Laurel & EBW
- Thread starter lavender
- Start date
Wellllll, I don't know Lav. WE can say that the money will be used for what ever but the real question is What will the money go for, and what are the controls to make sure it will be used for foodstuffs. I realize that sitting on our thumbs about the famine is a tricky issue but I'm not sure about giving the Taleban that kind of money if we can't guarantee what it'll go for.
Also, in my Johnny Canuck Alter Ego I'd simply point out that twas your country that armed these idiots
Also, in my Johnny Canuck Alter Ego I'd simply point out that twas your country that armed these idiots
Andra_Jenny
Mentally Divergent
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Question
Does it seem like we send and awful amount of "humanitarian (and othwerwise) aid" to an incredible amount of tyrannies? Now I know it seems terribly inhuman to say let them starve.
But are we propping up regimes that might otherwise be swept away in a people's final desparate gesture to avoid complete cultural death as they rise against their oppressors?
Does it seem like we send and awful amount of "humanitarian (and othwerwise) aid" to an incredible amount of tyrannies? Now I know it seems terribly inhuman to say let them starve.
But are we propping up regimes that might otherwise be swept away in a people's final desparate gesture to avoid complete cultural death as they rise against their oppressors?
Weird Harold
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Re: Question
How do we determine whether the people's "final desparate gesture" is going to be directed at theose in powere or diverted into aggression against a neighbor who has what they lack?
Andra_Jenny said:
How do we determine whether the people's "final desparate gesture" is going to be directed at theose in powere or diverted into aggression against a neighbor who has what they lack?
Mischka
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Let me expand on the cursory research I did about the Taliban and Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are facing a problem of such magnitude that I don't know if or what the answer is. It reminds me of the Cultural Revolution in China. As background:
The Taliban unexpectedly banned all poppy crops earlier this year/late last year. The US (at least the State Department) is choosing to believe they did it in response to international pressures to curb their drug trade. Critics say the Taliban has more deviant reasons - they did it to increase the value of their storehouses of poppies/heroin by cutting off all supplies of the drug. The second explanation is more plausible, since the Taliban has not destroyed any of the poppy crop they confiscated.
So the Afghan farmers have been left with barren fields and no seeds for new crops. Add to that the worse drought in their history, with estimates of 4 million people this year alone facing death by starvation. Add to that the refusal of the Taliban to let Afghans leave the country to seek refuge in neighboring countries. And then add to that the fact that the Taliban offers absolutely zero medical or community services to the people of Afghanistan. Instead, it continues to concentrate its resources to fight the small rebel forces hidden in the northern moutains.
International aid organizations are the sole source of medical and food supplies for the Afghans. The combined forces of the ban on poppy crops and the drought have forced droves of Afghans into the cities looking for food and work. Unfortunately, the aid organizations cannot keep up with the demand and they do not know where the poorest/hungriest are or how to find them. They attempted to send volunteers from house to house to get accurate head counts, but (of course) there's a problem. The Taliban does not allow men into homes where women are present, and the law bans women from working in any capacity. So there is no one - literally - that can do the survey.
I am torn over the U.S. pledge of aid. On the one hand, it is a humanitarian gesture for a people that will certainly perish without it. On the other hand, it is more than likely that none of the aid will ever reach the people, but instead fuel the despotic nature of the ruling class. The Taliban seems to care nothing about the welfare of its people, much like Mao during the Cultural Revolution. I expect several million will die, with another million next year. If the religious minorities cannot escape soon, they will be among that number.
Is there an answer? I honestly don't think so right now. The people are fighting for their survival; they do not have the capacity or strength to also fight against the tyranny of the Taliban. I expect that without massive outside support, the Afghans will continue to suffer under the Taliban for at least another decade or two.
The Taliban unexpectedly banned all poppy crops earlier this year/late last year. The US (at least the State Department) is choosing to believe they did it in response to international pressures to curb their drug trade. Critics say the Taliban has more deviant reasons - they did it to increase the value of their storehouses of poppies/heroin by cutting off all supplies of the drug. The second explanation is more plausible, since the Taliban has not destroyed any of the poppy crop they confiscated.
So the Afghan farmers have been left with barren fields and no seeds for new crops. Add to that the worse drought in their history, with estimates of 4 million people this year alone facing death by starvation. Add to that the refusal of the Taliban to let Afghans leave the country to seek refuge in neighboring countries. And then add to that the fact that the Taliban offers absolutely zero medical or community services to the people of Afghanistan. Instead, it continues to concentrate its resources to fight the small rebel forces hidden in the northern moutains.
International aid organizations are the sole source of medical and food supplies for the Afghans. The combined forces of the ban on poppy crops and the drought have forced droves of Afghans into the cities looking for food and work. Unfortunately, the aid organizations cannot keep up with the demand and they do not know where the poorest/hungriest are or how to find them. They attempted to send volunteers from house to house to get accurate head counts, but (of course) there's a problem. The Taliban does not allow men into homes where women are present, and the law bans women from working in any capacity. So there is no one - literally - that can do the survey.
I am torn over the U.S. pledge of aid. On the one hand, it is a humanitarian gesture for a people that will certainly perish without it. On the other hand, it is more than likely that none of the aid will ever reach the people, but instead fuel the despotic nature of the ruling class. The Taliban seems to care nothing about the welfare of its people, much like Mao during the Cultural Revolution. I expect several million will die, with another million next year. If the religious minorities cannot escape soon, they will be among that number.
Is there an answer? I honestly don't think so right now. The people are fighting for their survival; they do not have the capacity or strength to also fight against the tyranny of the Taliban. I expect that without massive outside support, the Afghans will continue to suffer under the Taliban for at least another decade or two.
Expertise
Omniscient, Omnipotent and Occasionally Charming
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IMHO
This would be an excellent time for concerned nations to just let Darwinism work.
Cold? Perhaps. But nothing seems to incite revolution like a "lack of bread". Unfortunately those who replace the Taliban are likely to be as bad. Tribalism is quite alive in Afghanistan combine it with their long history of internal strife and you have got a mess to end all messes.
As far as "massive outside support" REALLY bad idea. The only way to deliver said support would be to first have "massive military intervention". Ask the Russians what that is like.For that matter look what "massive outside support" of the mujahadeen did for US goals in the country.
Nope....... we (the west) should watch this one from the sidelines.
This would be an excellent time for concerned nations to just let Darwinism work.
Cold? Perhaps. But nothing seems to incite revolution like a "lack of bread". Unfortunately those who replace the Taliban are likely to be as bad. Tribalism is quite alive in Afghanistan combine it with their long history of internal strife and you have got a mess to end all messes.
As far as "massive outside support" REALLY bad idea. The only way to deliver said support would be to first have "massive military intervention". Ask the Russians what that is like.For that matter look what "massive outside support" of the mujahadeen did for US goals in the country.
Nope....... we (the west) should watch this one from the sidelines.
