Washington has declared itself “deeply troubled” by Taliban attacks on civilians. Did it really think Taliban’s promises to leave civilians alone would be kept? More on this story of terminal naivete is here: “US ‘Deeply Troubled’ by Attacks on Civilians as Taliban Sweep Across Afghanistan,” Algemeiner, July 28, 2021:
The United States said on Wednesday it was deeply troubled by reports of escalating attacks on civilians as the Taliban sweep across Afghanistan and Washington pulls out its last remaining troops and ends its longest war.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a visit to India, said the only path to peace in Afghanistan was through negotiations, which all parties must take seriously.
Taliban insurgents have captured districts across Afghanistan and seized vital border control points in recent weeks, as Washington withdraws its last troops after 20 years. The Pentagon now estimates that the fighters control more than half of Afghanistan’s district centers.
The surge has raised the prospect that the militants could return to power. Millions of people fled their extreme violence during their last period of rule from 1996-2001, when they staged public executions of their foes, banned women from work and education and hosted Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network.
Is there any reason to doubt that within months of the last American soldiers withdrawing the Taliban, which already claims to control 85% of Afghanistan (and not the 50% the Americans suggest), will sweep the board and control the country yet again? And why should anyone believe that the Taliban will behave differently than it did from 1996 to 2001? We have already seen videos of the Taliban executing government soldiers who had just surrendered to it, trusting to the terror group’s assurances that they would not be harmed. And Afghan women and girls have expressed their great fears as to how they will be treated by the Taliban, which in areas it has recaptured has reportedly been shutting down schools for girls.
The Taliban say they will treat civilians well if they return to power, and will not allow the country to be used as a base for international terrorism.
What does the vague promise of “treating civilians well” mean? Will the Taliban refrain from imposing strict Islamic law? Will it force women to again wear the burqa that hides everything, or will girls and women be allowed to do as they have been doing for the past decade, which is to wear the chador, leaving the face uncovered? Will there again be stonings-to-death for adulterous women? Will the religious police be out in force to make sure Islamic dress codes are observed, and that single men and women keep apart? Will middle-aged Afghan men again be marrying nine-year-old girls, on the model of Muhammad with little Aisha? How can we possibly believe that Muslims such as the Taliban, fanatical in their faith, will no longer impose the strictest Sharia rules on those they will soon — again –rule over?
Describing reports of attacks on civilians as “deeply, deeply troubling”, Blinken said: “An Afghanistan that commits atrocities against its own people would become a pariah state.
A “pariah state” because it “commits atrocities against its own people”? Has Syria become a “pariah” state, shunned by all? Not to its allies Iran and Russia. What about China, with a million Uighurs in re-education camps? No one would call China a “pariah” state. Has Lebanon, where the true ruler of the country, Hezbollah, uses Lebanese civilians as hostages, storing weapons in their midst and endangering their lives so as to constrain Israeli attacks, become a “pariah” state? Of course not.
“There’s only one path, and that’s at the negotiating table, to resolve the conflict peacefully.”
Blinken hasn’t gotten the memo from the Taliban. There is another path, the one the Taliban are taking. They are on the march all over Afghanistan; they have their own way of “resolving the conflict” through violence, by defeating the government forces on almost every front. They now control 85% of the country. They have no need to negotiate. They don’t give a damn about resolving “the conflict peacefully.”
The United Nations reported this week that civilian casualties had been surging in recent weeks, with as many killed in May-June as in the previous four months. The report did not cover casualties in July, when fighting has intensified further.
Afghans in government-held areas have been alarmed by domestic media reports in recent days of abductions and killings of civilians in areas where the Taliban have advanced. The Taliban deny they are carrying out revenge killings.
Of course they deny it. And didn’t the Taliban already promise the Americans it would leave civilians alone? Yet here we have reports that wherever the Taliban has advanced Afghan civilians are being killed. Could it possibly be that the Taliban had been lying to Washington?
US President Joe Biden has ordered all US troops out of the country, fulfilling a policy pledge made by his predecessor Donald Trump, despite warnings from American generals of the potential for renewed civil war without foreign troops to protect the Kabul government.
Peace talks between the government and the Taliban in Qatar have largely stalled, with the Taliban showing little interest in negotiating while they are gaining on the battlefield.
Why should the Taliban negotiate with the Afghan government, given that it is likely to control the whole country — with the possible exception of Kabul, that may take a bit longer — within months? What does it need to negotiate with those who are being so soundly whipped?
