Back Story Newsletter
Good morning,
Afghanistan
By now you have heard the U.S. using ‘over the horizon’ strike capabilities targeted the leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahri, in downtown Kabul with a deadly missile strike.
Zawahri was a key plotter in the 9-11 attacks on America, and hiding in place sight of the Taliban which means he was being sheltered all this time. The Taliban claims they had distanced themselves from Al Qaeda, now appear to be completely false.
Here we are where many of us said we would be if the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan which is simply back to where we were 21 years ago. Afghanistan is being used as a base for terrorism and can threaten the west, and America’s intervention there was designed to stop precisely that.
Fmr President Trumps plan to draw down U.S. forces during his term in office, and current U.S. President Biden’s decision to pullout was and is a disaster in foreign policy that will haunt America and it’s NATO allies which invested so much in Afghanistan.
As for the Taliban, it condemned the American strike, without specifically mentioning al-Zawahri or Al Qaeda. “It is an act against the interests of Afghanistan and the region,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban government. “Repeating such actions will damage the available opportunities.”
In other words the Taliban hasn’t changed including broken promises on women’s rights’ and pledges not to harbour terrorists. And this is a critical chapter in its rule, as no one in overly surprised it was hosting Al Qaeda.
Several months ago the United Nations warned that the Taliban were providing “operating space for about 20 terrorist groups broadly aligned with Al-Qaida and Taliban objectives.”
And Zawahri himself felt so comfortable in Afghanistan he has resumed regular video messaging somehow thinking he was safe in Kabul.
The U.S. will likely carry out more attacks using drone strikes and other methods in the coming months and years to suppress terrorists groups and their leaders. The notion the Taliban can be trusted and should receive foreign funding and assistance died a final death with Zawahri.
Other News…
-For the first time in 25 years a high profile American leader has visited Taiwan infuriating the Chinese who see Taiwan as part of China. Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi She praised Taiwan as an island of resilience and said the US commitment to democracy there was iron-clad. China says it will hold a series of live-fire military drills in the air and sea around the island from Thursday
-The first grain ship to depart Ukraine since Russia invaded has arrived at Turkey's Bosphorus strait. The Razoni, which is carrying 26,000 tonnes of corn, will be inspected on Wednesday morning before continuing its journey to Lebanon. A word of caution - there are 17 other ships waiting to set sail from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Russia is known for breaking its word and the idea President Putin will allow Ukraine to continue these shipments without interference is highly suspect. He is determined to interfere and disrupt Ukraine’s economy and grain shipments are something the Russians will likely try to disrupt in the future
-NATO-led peacekeepers backed by helicopters on Monday oversaw the removal of roadblocks protesters had set up in Kosovo, where political tensions have flared more than two decades since a NATO campaign of airstrikes drove out Serbian forces. Russia is stirring trouble in Serbia which refuses to recognize Kosovo and Serbs living in Kosovo refuse to accept Kosovo demands for new documents and car license plates issued by by Kosovan authorities. There are 3800 NATO peace keepers in Kosovo and Kosovo seeks NATO membership
I am taking time this summer to travel and enjoy the sunshine. But will resume more regular writing in Sept. If you like this newsletter please share it on social media and becoming a paid subscriber helps keep this going.
Dana Lewis