The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the World Community
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the World Community
"The Panjwaii people, they suffered a lot from the war and
drought."
"With
the help of Allah, our God, we will provide good security when you
bring some aid to the people. And you can return back to your home
without any suffering."
"As you suffered from the Afghanistan war, we suffered too. In the future, do not attack our
land, our nation; don't use drones on our land."
"There is no
security threat. The only problem we have is that the
international community is not recognizing Afghanistan."
Syfe Rahman Syfm new district chief, Panjwaii District Centre
Well,
of course the international community recognizes Afghanistan. The
Afghanistan that was called the Republic of Afghanistan, when
Afghan-style democratic elections took place to elect government
officials, despite the corruption rife in every aspect of life in the
country; traditional and ongoing. It is the Afghanistan now ruled by the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, by the Taliban that fails to receive
official international recognition. But the Taliban leadership feels
empowered to insist on international support for their Islamist Emirate.
Is a transition
period of two months long enough to review the actions of the Taliban to
conclude what their rule as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will
look like? Resemble their previous time in power when anything remotely
resembling freedom for Afghans from the shackles of Islamist sharia was
strictly forbidden? When hospitals that treated men could not treat
women who had their own assigned hospitals where only females themselves
garbed in head-to-toe burqas could examine and treat women and girls?
When music and parties were forbidden?
Where
girls were not permitted to gain an education? When men whose beards
were merely suggestive rated public beatings? When women improperly
garbed in public and an inch of bare skin on ankle or a wrist could be
seen merited a lashing? When women and girls had to be accompanied
outside their homes by male relatives?
When
so much as a greeting between a woman and man not of the same family
was forbidden. When the carnal sin of physical contact between the sexes
could rate a prison sentence. When extramarital affairs could guarantee
public stoning and death? When women were expected to remain in their
houses, forbidden to work outside the home. Where girls as young as ten
were considered old enough to 'marry' Taliban fighters? That
Afghanistan.
![](https://thumbnails.cbc.ca/maven_legacy/thumbnails/648/111/KANDAHAR_NEW_MPX.jpg?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:* 510w") |
The
Taliban are in power in Kandahar province, where former Taliban fighters are now in government, are on a mission
to restore international help under the new
regime. CBC
|
In
August, the Taliban stormed the countryside, then the cities as the
Afghan military and national police scattered before their onslaught. As
they neared Kabul, the government suddenly melted away. Knowing they
were slated to be hunted down, imprisoned or killed. Government
employees in all government departments would be sought out through
house-to-house searches and penalties meted out to them. Imprisonment,
death. Of course when the Trump administration negotiated with Taliban
spokesmen in Doha, Qatar promises were extracted in exchange for a
U.S./NATO withdrawal.
A
withdrawal badly wanted by both sides. The U.S. and other foreign
troops to finally wash their hands of a protracted unwinnable war
against a pathology of theistic conquest. The Taliban yearning to see
the last of U.S. troops so they could get on with their mission
unimpeded by the presence of foreign troops whose fixation on human
rights was so infuriatingly irritating. August 15 marked the end of the
Republic of Afghanistan, and the culmination of American shame.
Pakistan
exulted along with the Taliban, for of course the Taliban is their
creature; the bulwark against India's possible presence in Afghanistan.
As was Syria in Lebanon, so is Pakistan in Afghanistan. Iran benefits,
China benefits, Russia benefits as long as the Taliban, as warned and
acquiesced keep their terrorist adversaries and partners within
Afghanistan, from Islamic State in Khoristan to al-Qaeda, and the
Islamist Uyghurs.
"I am particularly alarmed to see promises made to Afghan women and girls by the Taliban being broken",
mourned U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Did he really and
truly expect otherwise? The 38 million Afghans now living under Taliban
rule expected nothing else; certainly the country's women dreaded the
transition, swift and brutal and now it is their future. Teen girls who
hoped to continue their education now sit at home.
Social/cultural/religious hostages.
