The Taliban has released a photo in which a number of the group's forces, under the guise of US troops, are mocking a famous image of US troops in World War II during the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
An elite unit of Taliban fighters, wearing US-made tactical gear they apparently captured from retreating Afghan forces, has posed for a propaganda photo, which many outraged Americans found to be the "ultimate insult", Russia Today reported.
In a photo that ruffled many feathers, mostly among American conservatives, members of the Taliban's commando unit Badri 313 are seen donning full camouflage and tactical gear, including night-vision goggles – seemingly recreating an iconic WWII photo of American troops raising the US flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
Much of the outrage and indignation was directed personally at the US Commander-in-Chief, President Joe Biden, who has faced mounting criticism over the past week for the chaotic withdrawal that put American and allies' lives in danger.
"Biden must resign or be impeached and removed," said television commentator John Cardillo, who was recently a host on Newsmax TV. "This just keeps getting worse and worse!" added podcast host and a former Navy SEAL, Jonathan Gilliam.
"This is Joe Biden's legacy for all the world to see," Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said.
"We're a laughing stock of the world," said conservative columnist and former TV host Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Republican senator John McCain.
Over the past several weeks, even before the Taliban's blitzkrieg on Kabul, videos have emerged showing militants inspecting the spoils of war, including US-made weapons seized from the Afghan National Army (ANA). The ANA completely collapsed as the US-led coalition began to accelerate its withdrawal, with some units surrendering without a fight, and handing their weapons and equipment over to the militant group.
According to some estimates, the Taliban may now be in possession of more than 2,000 US Humvees and other armoured vehicles, and as many as 40 aircraft – including Black Hawks, scout attack helicopters, and military drones. It may also take advantage of the vast arsenal of 600,000 M16 assault rifles and other infantry weapons, some 162,000 pieces of communications equipment and 16,000 night-vision goggles, gifted by the Pentagon to Afghan forces since 2003.
Biden, meanwhile, pushed back against critics of the withdrawal, blaming Afghanistan's leaders and military for failing to stand up to the Taliban, and insisted that the US military did all it could for Afghanistan during its nearly 20-year occupation of the country.
(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at [email protected])
