -- nobody agreed.

"This wasn't the right time or decision to make, of course, #AlQaeda will come back," #UK Defense Secretary @BWallaceMP said.

theguardian.com/world/2021/aug…

@clarissaward @CNN @nwadhams @business @BWallaceMP The amount of weaponry captured by the #Taliban in recent weeks is mind-boggling.

Yesterday, they got EMB 314 Super Tucanos, worth ~$10 million each.

This video shows a single (enormous) haul of U.S.-made M16s, M4s & crates of Berettas.

@clarissaward @CNN @nwadhams @business @BWallaceMP What does the collapse of #Afghanistan into #Taliban rule mean for terrorism & counterterrorism going forward?

Here’s some rapid-fire thoughts on my mind, for @MiddleEastInst & @MEI_CTE: