After the hostile takeover of the Afghan government by the Taliban, they also managed to get a hold of $85 billion worth of weapons left behind by the U.S troops. The U.S left behind trucks, mine-proof vehicles, pistols, machine guns, artillery pieces, choppers, and even 10 Cessna AC-208 planes.

A few days later, videos went viral of people from Afghanistan opening up the rooms of equipment and proudly displaying the ammunition and weapons they captured. One man is even seen opening up one of the bundles of U.S currency.

In media reports, the Taliban also captured US military biometric devices, otherwise know as Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment (HIIDE). The devices play a role in crucial data of the U.S Army and local Afghans. A Joint Special Operations Command official and three former U.S military personnel all admit that they are worried the Taliban could use the sensitive data it contains. The Taliban has continued to expand its control and position itself for a return to power.

In addition to the HIIDE, the U.S also left behind C-RAM equipment, which is used to shoot down rockets.

The Taliban also posted videos on social media parading around with the US forces’ hardware. They were waving white Taliban flags and driving armored SUVs at the military parade. Some of the Taliban militants were even dressed in US-style uniforms and holding US-made weapons. They were also photographed sitting inside of the cockpit of one of the planes that belonged to the Afghan Air Force.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid even shared with a small crowd that the “victory belongs to us all,” as he was knitted out in all camouflage and desert boots.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby reiterated that he “wasn’t concerned” about the images of the Taliban fighters. He said all of the gear, aircraft, and ground vehicles were practically inoperable or unusable.

“They can inspect all they want. They can look at them, they can walk around — but they can’t fly them. They can’t operate them,” Kirby said.

A U.S Department of Defense spokesperson also shared that they “disabled/demilitarized” their equipment at the Hamid Karzai International Airport

It’s become an embarrassment to the entire world seeing the military parade around displaying American gear. This is all courtesy of President Joe Biden. What’s even worse is that the Taliban fighters admit they feel “angry and betrayed’ over discovering that the abandoned Afghan National Army helicopters are inoperable.

An Al Jazeera reporter shared a video touring the hangar on the military side of the airport and explained how the terrorist organization expected the Americans to leave helicopters like this in “one piece for their use.” When the reporter asked why they would think the Americans would leave them operable equipment, one member said that they believe it to be a “national asset” as they are the government. The member said it would come of “great use” to them.

You would think a “planned and orderly” withdrawal would mean that the U.S not abandon their equipment and still keep it available for only our use. Instead, this is more than $83 billion US taxpayer’s money down the tubes, which is more than 10% of our annual Defense spending. Not to mention, even if the Taliban can’t use it they can surely study it.