As
for the promise to the U.S. negotiators, primarily the splendid choice
of Zalmay Khalilzad who assured the Biden administration that a swift
Taliban takeover of the country in the sudden absence of U.S. troops
wouldn't occur: "I don't believe it's a likely scenario",
well, surprise, surprise. And nor would the promise by the Taliban to
the U.S. that it would form an inclusive government representing the
interests of all Afghans by the Pashtun-majority Taliban take place
since thousands of Hazara families were driven from Daikundi, Helmand
and Kandahar in bloody ethnic-cleansing operations.
 |
| Women at the Panjwaii District Centre try to appeal to a
Sharia court to solve their problems. The Taliban says it will solve
disputes using a strict interpretation of Sharia law. The women don't
appear to have secured a hearing. (Ellen Mauro/CBC) |
"The international order now, it's just might makes right."
"If
you have power nobody is going to stop you from doing anything. If we
don't deal with the Taliban, if we sanction them, they don't really
care. If we stop their officials from visiting the U.S., be it for
education or trade or other opportunities, there is China. There is
Russia. They don't care."
"Afghans
now are most concerned with just having food on the table and a roof
over their heads, with the basic necessities of life."
"That is how things are. Might makes right."
Irfan Yar, managing director, Afghanistan Security Institute, Ottawa, Canada
De
facto diplomatic recognition of the Islamic Emirate has been extended
by China, Iran and Russia. The Biden administration announced it was
prepared to permit American aid agencies and private groups to resume
sending food and medicine to Afghanistan. Not providing it directly to
the Taliban of course, they reassure themselves; it's meant for the
suffering Afghan people. And they are suffering. Mass starvation looms,
the UN World Food Program warns.
Figures
post that 97 percent of the population is facing poverty. Close to half
of the population is reliant on humanitarian aid, according to the UN
Development program. And so, the West, through the G20, the United
States and the European Union have resigned themselves to engaging with
the Taliban albeit planning to withhold diplomatic recognition. That's a
neat trick.
In
meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusogin the Taliban
foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, a sanctioned UN-designated terrorist
-- gained NATO-member Turkey's comradely gesture in urging UN member
states to support the Taliban.
 |
| The Panjwaii District Centre was opened by Canada in 2009,
part of economic development in Panjwaii. Today it's headquarters for
the Taliban district office, Sharia court and adjacent to the former
military-operations centre for Canada, the U.S. and Afghan forces. (Susan Ormiston/CBC) |
Labels: Afghanistan, International Aid, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Taliban, United States
Saint Justin Slaying the Anti-Equality Dragon
"[Crown
Prince] Mohammad bin Salman was trying to send a message that he is not
to be disrespected by anyone. Unfortunately, many Saudi students who
were in Canada are paying a heavy price."
"Investors are looking more askance at Saudi Arabia, and none of this helps Saudi relations with the rest of the world."
Paul Sullivan, Saudi specialist, Georgetown University, Washington
 |
| "Canada
is back," Trudeau mugged for the world's cameras at the signing of the
Paris Accord in 2015. "We're Canadian," Trudeau told the U.N. General
Assembly the following year, "and we're here to help." (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press) |
When the smiley-face ebullience of Justin Trudeau, Margaret's
"Golden Boy",
was loosed on the world stage as Canada's spanking new prime minister
he presented as an antidote to the taciturn, capable, resolute and
intelligent Stephen Harper with whom the voting public had tired. How
the public spirit soared at the prospect of this handsome young man with
the temerity to offer himself as a public service to Canada with his
great experience in drama and snowboarding excited expectations!
"Sunny ways" did it, Justin winked, as he boasted on the world stage introducing himself to other world leaders, that
"Canada is back".
Since then, we have learned that the Canada that never went away has
shifted backward. Canada has become the world's silly clown, alternating
between espousing progressive values and changing the social contract
and its language, alerting 90 percent of the population that due
diligence must be paid forward in soothing the emotional baggage of the
dissatisfied ten percent as their due.
As for Canada's reputation abroad, it has become somewhat of a laughing
stock, an administration that busies itself morally strong-arming its
counterparts to give obeisance where it is due; Canada's version of
social, cultural, international, economic imperatives to hoist the
status of women and the traditionally socially-impoverished in a mission
of achieving total equality.
Stephen Harper's cabinet gained close to parity between the genders, but
Justin Trudeau appointed women to cabinet posts based on gender alone,
it seemed not necessarily suitable qualifications which he deemed to be
expendable; he had none, why would they require any?
