Taliban Take Kabul Via Path Paved by Corruption
Ghani reportedly fled Afghanistan with bags of cash; Dostum’s palace was rococo dictator chic. Corruption lies at the heart of Kabul’s fall.
On Sunday, August 15, the Taliban were at the gates of the Afghan capital. President Ashraf Ghani, who days earlier had flown to Mazar-i-Sharif to rally Afghan troops, announced his departure from Afghanistan on Facebook . It is, after all, 2021.
He called it a hard choice between facing the Taliban and leaving, but said “the Taliban have won with the judgement of their swords and guns, and are now responsible for the honor, property and self-preservation of their countrymen.” Ghani said he left to “prevent a flood of bloodshed” should the Taliban attack Kabul. He reportedly flew to Tajikistan, but later reports suggest Dushanbe turned him away and he’s in Oman.
Reuters , citing Russian news agency RIA, reported on Monday that Ghani did not leave Kabul empty-handed. A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Kabul said, “Four cars were full of money, they tried to stuff another part of the money into a helicopter, but not all of it fit. And some of the money was left lying on the tarmac.”
