Thursday, August 26, 2021

Afghanistan-Germany News

 This morning, Focus brought up this Green Party discussion that is underway and heavily critical of the Merkel coalition (CDU-CSU-SPD).

The point?

Well....the Greens hint that the Merkel crew is all crapped-out about the evacuation plans that are being discussed as the US military airlift ends in Kabul.

The two issues mentioned?  

Well....there is some belief that  the Kabul airport is in serious condition (suggesting unusable for civil airliners). 

On this suggestion....on a scale of one to ten for truthfulness....I'd give it a 'two' at best.  No explosions or damage at the airport.  All the way up until two weeks ago (before the mess started).....this was a regular functional airport.  

Turkish Airways?  It stills runs a flight in.....though it might be extra expensive for seats (roughly 500 Euro).  

The control of the airport?  That might be an issue but you won't know until the Americans leave.....who is actually running the airport.

As for the second topic?  Travel documents.

So far, the Taliban has said that Afghans can't leave (for some reason, they don't want a full-up country with no population).   

What the Taliban said was that people with 'valid' documents can leave.....suggesting the stranded Germans or Americans....could board a plane and just fly out.

The Afghans showing up with 'valid' documents?  That's not very clear at this point if the Taliban will accept that 'game'.

What I expect to happen?  The Taliban will confront the EU and the US....wanting the cash reserves of the country released, and they'd agree to some number (probably not more than 1,000 a week) to be allowed travel-exit papers from the country.

What will eventually transpire under this under-the-table game.....the thousand a week will leave, and through bribes to certain Taliban members....another thousand will have duplicate exit papers made, and exit as well.  

The Greens may have marginal valid points, but this is not exactly a big point with the German public at this point.....four weeks prior to the election.  There are plenty of bigger issues on the minds of regular working-class Germans. 

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