Secretary of State enjoyed the sea and sun while Afghans clung to planes fearing for their lives
Dominic Raab has said that no one saw the Taliban takeover coming. But perhaps he didn’t see it coming because his phone was in airplane mode as he was enjoying a summer holiday.
Raab is so out of his depth. His only defence when flustered is to act offended by the interviewer pic.twitter.com/CvHWvs3SM1
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) August 17, 2021
While the Secretary of State was taking it easy on a beach, the Taliban stormed Kabul and later appointed themselves as the leaders of the nation leading to frantic scenes as Afghans desperately tried to flee.
While Raab gave a series of interviews Tuesday, saying no one could have predicted the Taliban would move so quickly, just last month the Ministry of Defence confirmed the insurgents were very much still present in Afghanistan.
It is unclear where Raab was holidaying, with reports suggesting he was either in Cyprus or Crete.
Dominic Raab says “no one saw this coming” https://t.co/OqsIU3gQNa
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) August 17, 2021
Despite Raab insisting that “We’ve monitored this very carefully,” it would seem the only person who didn’t see the takeover coming is the man whose job it is to see situations like this.
“The truth is across the world people were caught by surprise,” he told Sky News.
“I haven’t spoken to an international interlocutor, including countries in the region, over the last week, who hasn’t been surprised.
Conservative party advisor, Rafe Hubris BA (oxon), phoning Dominic Raab RE: Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/MFGNfDyGoK
— Josh Berry (@JoshBerryComedy) August 17, 2021
“We saw a very swift change in the dynamics and of course this has been part and parcel of the withdrawal of Western troops, but it’s also been the way and approach of the Taliban, and of course it’s been a test for the Afghan security forces.
“But no one saw this coming — of course, we would have taken action if we had,” Raab insists.
But if everyone with Twitter knew this eventuality was going to happen, why didn’t the UK government?
I think Dominic Raab is confusing “no one” with “Dominic Raab”. https://t.co/deqH2IjmZx
— Michael Spicer (@MrMichaelSpicer) August 17, 2021
The Taliban were undeniably swift in their takeover, but let’s be clear, the entire country did not fall in an instant.
BREAKING – Dominic Raab has been injured leaving Downing St in a series of accidents that he says "no one could have seen coming" pic.twitter.com/wlirMya1G2
— HappyToast★ (@IamHappyToast) August 17, 2021
Related links:
- At least five dead amid Kabul airport chaos as Taliban takes capital
- Taliban enter outskirts of Kabul in move to retake whole of Afghanistan
- Last remaining British troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan
