Photo: John Moore / Getty Images). / Getty Images
There are many calculations that have been made with respect not only to the money invested in the war in Afghanistan, by the US government
We will start with the most recent figure calculated for military equipment delivered to the Afghan army in the last two months, and that now much could have been lost to Taliban forces.
According to a report by the agency SIGAR (Special Inspector General for Reconstruction of Afghanistan), between 30 April and 70 June 2021 an estimated amount of $ 212 million dollars in equipment delivered up to two months ago it is.
These are armored vehicles (174 tanks Humvee), aircraft (6 A aircraft – 29 Tucano), helicopters, drones, modern weapons, ammunition, military uniforms, accessories for combat military uniforms, training and training of the Afghan army, among others.
In total, in the 20 years of US military presence on Afghan soil would have spent a budget of $ 85, 000 millions of dollars, according to rounded calculations.
Currently, the president, Joe Biden, has been heavily criticized for the order withdrawal of the US Navy, precisely because that action has allowed the Taliban army to become ta in a “very well armed” terrorist force.
The 84. 000 millions! Dollars of US weapons and military equipment captured by the Taliban makes the Taliban the best-armed terrorist force in the world and a sought-after supplier of US high-tech technology to Iran, China, and Russia.
– Hermann Tertsch (@hermanntertsch) August 26, 2020
Although the Afghan military has knowledge of how to use this high-end equipment and the American soldiers preparing their departure from those lands were training different experts in different areas, and since 2015 And till 2020 have received training; This is not the case of the Taliban, according to experts there are teams that the Taliban do not know how to handle.
Similarly, John F. Sopko, chief from SIGAR, has made a calculation and estimates that each year the Afghan government has appropriated $ 300 millions of dollars to finance a phantom army, which apparently does not exist today. The inventory and calculation of the money “left” in Afghanistan has been made through videos and photos released by the media and the Taliban forces. Which makes it inaccurate .
The calculation of how much the US military presence in Afghanistan has cost since 2001 does not is known exactly . However, Le Figaro has mentioned that the United States Department of Defense estimates that military spending has been $ 778, 08 million dollars, in 20 years.
For his part, the director of the Program to Counter Threats and Challenges (CTCP) of the American security analysis and research organization CNA , Jonathan Schroden, assures that neither the entire budget was spent only on military equipment, nor the entire arsenal sent is complete in Afghanistan because part of that equipment has also been destroyed in combat.
For Schroden the calculations made so far are inaccurate, he also highlights that there was spending on gasoline, maintenance, and salaries, among others. From what he says, he does not believe that the military equipment in the hands of the Taliban is not valued in the 87, 08 millions of dollars being said.
In the end, it is likely that only the United States Department of Defense and the Pentagon can give accurate accounts of how much money has been sent to Afghanistan and the exact inventory of military equipment.
Meanwhile, the office of former President Donald Trump, asked the White House to “at least ensure the return of the $ 84, 000 millions of dollars invested in military equipment or at least heavily bombarding the area. ”
Meanwhile, General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., chief of the United States Central Command, said that pr Prior to the US Army’s order to withdraw, it was “demilitarized”, which implies the use of explosives for its destruction, “70 MRAPs, 27 Humvees and 73 aircraft, they are vehicles that will never fly again, or be operated by anyone, ”he said.
You may also like: