Is anyone else looking at Afghanistan?

[PickUpAPepper]

I'm unhappy about the abandonment of these women in Afghanistan. Johnson's speech is the usual male-centred self-justificatory claptrap. Freedom, justice, equality and even terrorism - all of it only means anything when men or money are involved. These women deserve freedom from the Taliban, and support to find it.

news.sky.com/story/i-dont-want-them-to-die-bitterness-resentment-and-fear-as-afghanistans-new-generation-left-to-fend-for-themselves-12349139

[meditrina]

The Beeb interviewed a Taliban minister.

He said girls should be educated, provided it was at an all girls school with all women staff. Not so bad? Until he added up to age 12

I wonder what is actually taught at Taliban approved schools

Presumably for boys it majors on reciting the Koran ?

[colouringindoors]

Taliban are executing Afghan Army soldiers who surrender 😓

[PickUpAPepper]

Hello, just seen that this thread I started has been reactivated. It's a horrific situation. I don't believe we can be the world's police, nor do I believe we can house everyone here, the UK is already overpopulated. But what a wonderful testament to the human race and particularly what men will do given half a chance. More and more I think women need their own country.

[PickUpAPepper]

Life in Afghanistan was made better for women and girls by the invasions - the point is that we are now abandoning them to male rule by force.

[sergeilavrov]

I was due to fly home to my children tomorrow/today, instead I am flying to Kabul. We warned the US so many times not to make a deal with the Taliban, to ditch the Qataris. All fell on deaf ears. I cannot put words to how ludicrous it is to hear statements about the Taliban ‘deciding their place in the international system.’ People fundamentally misunderstand the situation: they don’t care about UN votes or German aid.

Over the next few weeks, we will lay our networks for the future, invest in our informants (human and otherwise) and get out everyone we can without drawing attention to those people. And then we will be back one day, and probably create the same sorry mess, until someone listens to counterinsurgency specialists and realises victory is achieved through investment in institutions that will take real National commitment. I think it is worth doing: for the women, for terror prevention, for countering narcotics, for managing Russian and Chinese influence.

Oh, and the next meeting I go into where a person says the ANA were useless, I’m liable to explode. They get to explain how to build a military capable of doing what the US couldn’t on $88.32bn. It sounds like a lot, but it’s a drop in the goddamn ocean; compounded by lackluster training efforts and the absence of effective HR leading to a complete breakdown of trust.

[GiantHaystacks2021]

Every country that the USA interferes with is left messed up after the Yanks pull out.

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

The whole thing was a shit show from the beginning. It was unforgivable to invade a country on the grounds of a lie

That was definitely not the beginning.


The beginning was the support of the Taliban as resistance to the Russian ware there. We supported them, we encouraged them.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

I think also that when islamophobia is encouraged here by the press or by politicians, a small minority of alienated Muslims are driven to support extremism.
That feels like one further side of the coin - ending the prejudice against Muslims that means people already associate them with terrorism and the taliban.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

The red Cross here administers reunification of families where one member (usually a man) gets here first and claims asylum. So they might be another group to donate to.
I've certainly met women through that scheme who have arrived here from Afghanistan.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/we-speak-up-for-change/improving-the-lives-of-refugees/refugee-family-reunion

There is a contact for each uk area here for people who wish to support their campaign.
I've known families who have had to make the journeys across war zones discussed on that page-with children.
That is something that could be changed.

[BuffysBigSister]

lindanorgrovefoundation.org/what-we-do/

For those looking for organisations which support Afghan women & children. I am not sure how much work they will be able to do under current circumstances but perhaps for future.

[colouringindoors]

twitter.com/KayBurley/status/1426091416564928518?s=19

Not and never will be a Tory supporter, but Rory Stewart is absolutely right.

[colouringindoors]

twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1425876753105526788?s=19

and this is also,, heartbreaking 😓

[KnotKnot]

@GiantHaystacks2021 said: Every country that the USA interferes with is left messed up after the Yanks pull out.

Yes. that's often the case. But we've done exactly the same in our history. We don't have any direct say over what the US does, but we should be a lot better having influence over our own government.

[Akire]

It’s so sad the 12y thing kept waking me
Up at night. More lives wrecked. The only thing we could do is offer refuge to family’s who want live in western society. But given our record not going happen.

Channel 4 had women speaking about how her organisation provides education for girls and she was asked what she would do when knock on the door comes. She said pray that’s all I will be able to do. As much as spokesmen from Taliban are saying no we respect women and education and we only encourage women to cover. Realities on ground are very difficult. First thing will do is go door to door and kill anyone who every done or spoken against their views, stop anyone else even trying.

[InJest]

Thanks for the links to organisations I could donate to. Wont be much, but its at least something.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Does anyone want to work on a letter to MPs together about considering the need to take in more refugees from Afghanistan?

Again, if men are accepted in the first instance they can often bring over wives and daughters after red Cross helps them.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Thinking specifically about my Scottish context - I know (partly because it was my area of work but I would likely know anyway) that Scotland took a large proportion of refugees from Syria and Iraq - i wonder if there is appetite to do this in a similar way with folk from Afghanistan (can think of another few crisis areas too eg Tigray).

[The4thForm]

It's a disaster for women and young girls, the violent and misogynistic nature of Islamist extremism in all of its forms of expression – from the Taliban, to Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Boko Haram, al-Shebaab – these groups are across significant parts of Asia and Africa.

However, let's not forget our responsibilities in creating this mess for those we leave behind there. We sent our army there, we provided arms and money, and when the going got tough (as it always was going to) we decided to leave. A very easy decision for us. I'm totally ashamed of our participation in these adventures.

[meditrina]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58205062

BBC article (currently on front page of the news section of the website) on the impact on women and girls - Kabul in a 'state of shock and disbelief'

The speed of the Taliban advances has taken everyone by surprise

[catzwhiskas]

sergei can you keep us informed please.

[colouringindoors]

SuperLoudPoppingAction

happy to help.

So many Afghan women and children's messages on Twitter today. Really hope they are heard.

Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at the COBRA meeting today...

[colouringindoors]

I do wonder about the intelligence/strategic thinking of our military and political leaders given they all seem surprised by the speed of the Taliban's advances 🙄

[CovidCorvid]

I hope a lot of people manage to get out before it’s too late but sadly for a lot of people they will feel that fleeing is impossible/too dangerous. And if they do get out what faces them? Refugees where? What countries will help them? I really hope someone does.

It’s so sad. I thought the days of the taliban were over. But sounds like everyone is washing their hands of the situation and it will slide back to how it was.

[NoNotMeNoSiree]

Just been following on the news, it's absolutely horrendous
There's no words really.
Those poor women and girls, I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like.
Trying to put myself in their shoes.


I feel terrible for the women of Afghanistan and I wish things were different, but women all over the world are suffering like this and we can't occupy every country indefinitely.

I don't know nearly enough about this subject, so this is going to come across really simplistic
but because we "can't occupy every country indefinitely" does that mean we should just give up and leave them to it then?
It's unbearable to think "oh well, there's nothing we can do anyway" and leave them to their fate.
It could be me or you.