Taliban mocks the US with an iconic World War II photograph

The Taliban has released a photograph in which a number of the group’s forces, under the guise of US troops, are mocking a famous image of US troops in World War II during the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

Russia Today reported, An elite unit of Taliban fighters, wearing US-made tactical gear they actually captured from retreating Afghan forces, has posed for a propaganda photograph, which many outraged Americans found to be the “ultimate insult”.

In a picture that ruffled many feathers, mostly among American conservatives, members of the Taliban’s commando unit Badri 313 are seen put on full camouflage and tactical gear, including night-vision goggles, apparently recreating an iconic WWII photograph of American troops raising the US flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

Much of the outrage and anger was directed personally at the US Commander-in-Chief, President Joe Biden, who has faced lots of criticism over the past week for the chaotic withdrawal that put the US and allies’ lives in danger.

“Biden must resign or be impeached and removed,” said television commentator John Cardillo, who was recently a host on Newsmax TV. “This just keeps getting worse and worse!” added podcast host and a former Navy SEAL, Jonathan Gilliam.

“This is Joe Biden’s legacy for the entire world to see,” Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said.

“We’re a laughing stock of the world,” said conservative columnist and former TV host Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Republican senator John McCain.

Over the past several weeks, even before the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, videos have emerged showing militants inspecting the spoils of war, including US-made weapons snatched from the Afghan National Army (ANA).

The ANA completely collapsed as the US-led coalition began to fast-track its withdrawal, with some units surrendering without a fight, and handing their weapons and equipment over to the Taliban.

According to some estimates, the Taliban may now be in possession of more than 2,000 US Humvees and other armored vehicles, and as many as 40 aircraft which includes Black Hawks, scout attack helicopters, and military drones. It may also take advantage of the vast arsenal of 600,000 M16 assault rifles and other infantry weapons, some 162,000 pieces of communications equipment, and 16,000 night-vision goggles, given by the Pentagon to Afghan forces since 2003.

Joe Biden, meanwhile, pushed back against critics of the withdrawal, blaming Afghanistan’s leaders and military for failing to stand up to the Taliban, and insisted that the US military did all it could for Afghanistan during its almost about 20-year occupation of Afghanistan.