Taliban delegations have visited neighboring countries in recent weeks, gaining international standing for a movement that had been treated as outcasts and banned as terrorists for most of the past two decades.
The latest regional power to host them was China, whose Foreign Minister Wang Yi met a nine-person delegation led by Taliban deputy leader Mullah Baradar Akhund in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin during a two-day visit.
Wang said the Taliban were expected to “play an important role in the process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan,” according to a readout of the meeting from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Taliban delegations have also visited Iran and Russia in recent weeks. The group has an office in Qatar.
The Taliban has sent delegations to China, Iran, and Russia, where they have been warmly received. The group is already being treated as the de factor ruler of Afghanistan, rather than as a group of terrorists. They are winning on the diplomatic as on the military front.
Politics, economy and issues related to the security of both countries and the current situation of Afghanistan and the peace process were discussed in the meetings,” Taliban spokesperson Mohammed Naeem tweeted about the China visit.
“(The) delegation assured China that they will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against China,” Naeem said. “China also reiterated its commitment of continuation of their assistance with Afghans and said they will not interfere in Afghanistan’s issues but will help to solve the problems and restoration of peace in the country.
Unlike its promises to the West, the Taliban will likely keep those it makes to China, a much more ruthless and unforgiving enemy, that if the Taliban dared to cross, would not hesitate to attack the group in Afghanistan. Unlike the U.S., which is thousands of miles from Afghanistan, the Chinese, and their military, are right on the border with Afghanistan.
Moscow, which fought for a decade in Afghanistan in the 1980s, said it was beefing up the combat capabilities at its military base in Tajikistan, a small former Soviet republic that borders Afghanistan.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, visiting Tajikistan on Wednesday, said the security situation had rapidly deteriorated in Afghanistan during a “hasty” US withdrawal.
Shoigu said Islamic State fighters were moving into Afghanistan from countries including Syria and Libya, describing their arrival as “quite seriously organized.”
“We are paying increased attention to strengthening the combat capabilities of our base and refining plans to jointly repel possible insurgent infiltration,” he said.
A senior Russian diplomat has said Moscow views Taliban gains in northern Afghanistan as having a security upside because the group is hostile to what Russia regards as more dangerous Islamist extremists.
Russia regards the Taliban’s resurgence with both apprehension and hope. The apprehension is that the Taliban’s victory will encourage Islamic insurgents in the “five stans” – the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Tadjikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan –where the people are Muslim but continue to be largely secular in outlook, as was encouraged during 70 years of Soviet rule. A Taliban-ruled Afghanistan might lead some Muslims in the five stans to want to emulate their success, and Moscow would be compelled to help the locals suppress such movements. On the other hand, some Russian officials believe that the Taliban is hostile to “more dangerous Islamist extremists.” It’s hard to imagine “Islamist extremists” who are even “more dangerous” to Infidels than the Taliban. Are the Russians thinking of Al Qaeda, the terrorist group which was given succor and refuge by the Taliban the last time it controlled Afghanistan? Al Qaeda was safe in 2001, when the Taliban ruled; there is no reason to think things will be different now, despite the assurances the Taliban has made of having become more moderate. And apparently the Taliban has been allowing fighters of the Islamic State to move into Afghanistan; this suggests the Taliban remains as extreme in 2021 as it was in 2001.
A Taliban takeover of Afghanistan will most threaten Iran, China, and Russia – our three greatest enemies. It will threaten Iran because the uber-Sunni Taliban are violently anti-Shi’a, considering them to be “worse than ordinary Infidels.” Taliban members were in the process of massacring the Shi’a Hazara in 2001 when the arrival of American troops put a stop to their genocidal campaign; in recent months, the Taliban has renewed its attacks on the Hazara. If these continue, Iran will be under terrific pressure to send its own troops into Afghanistan to protect its fellow Shia, the Hazara, from the Taliban, If it refuses, it looks weak; if it decides to send troops, it risks having them bogged down, just as the Americans were, in a war without end. Iran cannot decisively defeat the Taliban, but it can hold them at bay and prevent the destruction of the Hazara.
As for China, despite the Taliban visit to China, Beijing must worry about the effect of a Taliban victory on the ten million Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang. Will such a victorious outcome stir some Uighurs to emulate their Afghan co-religionists? If armed revolt against the Chinese People’s Army is impossible, would not quiet internal resistance to the Chinese government — a determination not to be brainwashed by the Chinese against Islam — be encouraged by the spectacle of a Taliban victory? The Chinese must be uneasy to see what is now happening in Afghanistan.