Now it is attempting to placate the rage it inspired in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia when Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland demanded that the
Saudis release a rights activist instanter. Liberal Party supporters
like SNC-Lavalin, the Canadian unit of General Dynamics Corp., McCain
Foods Ltd., and others stand to suffer as a result of a breach in
relations whereby Canada's ambassador to the Kingdom was expelled,
investments curbed, Saudi medical students recalled; a giant rebuff to
Canada for interfering in Saudi Arabia's internal affairs.
Globally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is increasingly being regarded
as a pain in the arse, his virtue-signalling fails to impress
internationally just as it is beginning finally to pall at home. When
Trudeau jabbed China and India in trade discussions with his
expectations on women's and minority rights he failed to endear himself
and Canada to potential free trade partners. This, in addition to the
sad state of Canada's third-class status in NAFTA negotiations, where
once again Chrystia Freeland has assaulted the sensibilities of the U.S.
top trade negotiator; a trading partnership made in hell.
So, sigh, what went wrong? Well, just about everything. The shining new
prime minister who promised that his administration would tend to
bolstering Canada's reputation abroad, take back its revolving seat in
the United Nations, bolster the military and respond to peacekeeping
requests has just been slapped down by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation for its failure to restore foreign aid commitments to the
level it enjoyed under the Harper government.
 |
| Trudeau seemed to think his considerable charm and celebrity could mollify Trump in the early days of his presidency. (Christinne Muschi/Reuters) |
Labels: Canada, Crisis Management, Economy, International Aid, Political Correctness, Political Realities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trade
Terrorism as a Well-Remunerated Profession
Palestinian Authority’s Direct Expenditure in Support of Terrorists
and Their Families as Percent of Total Budget and Foreign Aid Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
|
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
|
1. Salaries to imprisoned and released terrorists
|
423.8 million shekels
|
442.8 million shekels
|
481.3 million shekels
|
488.4 million shekels
(530.5 million shekels total incl. administrative costs.)
|
|
$111,516,570
|
$116,528,150
|
$126,662,890
|
$128,518,896
|
|
2. Salaries to “martyrs” families
|
603.6 million shekels
|
618.6 million shekels
|
620.4 million shekels
|
663.6 million shekels
|
|
$158,843,940
|
$162,807,890
|
$163,268,940
|
$174,630,296
|
|
Total salaries to support terror (Lines 1+2)
|
1,027.4 million shekels
|
1,061.4 million shekels
|
1,101.7 million shekels
|
1,152.0 million shekels
|
|
$270,360,520
|
$279,336,050
|
$289,931,840
|
$303,149,193
|
|
Percentage of budget and of foreign aid
|
7% of total budget
|
7% of total budget
|
7% of total budget
|
6.9% of total budget
|
|
20% of foreign aid
|
24% of foreign aid
|
14.8% of foreign aid
|
29.6% of foreign aid
|
|
Total PA budget
|
14.387 billion shekels
|
14.771 billion shekels
|
15.673 billion shekels
|
16.577 billion shekels
|
|
$3.786 billion
|
$3.887 billion
|
$4.124 billion
|
$4.362 billion
|
|
Total Foreign Aid
|
4.915 billion shekels
(of which 4.532 billion current budget and
384 development)
|
4.402 billion shekels
(of which 3.676 billion current budget and
726 million development)
|
7.410 billion shekels
(of which 3.120 billion current budget and
4.290 billion development)
|
3.881 billion shekels
(of which 2.925 current budget and 956 million development)
|
|
$1.29 billion
|
$1.15 billion
|
$1.95 billion
|
$1.02 billion
|
|
Money Transfer from the PA to the PLO
|
267,922 million shekels
|
294.5 million shekels
|
775.319 million shekels
|
873.2 million shekels
|
|
$70,505,789
|
$77,500,000
|
$204,031,315
|
$229,785,520 | |
It has been a half-century that the Palestine Liberation Organization
and the Palestinian Authority have routinely issued beneficent salaries
as awards for the commission of terrorist acts against Israelis, or as
they are more commonly referred to in this context, as "Zionists",
reflecting an organized and deliberate normalization within Palestinian
society of acts of deadly violence against Jews.
