Khalilzad says the US is washing its hands of #Afghanistan and the entire "peace process" now that they've checked the box on "intra-Afghan negotiations"
Khalilzad lies that the decision to release all the #Taliban prisoners, including those #France and #Australia asked #Kabul not to release, was an Afghan decision.
In reality, it was solely the result of severe US pressure and threats that forced Kabul to cave in.
Khalilzad equates Kabul's commitments relating to Al-Qaeda with the #Taliban's, which is utterly intertwined with the group. Incredible.
Khalilzad: There are bad people on all sides. They should make peace to fight ISIS
🙄🙄🙄
Khalilzad just running interference for the #Taliban at this press conference and deflecting the question about who tried to assassinate Amrulleh Saleh (obviously the Taliban)
Khalilzad continues his defense of the #Taliban, blaming Kabul for the delay in these talks because they refused to release all 5000 prisoners.
In reality, it took so long because the Taliban added this "all prisoners" condition to screw with everyone and the US went along.
Khalilzad implicitly confirms that Women's Rights will not be preserved in #Afghanistan.
Then he lies that withdrawal is linked to #Taliban counterterrorism commitments, which are themselves bullshit, assuming they've even been given.
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.@jonathanchait: "They are treating apologias for Hamas as a factually or logically flawed application of left-wing ideals. I believe...that Hamas defenders are applying their own principles correctly. The problem is the principles themselves." nymag.com/intelligencer/…
@jonathanchait: "The illiberal left believes treating everybody equally...merely serves to maintain existing structures of power. It follows...that the legitimacy of a tactic can only be assessed with reference to whether it is being used by the oppressor or the oppressed."
@jonathanchait: '“Decolonization”...has a model of the world in which conflicts are analyzed as a struggle pitting settler-colonist-Europeans, who are evil, against native/indigenous/BIPOC people...[It] does not leave room to judge the morality of any methods.'
"Wagner...has also released several horrifying snuff films and images of executions, mutilations and beheadings that would make Islamic State blush." archive.md/2023.06.12-060…
"RIM and Wagner are the Russian equivalent of...Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Hezbollah. The former two are...well-known terrorist fronts created by [Pakistan]...while the latter is essentially the Lebanese branch of Iran’s [IRGC]." aijac.org.au/op-ed/barbaric…
'Australia is not bound by whatever considerations are underlying the [US] reluctance. Home Affairs should act quickly on...Paterson’s letter and demonstrate that Australia sees these NRVE groups for what they are...“horrible terrorist organisations”.'
14th report of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team on ISKP: "At least five new [ISKP training camps] built in 2022. The group has created a network of sleeper cells in the centre of the country...elsewhere [ISKP] operate in cells of 5 to 15 people."
"There had also been a targeted campaign to recruit TTP members, Uighurs and ethnic Tajik and Uzbek minorities, which prompted reports of [IMU] units secretly pledging allegiance [IS] while remaining under the Taliban umbrella and biding their time."
"Attacks against high-profile Taliban figures raised [ISKP] morale, prevented defections and boosted recruitment, including from within the Taliban’s ranks."
A fascinating account in @newlinesmag about Iran's all-expenses-paid, Orwellian recruitment centres in Qom masquerading as religious institutions, where it's struggle sessions, lies, spies, antisemitism, conspiracy, and Khomeini worship 24/7. newlinesmag.com/first-person/h…
"The biggest taboo of all was Khamenei...We would never, ever speak about him, his role in Iran or the Iranian regime. It was really strange to see his Orwellian portrait everywhere without being able to speak about him."
At least 100 incredibly cheap ($1000-$5000) Australian drones made of cardboard+rubber bands are being delivered to Ukraine every month.
Designed to be totally expendable, some have completed 60 flights and drop bombs, deliver supplies, or conduct recon. theaustralian.com.au/nation/cheap-a…
The Precision Payload Delivery System drones, designed by @SYPAQ_Official, are constructed from thick, wax-coated cardboard and heavy-duty rubber bands that secure the wings.
@SYPAQ_Official chief engineer Ross Osborne: “The flat pack is a key feature there. We can stack these up on a pallet. We also developed modular avionics and propulsion sets that can hopefully achieve a bit of reuse.”