LadyL
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Taliban take over Afghanistan: What we know and what's next
''WHY DID THE AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES COLLAPSE?
The short answer? Corruption.
The U.S. and its NATO allies spent billions of dollars over two decades to train and equip Afghan security forces. But the Western-backed government was rife with corruption. Commanders exaggerated the number of soldiers to siphon off resources, and troops in the field often lacked ammunition, supplies or even food.
Their morale further eroded when it became clear the U.S. was on its way out. As the Taliban rapidly advanced in recent days entire units surrendered after brief battles, and Kabul and some nearby provinces fell without a fight.''
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How many Afghan refugees have the U.S pledged to take in? Where and how do you decide where to settle them?
He said that the Taliban exists in his country as well and they regard Afghanistan as their friendly neighbor. He was shocked that I was concerned for him and his family. It was a big surprise to me that he wasn't worried.
I met this words in an article that called Afghanistan “intelligence failure”.
“We did not understand the tribal dynamics, we never did. We think everybody wants what we have. It's cultural obtuseness, obliviousness to their reality.”
Michael Zacchea
U.S. MARINE CORPS LT. COL. (RET)
I don’t think there are better words to explain it.
No one can not bring in democracy. While there is certain osmosis, in general, every country has to grow into its own.
Time to accept that people can live and think differently. (Just an example - we view burquas as mockery of women, but maybe some women feel naked without their burquas?)
In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia, with its democratic France and über-progressive Napoleonic Code - and Russian peasants mounted aggressive guerrilla war. Someone dressed and speaking differently treads your land, it’s enough.
US came to Afghanistan with the best of intentions - but MOO, for Afghani peasants, Americans, looking, dressing, speaking and praying differently, would always remain outsiders, and their societal structure, foreign. (The article about dog shelter in Kabul is a good example. The idea was kind, but the place, wrong, now the animals need to be put down).
And this is why the Talibans are in Kabul so fast. Now time is to think how to prevent its spread beyond Afghanistan.
No. I think a majority of Afghans want Taliban rule. This is what I heard from a work colleague in Pakistan.
From my actual experience, the vast majority of Afghans want exactly what we want: to live and to work to support their families and to come home each day and live their life. Absolutely ZERO of the Afghan women or children (ie: the majority of the population of Afghanistan) I met, helped and worked with ever wanted to live under Taliban rule and I am extremely doubtful they wish to do so again; it's deadly for them. Nor did the Afghan men I met and worked with want to either.
Is your work colleague a male perchance? Interesting also to note that Pakistan harboured the Taliban, but it's not like the Taliban imposed sharia law there and were executing Pakistani womenfolk for working, being out, being burqha-less or executing Pakistani citizens of any sex /age for playing outside, for laughing, for playing music etc etc or for not practicing the Taliban version of ultra-politics and religion, or torture techniques.
I guess when one isn't themselves subjugated to actually living under Taliban rule it's easy to write-off those who fear such, and who've actually had to live it, as "meh".
Yes, he's a man.From my actual experience, the vast majority of Afghans want exactly what we want: to live and to work to support their families and to come home each day and live their life. Absolutely ZERO of the Afghan women or children (ie: the majority of the population of Afghanistan) I met, helped and worked with ever wanted to live under Taliban rule and I am extremely doubtful they wish to do so again; it's deadly for them. Nor did the Afghan men I met and worked with want to either.
Is your work colleague a male perchance? Interesting also to note that Pakistan harboured the Taliban, but it's not like the Taliban imposed sharia law there and were executing Pakistani womenfolk for working, being out, being burqha-less or executing Pakistani citizens of any sex /age for playing outside, for laughing, for playing music etc etc or for not practicing the Taliban version of ultra-politics and religion, or torture techniques.
I guess when one isn't themselves subjugated to actually living under Taliban rule it's easy to write-off those who fear such, and who've actually had to live it, as "meh".
I met this words in an article that called Afghanistan “intelligence failure”.
“We did not understand the tribal dynamics, we never did. We think everybody wants what we have. It's cultural obtuseness, obliviousness to their reality.”
Michael Zacchea
U.S. MARINE CORPS LT. COL. (RET)
I don’t think there are better words to explain it.
No one can not bring in democracy. While there is certain osmosis, in general, every country has to grow into its own.
Time to accept that people can live and think differently. (Just an example - we view burquas as mockery of women, but maybe some women feel naked without their burquas?)
In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia, with its democratic France and über-progressive Napoleonic Code - and Russian peasants mounted aggressive guerrilla war. Someone dressed and speaking differently treads your land, it’s enough.
US came to Afghanistan with the best of intentions - but MOO, for Afghani peasants, Americans, looking, dressing, speaking and praying differently, would always remain outsiders, and their societal structure, foreign. (The article about dog shelter in Kabul is a good example. The idea was kind, but the place, wrong, now the animals need to be put down).
And this is why the Talibans are in Kabul so fast. Now time is to think how to prevent its spread beyond Afghanistan.