Russia has to worry about the five stans – the former Soviet republics populated by Muslims who have become secular from 70 years of Soviet rule and Communist propaganda. Will a Taliban victory in nearby Afghanistan not lead Muslims in those stans to a greater “Islamic consciousness” and a desire to re-embrace a less secular, more full-throated version of Islam? That is something Moscow wants to avoid. While the Russians have put a brave face on a Taliban victory, claiming that the group is actually opposed to “more extreme” Muslims, it is hard to imagine who those “more extreme” Muslims might be. Russia, like China and Iran, stands to be unsettled by a Taliban victory. Now that we are getting out, about 19 years later than we ought to have, from Afghanistan, we shouldn’t be “deeply troubled.” The Taliban will take over, as they always would have no matter when we got out. Better now than after still more waste of American men, materiel, and money. Meanwhile, we shouldn’t be “deeply troubled.” Iran should. China should. Russia should. It’s their Tar Baby now.
Kepha says
Well, what’s new? Leave Afghanistan to its culture of bloody feuds and Islamic bigotry.
PRCS says
Yes, sir.
99+ percent of that nation’s population is Muslim and Islam is Afghanistan’s official religion.
They’re not going to change.
+1
mortimer says
Hugh Fitzgerald is on target. HOW ‘DEEPLY TROUBLED’ are the Bribed-man’s handlers about Taliban attacks on civilians?? Obviously, not ‘troubled’ to the point of doing anything.
Let’s call it what it is: EMPTY VIRTUE-SIGNALLING.
The Leftist-Globalist consortium that is the Bribed-man administration is not interested in rocking the boat of JIHADISM … they will let the jihad go ahead in order to curry political favor.
Hugh Fitzgerald is correct to point out the Bribed-man handlers are deeply naïve to think the jihadists will appreciate the deference that is showed to them. They will merely see deference to Islam as weakness to be exploited and they will push ahead even more vigorously and with the certainty of victory in their minds.
They only ‘DEEP’ thing about Diktokrats is their naivety about Islamism. They are otherwise shallow and power-hungry … power for the benefit of multi-national corporations. The Diktokrats are in fact Globalist Fascists.
owensgate says
“Deeply, deeply troubled”? Somehow, I don’t think so. The “jefatura” of the DNC is entirely too concerned about “Power, and how to retain it” than to concern itself with anything positive for the USA or its citizens. Getting the maximum number of potential Democrat voter “Refugees” from politically and economically oppressed areas of Central America and everywhere else (while opposing ACTUAL refugees from Communist Cuba, that would likely vote Republican), over the Southern border, COVID and all, dispersed all over America, is Job #1. Equally uninterested are they, in the takeover of Afghanistan by the CCP, to benefit from the stash of Rare Earth Elements needed to “Keep China Great” and allow it to take over the Electronics Chip and Solar Panel market forever. So much for a “Leader” who picks food particles off his chin and puts them in his mouth, as a six year old would, or someone with the capacity of an idiot.
Infidel says
There are a few things intriguing about the situation in Afghanistan following our withdrawal. But I’m not troubled at all by any of them
– ISIS/al Qaeda: will the Taliban tolerate their presence there? Last time they did, it brought about 9/11 and Operation Enduring Freedom, which at least for a while disrupted their unchallenged control of that country. And in the intervening years, while al Qaeda fled, ISIS had to be let in to weaken the Afghans further and let the Taliban take hold. But having foreign jihadist parties in Afghanistan just weakens the Taliban’s hold on the country, as well as challenges them on who is the more authentic islam. I expect that Taliban to honor their promise to us to not host al Qaeda/ISIS, not b’cos it’s in our interests, but b’cos it’s in theirs: they don’t want challengers to their rule on Afghanistan
China – I would be intrigued to see whether they fulfill their commitment to China. Yeah, the Chicoms are more ruthless and perfectly capable of doing what Chengiz Khan did in the 13th century w/ Herat. Otoh, the Chicoms also want a presence in that country whereby they can access their minerals, and no country has ever managed to do that w/o the acquiescence of the Afghans. Also, islamic street opinion has been very different from the subservient opinion of islamic rulers: in Pakistan, for instance, the attack on Chicom technicians a few weeks ago was the culmination of a year of muslims on the street seething over the persecution of Uyghurs as well as the exploitation of Sind and Balochistan by CPEC. Once the Chicoms get pretty deep, the Afghans will start resenting them as well, and the Uyghurs might find a more favorable reception to creating a base there. Plus Afghanistan could become a new refugee center for Uyghurs (You know you have it bad when you flee to Afghanistan for refuge)
