Billions In US Equipment And Weaponry Now Owned By Taliban

Americans remain fearful regarding the safety of their fellow citizens stranded in Kabul, Afghanistan.

U.S. forces are currently working to evacuate the capital city of all remaining Americans. Meanwhile, a new threat is starting to build as U.S. officials grow concerned over the Taliban's acquisition of military equipment, weapons and combat vehicles previously supplied to U.S.-backed Afghan forces.

According to a Reuters report investigating the abandoned artillery, the Taliban terrorist forces gained billions of dollars worth of American technology and weaponry as part of their siege. Details of the equipment granted to Afghan forces in the past two decades estimates a total of "$28 billion in weaponry, including guns, rockets, night-vision goggles and even small drones for intelligence gathering."

The haul also includes "at least 600,000 infantry weapons including M16 assault rifles, 162,000 pieces of communication equipment, and 16,000 night-vision goggle devices."

Anonymous U.S. officials told Reuters that intelligence forces are concerned that the Taliban will use this equipment against Americans currently stuck in Kabul or who are coming into Afghanistan.

The report addresses the long-term ramifications of providing the terrorist forces with high-grade artillery — dampening any hopes that the redux Taliban will be a softer group than the ones who supported the 9/11 attacks.

"... achine guns, mortars, as well as artillery pieces including howitzers, could give the Taliban an advantage against any resistance that could surface in historic anti-Taliban strongholds such as the Panjshir Valley northeast of Kabul."

As critics of President Biden repeatedly encourage the administration to take a bold stance against the Taliban's strong-arming, U.S. officials are resisting calls for action due to a fear of "antagonizing" the Taliban on a global stage.

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Alejandro Avila lives in Southern California and previously covered news for the LA Football Network. Jeopardy expert and grumpy sports fan. Known for having watched every movie and constant craving for dessert. @alejandroaveela (on X)