Taliban bans Afghan women from attending university

@ArishMell My question was hypothetical. The current US administration is not on friendly terms with the Saudis. Same with the Obama administration.

It stems from the rise of Mohamad Bin Salman (MBS) to top of the pyramid. MBS is an authoritarian, and a narcissist. Much like Putin and Trump. Obama and Biden did not want to give him a pass, in return for arms sales. Trump did.

The Saudis spent big on PR campaigns in the US, to defeat Hillary. Iran is part of the reason. Saudi Arabia now sees China as a potential arms supplier, and China will not question how many Yemeni kids get killed. And they joined the China-Russia axis, and used their OPEC clout, to make sure oil prices do not drop, and Russia has enough money to conduct its murderous war against the Ukraine.

So, for Saudi Arabia to look the other way, when it comes to the Uyghurs is no surprise.

@Northwest True.

@Northwest I think the US - Saudi relationship is one of convenience. They can't really be close allies because their cultures and political systems differ too much; but the Saudis still see the USA (and UK) as militarily allies and of course oil buyers.

Unfortunately we have here a collection of authoritarian rulers, all narcissists at heart; but I doubt if any are really all that closely allied to each other except where and when it suits them. It would not surprise me if in ten years time those notional alliances will have moved again.

Chian is trying to be the World's Number One, and on her way to success; so everyone else is jockeying to obtain the best advantage and least damage. Human lives don't count here.

China has also been making friendly noises to Afghanistan, but to what purpose and effect so far I don't know. They do share a short border along a mountain ridge in the Himalayas, with an interesting-looking installation (mine? army base? prison?) and supporting village at the bottom of the hill on the Chinese side. Whether Beijing has ideas of a road or railway across the border, linking very remote areas of both countries, I have no idea; but it would make far more strategic sense to China than to Afghanistan.

@DarkHeaven correct

@CrazyMusicLover what’s sad… is the young girls from 5 to 25 basically grew up in an Afghanistan where the US was there and they were able to go to school and university… get a job, and not have to wear full burkas. One year later, they are living like they were 100 years ago, and as second class citizens to men.

@CrazyMusicLover that is why their country sucks they dont use the human capital of half their population

@ArishMell [quote]Ironically "we" are still there, working on famine relief. The country is in a dreadful state.[/quote]

I was responding to your comment about the military pullout, and how the US blindsided its allies, despite the fact that the deal to withdraw was signed and announced to the world on February 29, 2020, a full 18+ months BEFORE we actually pulled out. The initial deal called for a May 2021 withdrawal, but Biden delayed it.

I am amazed at how many people still believe this was a spur of the moment decision by the US.

There's only one country that can put pressure on the Taliban: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has some sway there, in addition to MBS trying to pass himself as a man about town, ready to "modernize". So there may be some hope.

@Northwest

[quote]Just as our evangelists believe that if they don't "convert" people, they will be held responsible on judgment day, these Taliban feel the same.[/quote]

I don't know of Christian evangelists who try to force people to convert (except the JW cult...).

[sep]

[quote]Even if true, does it matter? After all, we're talking about the Taliban, who are applying their rules, not what Islam tells them to do.[/quote]

Yes, because idiots abusing religion is on them, not the religion, itself.

You are the one who brought up the incredible atrocities of the Inquistion but that was a crazy deviation from the text.

@SomeMichGuy [quote]I don't know of Christian evangelists who try to force people to convert (except the JW cult...).
[/quote]

I don't know any mainstream Muslims who try to force people to convert either. Let's stick to the historical perspective. Even Saudi Arabia doesn't try to do that. At one point, however, the penalty for not converting to Christianity, was instant death. Examples: the Crusades, the Inquisition.

[quote]You are the one who brought up the incredible atrocities of the Inquistion but that was a crazy deviation from the text.
[/quote]

And I'm still on topic: forbidding women from getting an education. That's got nothing to do with Islam.

As to sticking to the text, if you go back to the Old Testament, which is something Jesus followed, there's plenty of blood, gore, rape, and genocide there.

My point though remains that blind devotion to religion is the core problem.

@soar2newhighs we all knew

@justanothername guess you missed the botched withdrawal and Biden promises he broke.

@MasterLee Not at all. But after 20 years of military training I would expect the Afghan army to stand up to the Taliban.

Yes, the US will provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, provided the Taliban hand’s leadership back to the Afghan people and vacates Afghanistan. Until that happens the Taliban is not getting any help from anyone except maybe Russia.

@justanothername Thank you for seeming to be an educated human here on this thread.

@scrood Basic human rights.

@scrood It's about women not being allowed to choose it, and even being ejected from universities yesterday.

If you could find NPR on a radio, you could have heard a report yesterday afternoon which included voicemails from women in Afghanistan who are directly affected.

@scrood Yeah, sure, because all universities do is spreading LGBTQ+ propaganda. 🤦‍♀️😂 Doctors and scientist are simply born with all knowledge and experience.