|
Interesting bit in this week's Economist . their correspondent was traveling the Kandahar - Kabul road - which is in need of serious repair - and was talking to some of the local Taliban.
One asked his driver "is he left over from the last lot of foreigners, or have new ones arrived?" Clearly someone who knows his countries history....... |
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ome-by-taliban
Kabul government’s female workers told to stay at home by Talibanrr Female employees in the Kabul city government have been told to stay home, with work only allowed for those who cannot be replaced by men, the interim mayor of Afghanistan’s capital said on Sunday, detailing the latest restrictions on women by the new Taliban rulers. The decision to prevent most female city workers from returning to their jobs is another sign that the Taliban, who overran Kabul last month, are enforcing their harsh interpretation of Islam despite initial promises by some that they would be tolerant and inclusive. Under their previous rule in the 1990s, the Taliban barred girls and women from schools, jobs and public life. Witnesses, meanwhile, said an explosion targeted a Taliban vehicle in the eastern provincial city of Jalalabad, and hospital officials said five people were killed in the second such deadly blast in as many days in the Islamic State stronghold…. |
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a...each-j266mcf5x
MoD official suspended after data breach ‘put Afghan interpreter lives in danger ’An official at the Ministry of Defence has been suspended pending investigation after a “significant” data breach relating to the emails of interpreters in Afghanistan hoping to come to the UK. Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, apologised in the Commons and told MPs he “immediately directed investigations” to take place. On Monday an email was sent to more than 250 Afghans, dozens of them believed to be interpreters, who were eligible for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) and who remain in the country. The email was copied to all applicants rather than blind copying them, MPs heard. Some of the Afghans had their photographs attached to their email addresses, as well as their names. Some of those whose information has been released are in hiding from the Taliban after the militants took control of the battle-torn country last month…… After sending the email, the MoD tried to recall it, warning the Afghans that their email address “may have been compromised”. They were advised to change their email address. Responding to an urgent question, Wallace told the Commons: “I apologise to those Afghans affected by this data breach and with [the Home Office] we are now working with them to provide security advice.” He said James Heappey, the armed forces minister, was in the region speaking to neighbouring countries to see what more the MoD could do to help Afghans who had made it to third countries and those who still remained in Afghanistan. Wallace added: “It is an unacceptable level of service that has let down the thousands of members of the armed forces and veterans. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, I apologise. I offer the reassurances that the scheme will continue to operate and bring people back to the United Kingdom for however many are eligible and however long it takes.” He added: “It was brought to my attention at 2000 hours last night there had been a significant data breach. To say I was angered by this was an understatement and I immediately directed investigations take place.” He said so far one individual had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and “processes for data handling and correspondence processing have already been changed”. In response to SNP questions, Wallace said he had “instigated changes to improve information security within the department” before noting: “The modern rules that govern information security are, I believe, fit for purpose, it’s really about the training and the following and the adherence of it that must be improved.” He added: “Nevertheless, information security is not something western governments are good at, which is why our adversaries seem to be. We have to improve it and we have to stand by it.” Admiral Sir Ben Key, the commander of joint operations who led the planning and evacuation from Kabul, is leading the investigation. For Labour, the shadow defence secretary John Healey welcomed the defence secretary’s apology but told the Commons that “action” was now what mattered the most. He said: “These Afghan interpreters worked alongside our British forces and the government rightly pledged to protect them. Ministers must make good on those promises now.” |
Afghan "economic reconstruction" proceeds apace.
3000 Kg of Afghan heroin intercepted at a port in Gujarat (India) originating in Afghanistan and shipped via the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran. Apparently it was consigned as unprocessed talcum powder which, it appears, is one of the few exports from the country - other than heroin and opium of course. Whenever this was dispatched it's beyond question that it originated within the Taliban heartland. It's worth pointing out that both Afghanistan and Iran have massive numbers of heroin addicts and also that Iran deploys a vast number of border troops, thousands of whom have been killed, in an attempt to intercept shipments across its border with Afghanistan. Much of that trade is controlled by the Haqquanis one of whom is now a member of the Afghan government. https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analy...857-2021-09-22 |
|
https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/s...-b1927458.html
Taliban bans hairdressers from shaving or trimming beards The Taliban has banned some hairdressers in Afghanistan from shaving or trimming beards as the militant group extended its hardline rule based on Islamic law within a month of seizing control of the country. A letter signed by Taliban officials asked salons to enforce “puritanical Islamic law” and warned them that violators would be punished, said a local journalist in a tweet. “In Helmand, a letter signed by the Provincial Director of Preaching and Guidance and Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice — the office to enforce puritanical Islamic law — warning hair salons not to trim or shave beard. Lack of enforcement will mean punishment and shaming,” the tweet read. The rule has been imposed in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province and certain parts of the capital city Kabul, according to BBC News. Local salons in the south Asian country have also reported an increase in scrutiny from the Taliban. A hairdresser running a prominent salon in Kabul said he received a call from a Taliban official instructing him to “stop following American styles”. |
Salute!
And so it begins, or reverts. What did any of the kumbayah, sit around the campfire folks think? Gums sends... |
"banned some hairdressers in Afghanistan from shaving or trimming beards"
Does that apply to the men as well? |
Originally Posted by cynicalint
(Post 11117819)
"banned some hairdressers in Afghanistan from shaving or trimming beards"
Does that apply to the men as well? |
"What did any of the kumbayah, sit around the campfire folks think?"
Don't like it - but it's their country Gums - no-one likes foreigners poking their noses into their business and that's the same the whole world over. the Afghans seem to spend most of their history fighting foreigners poking about in their backyards |
Only when it interrupts their fighting viciously amongst themselves.