On Russia, if they are worried about their southern neighbors re-islamizing, they ought to look at their membership of the Turkey led Turkic Council. Already, Turkey was in a group w/ Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan joined the group after the death of President Karimov. The only countries not members of this council are Turkmenistan, which has a policy of strict neutrality, and Tajikistan, which is Iranic and currently more interested in celebrating Zoroastrianism. The Taliban is at odds w/ Turkic ethnic groups in Afghanistan, such as the Turkmen and the Uzbeks: it’s not likely to inspire jihadist groups in Buqhara or Mary or Balasagun or Almaty. Erdogan is
Since Blinken made these remarks while meeting Indian officials, the latter should realize that they have no clout w/ the Afghans b’cos they too are infidels, like we are. I’ve never understood why India thinks that when their own muslims don’t get along w/ Hindus, that muslim countries will get along w/ India, which has been less shy of embracing its Hindu identity over the last decade
PMK says
Afghanistan remains ungovernable. Surely the last twenty years have shown us that nothing the US does will change that. Suppose the Taliban does bring back the burka or stone women? What are we supposed to do? There have been reports of Iranians executing people for the crime of being gay. What did we do about that?
Afghanistan is poor and corrupt. Michael O’Hanlon, a Brookings fellow, says it’s one of the poorest, most corrupt and difficult places to live on earth. The only good thing he could say was ‘the cities – sort of- function’. That leaves a huge area that doesn’t function.
If the Taliban poses a danger to Afghanistan’s neighbors, those countries should defend themselves and fight the Taliban, if they want to be rid of it. The threat of international terrorism originating from Afghanistan is another matter. We can’t change Afghanistan. Nation building doesn’t work. If the Afghan government shelters terrorists, we should break diplomatic relations and ban all travel out of Afghanistan to the US.
gravenimage says
Afghanistan “functions” in an Islamic manner. Not saying much…
mccode says
Another “No Shit, Sherlock” example from T.R.of P.
jewdog says
Secretary of State Blinkered is obviously living in fool’s paradise. Maybe he can explain to the Taliban how they’ve misunderstood their peaceful religion. Classes could be given online, along with tips for how to care for pet unicorns.
Meanwhile, the Balochis in Pakistan recently massacred a dozen Chinese engineers sent to work on the Belt and Road Initiative, apparently as revenge for the Chinese persecution of the Uighurs, thereby delaying the BRI projects once again. The Taliban should help sharpen those knives in Pakistan.
Infidel says
I doubt that that attack was in retaliation for the persecution of Uyghurs. More likely, it was the culmination of pent up anger by the Balochis against both their Paki masters as well as the Chicoms. CPEC has done nothing to create jobs for locals, nor has it enriched Balochistan. This is b’cos any Belt/Road project uses Chinese, rather than local labor. Had the Chicoms done all their projects using local labor in all the countries that they were working, it would have been a win-win situation and they would indeed have won support. Instead, by doing it the way they’ve done, they’ve alienated every country. Both Balochis and Sindis are pretty resentful of China for the way it has been exploiting their natural resources w/o them getting anything out of it
Hank says
This article makes me think of how the feverish atmosphere in Ancient Rome must have been when tickets to next week’s Gladiator games at the Roman Colosseum Arena were being sold. Today’s gladiator spectacle will be featuring big-time gladiators Putin, Xi and a Mullah. The spectacle entitled “How to ride a Tiger like a Horse – peacefully”.
Assessments
Gladiator Putin: Tough buttocks. “Butt” severely lacerated in Afghanistan. Makes a come-back. Possible all-time (5x) lacerated butt by the five -stans inspired by Taliban Afghanistan. Risk consideration when placing your bets: A possible “Let’s be friends’” tactic
Gladiator Xi: Smart as a fox. New re-education camp tactic might work. Hopes to change the DNA of the Islamic pathogen to something beneficial and good. Risk consideration when placing your bets: Wishful thinking.
Persian Gladiator: Resilient. Rose from the dead after confrontation with Sunni Saddam. Terrified of being branded an infidel heretic by Taliban. Risk consideration when placing your bets: 50-50 win/loss
Last week’s game: A terrible, terrible waste of money and advancement.
