Pentagon Press Secretary Excuses Abandonment of Civilians, Military Equipment in Afghanistan

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby is making the rounds — and headlines — on Tuesday’s morning news shows.

On Fox News, Kirby explained away the equipment the U.S. military left in the hands of the Taliban by admitting that “while there’s certainly a lethality component to it, it doesn’t pose a threat to the United States, it doesn’t pose a threat to neighboring nations.” On Monday, America’s 20-year conflict with the Taliban in Afghanistan ended when the last U.S. troops exited the country less than two weeks before the anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day made possible by the Taliban’s sheltering of Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda.

The spoils of war for the victorious Taliban include not only control of the country, but billions of dollars in American military equipment including helicopters, humvees, and other assorted arms that will help the terror group cement that control. A New York Times infographic provides a full breakdown of the materials left behind, although Glenn Kessler of the Washington Post points out that a good portion may not be operational, and its total price tag is not the nearly $85 billion dollars that some have claimed it to be.