Explainer why the situation in Kabul is so bad. Single runway Kabul international airport sits in the middle of a city of 5 million.
Bagram Air Base (which was closed a month ago) sits 25 miles to the north, in an easily defensible area, multiple runways, secure perimeter.
Bagram Air Base (which was closed a month ago) sits 25 miles to the north, in an easily defensible area, multiple runways, secure perimeter.
There is zero infrastructure to deal with the tens of thousands of refugees rushing Kabul International Airport.
The US left Bagram in the middle of the night. Up and disappeared. That was a voluntary choice, and it means the plan included evacuating tens of thousands out of a single runway airfield in the middle of a city.
Also, if an enemy attacks the airport, they're going to be attacking from the city. Urban warfare is the worst type of warfare. Incredibly hard to utilize air support, massive collateral damage.
Kabul International is surrounded on all sides by dense urban housing. High rises have a vantage point over the runway and airport facilities.
This is Bagram. It's surrounded by nothing. Flat ground. Fields.
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