Walter Sieruk says
There’s is now a new form of the Red/Green alliance in the Taliban, which has no regard of respect for human life has made a political friendship with a tyranny that also has no regard of respect for human life.
It’s Communist China that the Taliban are now comrades with. As a Taliban official declared the “Taliban considers China a friend.” [1] Other thing that the Muslim heads of the Taliban and the dictators of Red China have in common is that they both have nothing but spiteful contempt for the United States of America.
This Taliban camaraderie with Communist China does reflect the ancient Middle Eastern and Asian idea of “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” That’s a rather shallow philosophy to have but that’s how they are.
[1] The Epoch Times, July 14, 2021
Walter Sieruk says
During the year 2003 on April 13, the Trump Administration had the US military use the “massive Ordnance Air Blast [MOAB] bomb, which his very powerful but not a nuclear bomb in a non- civilian but Taliban infested area in Afghanistan to eliminate many of the brutal cruel dangerous Taliban jihadists.
That was a very appropriate way the handle the awful problem of the Taliban.
As Thomas Jefferson had, so wisely, written , “With every barbarous people…force is law.”
Walter Sieruk says
I need to make a date correction on my above posting .It was not 2003 that MOAB used used because Donald Trump wasn’t yes the President of the United States.
During the year 2003 the US still had that terrible man Obama as President.
It took the strong and religious man Donald Trump to decided to use that MOAB bomb as a effective ans fitting way “take out of the picture” those Taliban jihadists.
Military force is the only lanuage that the fiendish Taliban will understand So reiterate it was during the Trump administration that the MOAB bomb was used against the enemy.
gravenimage says
Walter, Bush 43 was president in 2003. Obama was elected in 2008, and Trump in 2016.
Walter Sieruk says
To Gravenimage, thank you for the information How is wish that I was beyond making any errors. As a youth I make mistakes and now keyboarding as senior citizen to continue , at times ,to make mistakes.
Nevertheless,there are still some things that I know and understand and am not mistaken about Of which is the clear difference between right and wrong. As for the topic of wrong . The Taliban with their religion of Islam are wrong .Likewise their despicable murderous jihad , based on Islam wrong There Islamic misogyny is demonically wrong . Of course, the Islamic tyranny is based on Sharia law that they had ruled Afghanistan and their schemes and hope in the near future to restore their Sharia law tyrannical rule in Afghanistan is most evil.
The people of Afghanistan under the Taliban existed in a state of fear.
Related to this , it bring to mind that Benjamin Franklin had printed in his periodical POOR RICHARD”S ALMANAC that “Those who are feared are also hated.”
gravenimage says
Walter, I am *far* from infallible myself. This was just a minor correction.
Then, I always respect your comments, and look for them.
roberta says
Murderers killing murderers, rapist raping rapist, there is no innocents there. Im pretty tore up about it myself.
But that can of cashews in the cabinet is calling my name. I’ll feel better soon.
Walter Sieruk says
The Taliban will continue in their murderous activity until they are eliminated forever.
gravenimage says
Alas, the Taliban is orthodox Islam.
nicholas tesdorf says
Biden is as thick as a brick but rather less intelligent.
gravenimage says
US ‘Deeply, Deeply Troubled’ by Taliban Attacks on Civilians
………………..
Are Biden’s handlers surprized by this? Don’t they know that this is what these pious Muslims do?
JamesC. says
“Washington has declared itself “deeply troubled” by Taliban attacks on civilians. Did it really think Taliban’s promises to leave civilians alone would be kept?”
Why is the US Govt as brainless towards Islam as the UK Govt constantly shows itself to be ? After 20 years, and more, this degree of dtupidity and wilful ignorance is utterly inexcusable.
JamesC. says
“Meanwhile, we shouldn’t be “deeply troubled.” Iran should. China should. Russia should. It’s their Tar Baby now.”
`That would make
Iran, into Brer Lion, or Panther, or Cheetah
China, into Brer Dragon
Russia, into Brer Bear.
The Tar Baby was extremely effective, IIRC. I wonder whether it will catch all three of them.
If the Tar Baby is Russia’s, is Russia Uncle Remus ?
Crusades Were Right says
Hey! I think I’ve spotted another another “irregular verb” – “to withdraw forces from Afghanistan”:
I / we make an orderly withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan
You make a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan
He is / they are utterly defeated in Afghanistan
lol
Crusades Were Right says
(Only one “another”! lol)