Trump claims the U.S. left $83 billion of military equipment in Afghanistan.
That’s the total U.S. military aid to the Afghan government over the 20 years of American involvement. Only $18 billion of that was equipment. The rest went for paying Afghan soldiers and contractors; buying uniforms, ammunition, and fuel; training and operations, infrastructure projects, and other expenses.
The Taliban didn’t even get $18 billion of equipment.
The Taliban didn’t get U.S. heavy weapons.
Nearly all of the Afghan army’s tanks, howitzers, and rocket launchers were Russian-made and left behind by the Soviets.
The Taliban got very few U.S. aircraft.
When the Kabul government fell, it had 167 flyable aircraft. Afghan pilots absconded with 50 of them to neighboring countries, and U.S. personnel sabotaged 73 more. That leaves, by my count, 44 flyable aircraft. The helicopters are all 1980s-vintage, and none of the aircraft can deliver guided weapons. They’re mostly useful for transport, e.g. moving troops around, and even those will quickly become inoperable without mechanics and spare parts.
The Taliban mostly got vehicles.
The U.S. gave the Afghan army hundreds of armored personnel carriers and thousands of Humvees and trucks, which account for most of the usable U.S. equipment now in Taliban hands.
And small arms.
The Taliban also captured around 600,000 rifles and quantities of body armor, night vision goggles, and other infantry equipment. Some of this will find its way into international black markets.
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