“Me and my nation against the world. Me and my clan against my nation. Me and my family against the clan. Me and my brother against the family. Me against my brother.”…. |
Of course!
But its unwise to get into a fight between brothers for that very reason. they'll both turn on you |
Salute!
So true, ORAC and Astur.... and my observation was directed toward the ignorant poly-tickian folks in the U.S. Unlike the "war" I was part of so long ago, this conflict is/ was not about land or borders or... and BTW, I was there for the first end of the war in early 73 and then the real end in 75. My sqd covered the evac at Saigon ( Frequent Wind) , being the only dedicated CAS and helo escort unit in the theater, and our sister unit at Korat, flying F-4's, were the A2A folks ( 3rd TFS and 34th TFS ). Being a strict military operation by the PAVN, they simply drove into town and Big Minh handed over the keys to the palace. Unlike many bogus comparisons depict, only a very few folks climbed onto helos from rooftops. The ARVN helo folks simply took their families and friends out to the boats, and my old VNAF A-37 students either used one of their jets or as one of my students did, stole an O-1 and crammed his family into the thing and flew to Thailand from the southern part of the country. One of my students defected and led the attack on the presidential palace a few days earlier, heh heh.... I am glad this sad episode is over, but I feel there are still folks that think they can overcome centuries of tradition and religious practices. Guess they didn't notice British, French and Russian history there. Gums sends... |
Reminds me of the UK... ;)
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...rs-2021-09-01/ LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The new, Taliban-appointed head of Afghanistan's central bank has sought to reassure banks the group wants a fully-functioning financial system, but has so far provided little detail on how it will supply funds to sustain it, said four bankers familiar with the matter. The acting central bank governor, Haji Mohammad Idris, met members of the Afghanistan Banks Association and other bankers this week, and told them that the Taliban viewed the banking sector as imperative, said two bankers who attended the meeting. Idris, a Taliban loyalist who has no formal financial training or higher education, was appointed to head the central bank last week. Ohhh I do like a good laugh... |
"Idris, a Taliban loyalist who has no formal financial training or higher education, was appointed to head the central bank last week."
So no different to most Govt Ministers appointed to be heads of finance in most countries over the years....................... I suspect he's a hard man to bargain with tho' and knows which side of a dollar bill is which |
|
Salute!
To be honest, the religious fanatics do not need lottsa $$$. They just need a fair share of the male populace on their side and a lotta AK's. I do not see how they can run the airport or most anything else without outside help. Their admin prowess got an "F" back in the 90's and after 9/11. It will be the same in the next year or so. Their concept of "wealth" and such is foreign to most of us on these forums. Power? Yeah. But basic admin competence for a semi-civilized group of people is gonna need help, and they proved this 35 years ago when the Russians left. I feel sad, as I had one really neat Afghan student at Air University ( transport pilot) . I did not realize what the situation was in the 'stan then ( 1978 - 1979), and was BZ trying to get my F-16 assignment. Gums sends... |
All 2nd-hand information, but hopefully of interest.
David Kilkullen's book, 'The Accidental Guerrilla', covers some of the reasons why people take up arms. In line with what has been said above, Kilkullen claims most guerrilla's aren't interested in fighting outside their borders (be they clan or, possibly, country). On that basis, the Taliban 'only' wanted to rid Afghanistan of foreigners. So while they likely will be a deadly menace to their countrymen and women, they may not be a threat to any other country. Hope this plays out ... but have to feel for the terrors they will impose on Afghan citizens. In the "The Looming Tower" (Lawrence Wright) claimed the 1990's version of the Taliban were not enamoured with Al-Qaeda and their activities. There was potential for serious conflict between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda until 'the West' tried to pressure them. Being resistant to things western, the Taliban backed off from harassing Al-Qaeda. That did not turn out well for many hundreds of thousands of people, nor for the Taliban. If the Taliban have learnt that lesson, they may not be too keen to harbour terrorists ('freedom fighters'*) in Afghanistan. * aside from Al-Qaeda, their were many other groups in Afghanistan including those seeking to overthrow governments e.g. Mubarak in Egypt. It would seem few, if any, shared Bin Laden's hatred of things Western - particularly the USA - to the extent they would have taken their 'war' outside of their particular target. How (if?) the Taliban handle Daesh (ISIS) may be a different game again. |
Originally Posted by ORAC
(Post 11117995)
Only when it interrupts their fighting viciously amongst themselves.
“Me and my nation against the world. Me and my clan against my nation. Me and my family against the clan. Me and my brother against the family. Me against my brother.”…. The Pashtun are not Arabs, right? ;) (Granted, it probably applies) |
Salute!
I am not sure if the reference you describe, Wolf, is Arab or Muslim or other....... Seems to me to be a "code of the third world tribal culture", regardless of color or religion ( well maybe not one religion). I am sure I can find that code in several places in Africa and possibly outposts in other places. I flew with and trained folks from SEA, and tho there was a lotta tribal customs in the case of the Hmong, it was nothing like the Muslims practice. Our Air Commando experience can talk all about it. My Pakistan student in the Viper was a Pashtun, and my Afghan student at Air University was close to that tribe, but he was not of the Taliban ilk and we even snorted a few shots of Jim Beam. He had no problrm with women , and floated along. The Pakistan pilots we checked out in the Viper were 1) outstanding pilots, 2) left their religion at the parking lot and "tolerated" our western culture, heh heh. The biggest thing that they left we instructors with was a constant reminder that they were not Arabs. Muslims? Sure, but not Arabs. I think they are more genetically and culturally related with the Iranian/Persian folks. Needless to say, no major political or ethnic group has ever changed the Afghan way of life, nor eliminated that terrible relgion's hold upon so may of them. And I now step off the soap box... Gums sends... |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 12:23. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.