Posted on Jan 18, 2022
Watchdog warned months before U.S. pullout Afghanistan's air force would collapse
1.77K
11
5
6
6
0
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/18/ [login to see] /watchdog-warned-months-before-us-pullout-that-afghanistans-air-force-would-colla
Months before President Joe Biden announced the U.S.'s complete withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, Washington's watchdog warned that the Afghan air force would collapse without critical American aid, training and maintenance. The report was declassified Tuesday.
The report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko, submitted to the Department of Defense in January 2021, underscores that American authorities had been alerted that Afghanistan's air force did not have the capabilities to survive after a U.S. withdrawal. In particular, the report points to U.S. failure to train Afghan support staff, leaving the air force unable to maintain its aircraft without American contractors.
Months before President Joe Biden announced the U.S.'s complete withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, Washington's watchdog warned that the Afghan air force would collapse without critical American aid, training and maintenance. The report was declassified Tuesday.
The report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko, submitted to the Department of Defense in January 2021, underscores that American authorities had been alerted that Afghanistan's air force did not have the capabilities to survive after a U.S. withdrawal. In particular, the report points to U.S. failure to train Afghan support staff, leaving the air force unable to maintain its aircraft without American contractors.
Watchdog warned months before U.S. pullout Afghanistan's air force would collapse
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Afghanistan
Government Contracts
Afghanistan Government Contracts
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel It appears some think they know more than the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko... Maybe they are the one who is peddling Bullshit.
..."U.S. air support to government forces was key in the 20-year-war against Taliban insurgents. Its removal — along with the inability of the Afghan air force to fill the void — was one factor that contributed to the Taliban's sweeping victory as the Americans withdrew.
The inspector general's office told The Associated Press on Monday that it is rare for SIGAR reports to be classified but when they are, a declassified version is issued by the Pentagon in under two months. The office said it did not know why it took the Defense Department more than a year before declassifying this particular report, or why it did so now, five months after the Taliban took power.
SIGAR has tracked and documented Washington's spending and progress in Afghanistan since the office was established in 2008. It has released successive reports that documented corruption, Afghan and U.S. leadership failings and weaknesses within the Afghan army, offering recommendations on where to improve.
Since the 2001 U.S-led invasion that ousted the Taliban and during the long war that ensued, Washington spent more than $145 billion on reconstruction in Afghanistan and nearly $1 trillion on its military engagement. Billions went to building up the Afghan military forces.
Biden announced in April that the last 2,500-3,500 U.S. troops would leave along with NATO's 7,500 troops, following a deal reached with the Taliban by the Trump administration. The announcement started a rapid collapse of the Afghan defense forces."...
..."U.S. air support to government forces was key in the 20-year-war against Taliban insurgents. Its removal — along with the inability of the Afghan air force to fill the void — was one factor that contributed to the Taliban's sweeping victory as the Americans withdrew.
The inspector general's office told The Associated Press on Monday that it is rare for SIGAR reports to be classified but when they are, a declassified version is issued by the Pentagon in under two months. The office said it did not know why it took the Defense Department more than a year before declassifying this particular report, or why it did so now, five months after the Taliban took power.
SIGAR has tracked and documented Washington's spending and progress in Afghanistan since the office was established in 2008. It has released successive reports that documented corruption, Afghan and U.S. leadership failings and weaknesses within the Afghan army, offering recommendations on where to improve.
Since the 2001 U.S-led invasion that ousted the Taliban and during the long war that ensued, Washington spent more than $145 billion on reconstruction in Afghanistan and nearly $1 trillion on its military engagement. Billions went to building up the Afghan military forces.
Biden announced in April that the last 2,500-3,500 U.S. troops would leave along with NATO's 7,500 troops, following a deal reached with the Taliban by the Trump administration. The announcement started a rapid collapse of the Afghan defense forces."...
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
UTTER BS...I know first hand this is utter BS...they were trained to maintain and fly by American instructors without the need for contractors...and that is all I can say about it. A-29's, helos, and other aircraft.
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2020/11/18/moody-afb-winds-down-afghan-a-29-pilot-training/
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2020/11/18/moody-afb-winds-down-afghan-a-29-pilot-training/
Moody AFB winds down Afghan A-29 pilot training
The five-year program ultimately trained more than 30 A-29 student pilots and 70 maintenance technicians serving in the Afghan air force.
(0)
(0)
LTC Jason Mackay
Blackhawks require a continuous IV drip of contracted maintenance, regardless of who is flying them and doing AVUM.
Don’t know about the MD500s, they were pretty sturdy (OH6), but anything requiring phase maintenance has contractors or civilian depots in the mix if not the OEM.
All the Soviet Union era helos, what maintenance? The Mi8s and 17s should be going strong.
The A29s…totally their fault. Own foot own gun
Don’t know about the MD500s, they were pretty sturdy (OH6), but anything requiring phase maintenance has contractors or civilian depots in the mix if not the OEM.
All the Soviet Union era helos, what maintenance? The Mi8s and 17s should be going strong.
The A29s…totally their fault. Own foot own gun
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google