generalspeaking

Afghanistan's Future

Afghanistan is preparing to reinvent itself. Its current government cannot continue as it is. Since the Western-backed President Hamid Karzai must step down, having served out his two permitted terms in office. The country has a well-earned reputation for corruption. It exists everywhere at every level; it is an institutionalized way of life, however much it may be deplored by those who must, despite their meagre incomes, mete out bribes before they can expect the most basic of services.

Under Western tutelage and the funding that accompanied it, the status of women in the country has improved immeasurably. Women no longer must dress themselves in burkas, although many continue to do so. Women have been able to educate themselves because schools were built with the aid of the West, and girl children had a future to look forward to other than becoming child brides, young mothers and social prisoners held within their homes.

Medical clinics were opened and medical care offered to those who had been unable to access it previously, for male doctors were not permitted under the Taliban's Islamism to examine, let alone touch, diagnose or operate on female patients. Women were enabled latterly to undertake professional careers where previously they were unable to walk the streets of Kabul unescorted by a male family member, even clad face-to-toe in black chadores.

But now NATO and U.S. troops are preparing to leave the country, and leave its administration to the Afghan people. Who are, truth told, anxious to rid themselves of the presence of foreigners, never welcome to begin with, as interlopers, although vast financial influxes made their presence tolerable.
The government has been talking about sharing its functions with the Taliban. The Taliban will be prepared to discuss such options once the foreigners have finally left.

In the meanwhile, two former Afghan warlords have announced their plans to offer themselves for president and vice-president in the April 5, 2014 elections. Warlords, many with blood on their hands who increased their wealth substantially through graft, corruption, and the draining of international funding meant to trickle down to the population, are part of the current government. A matter of fact hugely repugnant to the several female parliamentarians who deplore their presence.

Not to worry; in the new parliament with the political resurgence of the Taliban, the outspoken women who have not yet been assassinated will have their voices silenced. Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf currently a lawmaker and a religious scholar, has registerted his candidacy for the presidency. Another warlord, Ismail Khan, plans to present himself as a candidate on the same ticket for first vice-president.

Mr. Sayyaf has the earned reputation of having invited Osama bin Laden to move to Afghanistan from Sudan in 1996. Where the al-Qaeda leader remained under the protection of the Taliban until the U.S. persuaded both to leave in disarray, for the mountainous region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The U.S. 9/11 commission report named Mr. Sayyaf as the "mentor" of Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

Khalid Sheik Mohammed, whose name may be familiar to many, as the mastermind behind the attacks on New York and Washington.

Labels: Afghanistan, Conflict, Corruption, Human Rights, Sexism, Social Failures, Taliban

posted by Pieface @ Saturday, October 05, 2013