It does not matter how long it would take, it is pure stupidity to leave behind even one bullet.
But 98% of the equipment left behind no longer belonged to the US. It had been turned over to the Afghan government years earlier.
Like the UH-1 and UH-60 helicopters left in Afghanistan. Like those landing on the carriers at the fall of Vietnam, those were no longer US helicopters, they belonged to Afghanistan. And the Super Tucano's that were left behind, not US equipment but Afghan equipment. And like in Vietnam, most of the aircraft actually left the country at the fall. The only ones left were inoperable and most of those were destroyed by the US before they left.
That is why the main helicopter used by the Taliban now is the venerable Mi-17,
Quite obviously not US equipment, Bought by or for Afghanistan mostly from Iraq and Pakistan. If one looks, the vast majority of military equipment left behind was never of US origin, it was primarily old Soviet equipment as it was plentiful on the arms market and their military was already familiar with it. And a hell of a lot came from Iraq, as they did replace a lot of their old Soviet era equipment with US made equipment. Afghanistan did not have that much money, so largely got castoffs from Iraq.
The Pentagon bypassed US helicopter makers, choosing to spend more than $1 billion on dozens of Russian Mi-17 helicopters. A study shows the Chinook built by Boeing is a better fit.
Why is US buying Russian helicopters for Afghan military?
The Pentagon bypassed US helicopter makers, choosing to spend more than $1 billion on dozens of Russian Mi-17 helicopters. A study shows the Chinook built by Boeing is a better fit.
www.csmonitor.com