1) Iranian Quds Force + PMF (Shia groups) assistance to the Iraqi Shia-dominant government
2) Iraq was 60% Shia and 30% Sunni, so there were twice the numbers of Shia against ISIS (A Sunni group) ready to stop them from entering Shia-dominant Baghdad. That’s why ISIS didn’t grow too far outside of the “Sunni Triangle” + Mosul.
In Afghanistan, without significant external support for the Afghan government from the US, the Taliban were the only show in town and they didn’t need air power to make ground gains. The Taliban had external support (Pakistan) but the Afghan gov’s only external support was the coalition.
The other reason the ISF remained:
1) Iranian Quds Force + PMF (Shia groups) assistance to the Iraqi Shia-dominant government
2) Iraq was 60% Shia and 30% Sunni, so there were twice the numbers of Shia against ISIS (A Sunni group) ready to stop them from entering Shia-dominant Baghdad. That’s why ISIS didn’t grow too far outside of the “Sunni Triangle” + Mosul.
In Afghanistan, without significant external support for the Afghan government from the US, the Taliban were the only show in town and they didn’t need air power to make ground gains. The Taliban had external support (Pakistan) but the Afghan gov’s only external support was the coalition.
You were there and know all too well. I believe you - that they fought like lions.
One thing we seem to be really good at is abandoning our allies.