Today was a day of more fighting here in the United States and in Afghanistan. But in Afghanistan it’s different. The Taliban is going from home to home, from building to building, stating that once the Americans go back: “We’ll be back”. “Just be forewarned if you don’t comply you’ll have to deal with the consequences”. The Taliban are the most fundamentalist group in the region. Already woman have been ousted out of their positions in media, in government, and in business. Though women were remotely drawing attention to their womanhood, now they’ve been told not to wear lipstick at all. Women are in fear. Their fears are augmented by the Taliban’s taking over Kabul. President Biden stated surprise that the Taliban had taken over Afghanistan so quickly. While the TFG criticized Biden for not taking out troops earlier in May of this year; Trump had made terrible decisions which were once lauded by the GOP. Since then, the GOP’s support of Trump’s actions had been taken off their website.
Many say that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar may be the next President of Afghanistan, and it was Trump that authorized his release from prison in 2018. This weakened the Afghanistan government even more. The money being funneled to Afghanistan was sidetracked by dishonest Afghan politicians into the hands of the Taliban. In 2019 Trump had set to meet with Taliban leaders at Camp David on 9/11. He was dissuaded from doing so and in February of 2020 in Qatar, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad negotiated with the Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's chief negotiator. No one was there to represent Afghanistan, not even, its president at the time but, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo was there to witness the signing.
In this instance, without the representation of any Afghanistan leadership,(a demand of the Taliban), the Taliban would regain a quick and gradual foothold onto Afghan soil. It is believed the pace quickened even more when Trump demanded that Afghanistan release 5000 of it’s Taliban prisoners and withdraw 2,500 American troops. Upon immediate release, the prisoners took over the soldiers that released them. It is reasonable to note that Trump was instrumental in quickening the Taliban takeover. Without his actions, the power of Afghan government may have survived.
Though there are many that are blaming Biden for withdrawing too early, others would say it’s too late. Since 2019, the Taliban received word that peaceful negotiations were on the way and that they would soon be able to take their place in Afghanistan. While for the last 20 years America was spending billions of dollars to assist Afghanistan in becoming their own government and strengthening the roles of women, independence, and business; the Taliban was making secret deals with the military, government officials, and business leaders to submit themselves over to the Taliban takeover. Much of the money earmarked to facilitate Afghan’s independence was channeled to underhanded deals with the Taliban. The money which was earmarked for investing in education and the furtherance of women never was gone.
While Attia Abawi, former NBC News Kabul Bureau Chief, stated the Afghani people are angry at the United States for abandoning them in their hour of need; Matt Zeller, Afghanistan war veteran, stated that his contact said that no matter what they were glad for all the assistance and support the US government gave them and that it should never be forgotten.
Who is in most fear of the Taliban right now are the interpreters which helped US soldiers and Afghan people make headway in their fight against the Taliban. The Taliban is searching for them building by building, inch by inch. Women are already feeling the brunt of the Taliban regime takeover. Women have been warned not to attend school, nor teach, nor go outside without a male relative. The women say they remember how it was when the Taliban had a stronghold before in the 1990’s. Women’s fingers were cut-off for wearing nail polish, they couldn’t attend church because they had to bathe before going to church. As women were not allowed to take baths after their menstrual cycle, one woman said she hadn’t gone to church in 4 years. Women are once, again, being told to have their windows painted black so as not to draw attention to anyone from the outside looking in at a woman. Even just the word: woman is no longer allowed to be written or heard.
This is why Afghan women consider Meena Keshwar Kamar to be their heroine. She established RAWA, Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan. She made headway for the rights of women. She also published a magazine for women, but she was assassinated in 1997. All the gains which woman have made in the past 20 years are being vanquished right before their eyes. And, it’s terrifying.
Matt Zellar believes that engulfing the Afghan people with an American presence over the interpreters and other people the Taliban are set out to get will be of great benefit to the Afghanistan people and to the United States. People are trying to leave Afghanistan in droves. Zellar suggests that Biden send out even more Americans to saturate and assist in the evacuation of Afghanistan’s interpreter’s out from under the clutches of the Taliban.
But, here in the United States we also have a fundamentalist group run amok. “The Proud Boys” as they like to be known had recently beat up protestors against anti-vaxxers. Many people and journalist were hurt in the ordeal. And, yet, the LAPD stood around and did nothing to stop the Proud Boys. In today’s America it seems unthinkable that such things are happening, but here we are.
So it is highly disturbing as we see an interplay of irrational beliefs mixed with religion and violence. It is hard to believe that in this day and age people are going against Science and Doctors and the wearing of masks in favor of violence, hatred, and twisted religious extremism. There appears to be some parallels between misguided religious beliefs, power, prejudice and hate. There is a definite disconnect.
What will it take to correct past mistakes? For starters, isn’t it true that Religion and Politics don’t mix?