since people keep insinuating the Taliban were behind (or invited) today's attack – some broader context:
so, ISIS-K / ISKP (IS Khorasan Province) claimed responsibility & there's no reason to doubt this – it aligns with *all* their interests.
as for the Taliban, well...
so, ISIS-K / ISKP (IS Khorasan Province) claimed responsibility & there's no reason to doubt this – it aligns with *all* their interests.
as for the Taliban, well...
so for starters, the Taliban & ISIS are enemies. conflating them, or their prevailing interests, makes no sense.
they've been at war – under Trump, the US military literally aided Taliban offensives against ISIS:
washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/1…
they've been at war – under Trump, the US military literally aided Taliban offensives against ISIS:
washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/1…
the Taliban's main interests now are proving they can govern, and getting the US out ASAP for good. (hence the protection they've provided.)
for ISIS though, the chaos at #HKIA presented a golden opportunity to terrorize US troops, civilians, & undermine the Taliban all at once.
for ISIS though, the chaos at #HKIA presented a golden opportunity to terrorize US troops, civilians, & undermine the Taliban all at once.
ISIS has been desperate for a high-profile attack to regain their 'prestige' & attract new recruits.
they'd been withering in recent years; their loss of territory starved them of revenue – they extract most of their money from locals + natural resources. & recruiting suffered.
they'd been withering in recent years; their loss of territory starved them of revenue – they extract most of their money from locals + natural resources. & recruiting suffered.
still, 10,000+ ISIS fighters remain, and they've been awaiting an opening exactly like this.
the erosion of the caliphate & dwindling resources have (thankfully) thwarted their capacity to coordinate major overseas attacks, but they've still been incredibly dangerous locally.
the erosion of the caliphate & dwindling resources have (thankfully) thwarted their capacity to coordinate major overseas attacks, but they've still been incredibly dangerous locally.
of course we can't *trust* the Taliban – we knew that before Trump cut a deal for our near-unconditional retreat, and they still violated their terms.
but helping ISIS unleash hell in Kabul & kill US marines, days before we leave, would fly in the face of every Taliban interest.
but helping ISIS unleash hell in Kabul & kill US marines, days before we leave, would fly in the face of every Taliban interest.
in a sense, this is how we got into these catastrophic wars in the first place – by conflating distinct Islamic forces with distinct interests.
we conflated al-Qaeda and the Taliban; Afghanistan and Iraq; Sunni & Shia... it all became one rudderless, unwinnable "war on terror."
we conflated al-Qaeda and the Taliban; Afghanistan and Iraq; Sunni & Shia... it all became one rudderless, unwinnable "war on terror."
everything about today in Kabul – and the past week, the past 20 years, and what the future now holds – is gut-wrenching.
my heart is broken. I feel somehow so angry & so empty all at once.
please, let us stop repeating the same mistakes – the same senseless cycles of tragedy.
my heart is broken. I feel somehow so angry & so empty all at once.
please, let us stop repeating the same mistakes – the same senseless cycles of tragedy.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
