The Afganistan situation is an instance of the great challenge to the free world that is manifest in ideologies that are rooted in anti-modern interpretations of Islam and the application of sharia law. The Taliban which was aligned with the Al Qaeda ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 during which they massacred civilians and starved UN supplies to 160,000 starving civilians and children.
The United Nations attribute about 80% of civilian casualties to Taliban insurgents. Estimates are that there are about 25-30,000 Taliban remaining in rural pockets around Afghanistan with some Pashtun tribesman hiding in the tribal areas of Pakistan.
Following the developing Trump Foreign Policy, the Taliban are horrible "losers". If the Afghanistan government is a viable one, then after 16 years of UN and American presence, its combined police and military forces should be able to irradicate or otherwise transform this radical sect because a relatively small number can impose terrorism on the population as the world knows.
President Trump wants to increase the U.S. Troop level to what end? Is it to shore up the Afghan troops to finish the job? Is that what the Afghan government wants to accomplish? Do they request assistance? Do U.S. Military and State Department Leaders believe that is a winning strategy? What about the State Department where Trump wants to reduce the budget?
Congress has every responsibility to grill the administration about this.
The same type of problem exists everywhere in the Middle East where radical Islam exists. To deny that religious extremism is a problem is a mistake. To deny the cause that is economical and education depravity is also wrong. What must the free world do to eliminate the threat of terror from extremists that are intent on projecting violence?
Is it possible to reconcile with the Taliban?
"The Taliban's ideology has been described as anti-modern, combining an "innovative form" of sharia Islamic law based on Deobandi fundamentalism and the militant Islamism and Salafi jihadism of Osama bin Laden, with Pashtun social and cultural norms known as Pashtunwali, as most Taliban are Pashtun tribesmen."
Wiki
Taliban
"As the Trump administration contemplates sending additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, a bipartisan group in Congress has demanded a floor debate on the war's endgame and whether it remains in America's interest to remain engaged there militarily."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.militarytimes.com/articles/donald-trump-nato-summit-afghanistan-us-troops-congress-paul-ryan?
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Radicalism spreads from its source. Manchester is an instance.
ReplyDeleteTHE MANCHESTER AFTERMATH Here are the lives that were tragically cut short. Twenty of the 64 who were injured are in critical condition and fighting for their lives after suffering "highly traumatic injuries." Take a look at a breakdown of how the attack unfolded. The United Kingdom remains on "critical" threat level, and the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. Photos show the world mourning after the bombing. And here's what we know about the suspected suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, so far -- including reports that he traveled to Syria. [HuffPost]