The road from Kabul to Idlib

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Vietnam are all examples of American attack, destruction and occupation.  In each case, the countries were left in devastation, and only Vietnam has survived to rebuild and be restored.

The Taliban have won the war, and the US has lost.  Arm-chair quarterbacks are blaming everyone, including the American people for not wanting to continue an endless war.  President George W. Bush made the decision to invade, with a two-pronged mission: to degrade the capability of Al Qaeda, and to bring western style democracy to a central eastern nation with no experience with democracy, or western values.

The Taliban have said they will form a government based on Islam, but with some democratic aspects, like inclusion of non-Taliban members.  Time will tell if their promises are fulfilled.  The US is a close ally with Saudi Arabia, who has an Islamic government, and absolutely no democratic aspects.

Qatar continues to be a major sponsor of the Taliban, and the oil-rich Persian Gulf monarchy is one of the main defenders of the Muslim Brotherhood, along with Turkey.  The US-NATO attack on Syria, beginning in 2011, was supported by Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and utilized the Muslim Brotherhood militia “Free Syrian Army”, which was finally cut off of US support by Trump in 2017.

Al Qaeda continues to be present in Afghanistan, and they are located all over the world in pockets.  The province of Idlib in Syria is occupied by Al Qaeda, and the US had formerly supported the group until Jibhat al-Nusra was designated a terrorist group.  International aid agencies, including the UN, are keeping the terrorists, their families, and several million civilian hostages fed while a stalemate is enduring because Turkey has taken the side of Al Qaeda in Idlib, and has kept them weaponized. When the Taliban entered Kabul, the terrorists in Idlib rejoiced and passed around sweets, symbolizing their celebration of their brothers-in-arms victory.

“The events we see now are sadly proof that no amount of military force would ever deliver a stable, united, secure Afghanistan,” Biden said in a speech Monday defending his actions. When the US finally leaves Syria, Biden will likely say that no amount of US military force could ever overthrow an elected President in Syria.  Read more..

The road from Kabul to Idlib

ttt