Those committing terrorism have been weaned on it through their early
childhood forward by way of school curricula, television, plays and
public celebrations of terrorist carnage. Parents additionally teach
their children that they are obliged to hate Jews. Palestinian attackers
of Israelis are lionized as warriors in a conflict against a mortal
enemy. Palestinians at a vulnerable age are taught to regard Jews as
threats to their own existence, and encouraged to think of themselves as
future martyrs dedicated to the cause of liberating 'Palestine' from
Israeli oppression.
The historical and ongoing acts of violent carnage have perpetuated a
situation where Israel must defend itself against suicide attacks that
can and do take place anywhere and everywhere, taking the lives of
innocent Israeli men, women and children, sometimes singly, sometimes in
ghastly, mass carnage, all of which the Palestinians view as justified.
They have by so doing placed themselves under military occupation as
the only way Israel is able to defend its population. And when
Palestinians are killed in the act of killing, the Palestinian Authority
decries Israeli brutality.
Former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat set up the Society for the Care
of the Families of Martyrs in 1965, initiating payments in an official
capacity to those Palestinians who engaged in terrorism in recognition
of their courage, daring and dedication to 'resisting' the establishment
of the State of Israel. Financial recognition of deeds of carnage was
meant to legitimize those acts as recognized, sponsored and issues of
Palestinian pride, going to the perpetrators of violence, to
Palestinians imprisoned by Israel for terrorism and their exultant
families.
 |
| The family of Mohammed Tarayreh, who stabbed to death a 13-year-old
Israeli girl in her bed, is now eligible for a monthly stipend from the
Palestinian “Martyrs’ Fund.” (AP Photo) |
These are families who take pride in what their sons and daughters have
accomplished in killing and maiming Jews, feeling those acts completely
justified and marking their perpetrators out as heroes dedicated to the
Palestinian cause of destroying the presence of a Jewish state in the
Middle East, enabling in the process Palestinians to claim the geography
as their own sovereign territory. That Jews have lived in that heritage
geography since time immemorial is denied strenuously, the myth of
Palestinian stewardship of land that was always theirs re-writing
history and reality.
Social assistance payments and financial bonuses went out to over 20,000
Palestinian families by 1978, reflecting the purpose of the Palestine
Mujahidin and Martyrs Fund, renamed Society for the Care of the Families
of Martyrs. The responsibility for administering the fund is now with
the Palestinian Authority, funnelled through the National Palestinian
Fund in tandem with the Institute for Care for the Families of Martyrs,
Palestinians being very fond of formalizing their vision of
'resistance'.
The coordination of these payments to the benefit of prisoners, convicts
that have been released, and those that have died has long since been
formally installed in Palestinian law which specifically sets out the
provision that the PA is obligated to give prisoners a monthly allowance
lasting the entire incarceration period, along with salaries and the
offers of job placements within the PA once they are released from
prison.
The Palestinian minimum wage averages $397 monthly, in figures released
by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, with close to 40
percent of employees working in the private sector earning less than the
minimum wage. In 2015, according to that same statistical source, close
to 20 percent of West Bank employees earned an average of $292 a month,
working for private interests. Contrast that with the $3,120 lavished
monthly by the Palestinian government on a 19-year-old Palestinian by
the name of Omar al-Abed.
Whose mother has declared her pride in her son for entering a home in
the West Bank settlement of Halamish to kill a grandfather seated at the
dinner table along with his two adult children, ages 70, 46, and 36
during a family celebration. This is all in the budget of the
Palestinian Authority which has also in its 2017 budget release promised
to pledge an increase to the tune of 13 percent for the salaries of
imprisoned and released terrorists bringing that area of the budget up
to $154.4-million.
Separately, funding allocated to the families of the "martyrs" against Zionism will be $192-million.
The total expenditure for the Palestinian Authority projected for the
year 2017 to Palestinian martyrs will be approximately $345 million,
representing almost half of all foreign aid the Palestinian government
is expected to receive for 2017. International aid is helpfully funding
payouts of appreciation to Palestinians engaged in violent terrorism
against Israelis.
Moreover the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees (UNRWA) has been shown to have direct ties to Hamas recognized
as a terrorist organization not only by countries in the West, the very
countries that donate to the international aid reaching the Palestinian
Authority and Hamas by way of the PA, but by some Arab countries as
well.
Labels: Conflict, International Aid, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Terrorism
