Democracy in retreat
Shock. Anger. Resentment. These feelings capture the incredible feelings about the abject failure of the West in Afghanistan. America bears most of the blame for leaving innocent women, children and men behind to fend for themselves against a monster. A hydra. A pariah of modern civilization.
The Taliban is a terrorist extremist group that breaks every fundamental principle of human dignity. Even while it now claims to be a softer version of itself, whom among us could forget this group harboured the Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind al-qaida, the terrorist organization that brought the world to its knees on Sept. 11, 2001 in an attack on America killing some 3,000 people.
And now, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the free world wonders how could we look the other way? If those who forget the past are destined to repeat it, are we not jeopardizing our own freedom and values in the long run — again? Worse, if democracies are the guardians of human rights (as they should be), how can we possibly allow the return of a notorious group known for horrific punishments like public executions and amputations of murderers, adulterers and thieves?
The Taliban’s treatment of women is unconscionable. Even while it’s promising to change its evil ways, if the past is any indication, women will be barred from education, with girls being restricted from going to school from after age 10. They will be forced to wear the all-covering burka and subjected to flogging and public shaming by the virtue police. Reports of educated and professional women attempting to flee the country before the Taliban’s absolute encirclement is saddening and maddening.
Arguments are being made that liberty cannot be imposed by force. The White House says that after billions of dollars and twenty years of preparation, it became evident that Afghanistan could not stand on its own without continued U.S. support. But America has military bases all over the region and truthfully, if it had kept even a few thousand military personnel in Kabul, Afghanistan would not be heading into an unprecedented human rights crisis. The Taliban will become a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
Former UN Ambassador and Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley expressed that even while there are many “barbaric” regimes in the world and it’s not America’s duty to police them, Afghanistan is different: “Twenty years ago, the terrorists bred in that country came for us. Now they are getting what they wanted.” The significance of pulling out of Afghanistan and relinquishing America’s role as a protector of human rights and its own security will cost America and the West dearly.
“They are not the only enemy satisfied by our defeat” says Haley. “China, Russia and Iran are watching a weak and retreating America unable to protect our interests. As a result, America is less safe today.” In fact, America’s quick exit from Afghanistan has already emboldened other terrorist groups taking notes. This week, the Hamas terror organization that rules Gaza quickly issued a statement commending the Taliban on its defeat of America and pledging its support. That attitude will have consequences for Israel and western nations around the world.
CHINA, RUSSIA AND IRAN ARE WATCHING A WEAK AND RETREATING AMERICA.
Over the last decade, the free world has been retreating from projecting and promoting human rights. In Syria, hundreds of thousands of people were murdered by a brutal regime. The free world failed to act. Russian forces marched into Crimea with little consequence from the West. Belarus is now clamping down on its citizens, while 1,000 people have been reported killed since the coup in Myanmar. America’s Afghanistan departure is a retreat of democracy and human rights. It green lights more atrocity and global instability. Our freedom is at stake.