|
Then I Woke Up And Saw This. WTF?
This was the weather in my hometown over the last week.
Source – bigger
40-50° F, somewhat sunny, spring was in the air.
And this is what I woke up to today. Two inch of snow with more falling as I write this. "What the f***?"
bigger
Those who have lived on a diet of 'western' news over the last weeks may have the same feeling when waking up to the real data.
Overthrowing Putin?
Sure.
Source – bigger
Yes – U.S. citizens would probably like to see that.
Source – bigger
But why not start with this guy?
Source – bigger
And here is the data from those who really count.
Source – bigger
Wait – wasn't Putin finished after he destroyed the value of the Russian currency?
Source – bigger
Not really.
Source – bigger
And today it's even better …
Source – bigger
Time for another coffee.
Thanks for the replies! I had business and just returned.
Another important note to paste in full is the machine translation of Lavrov’s “report card” from the Afghan conference held in Tunxi, China. Do take note of what nation is the main inhibitor in solving Afghanistan’s huge humanitarian problems and whose Terrorist Foreign Legion remains very active and is also a hinderance. IMO, further evidence that the Outlaw US Empire is Anti-Human. Lavrov:
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to our Chinese hosts for organizing the next ministerial meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and the events that are taking place and will continue to be held on the sidelines of this meeting. We believe that this initiative is very timely. “Comparing notes” in this format on the situation in Afghanistan is in demand for the development of region-wide approaches to the post-conflict development of this country.
It can be stated that, despite the lack of managerial experience, financial and economic restrictions and political and diplomatic pressure from the United States and its allies, the new administration of Afghanistan manages to cope with keeping the state “afloat”. There have been some positive results in the counter-terrorism area. Efforts were being made to respect human rights.
Kabul is actively working to expand diplomatic and economic ties. Officials of the Taliban government regularly hold meetings with foreign partners in bilateral and multilateral formats, as it was in Moscow, Tehran, Doha, Oslo, Antalya, etc. Today this list will be replenished by the city of Tunxi. We note the gradual establishment of trade and economic cooperation, primarily with the countries of the region, whose business structures are interested in Afghanistan. All these contacts certainly contribute to the international recognition of the new Afghan authorities. In this regard, I would like to note that the first Afghan diplomat sent by the new authorities, who arrived in Moscow last month, received accreditation from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
In our view, the main obstacle to the formal recognition of the new Government in Kabul remains its lack of representation. I am referring to the absence in the authorities of those persons who would represent the interests not only of different ethnic groups of the country, national and religious minorities, but also of political forces. If these conditions are met, the UN should play a decisive role in the official recognition of DT.
The World Organization should be the main coordinator in addressing the full range of problems of post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan. This, in particular, was discussed during the last meeting of the Moscow format in October 2021, which was attended by all the countries present here and a delegation of the Taliban. The outcome document collectively called on all of us to convene a representative international donor conference as soon as possible under the auspices of the United Nations. Almost six months passed before the UN, with the support of such extra-regional states as Qatar, Germany, and the United Kingdom, responded to this call and announced a high-level conference on humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Frankly speaking, we were perplexed by the lack of coordination between the organizers and participants in the preparation of this forum. The corresponding invitation to our address was received less than two weeks before it was held. And the timing strangely coincided with our event today. The conclusion arises that our Western colleagues are trying to use the UN flag and the UN Secretariat in order to create artificial competition in international and regional efforts in afghanistan. We consider such actions counterproductive and urge our colleagues from the UN to take a more responsible approach to their duties.
On March 17, UN Security Council Resolution 2626 on the extension of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan was adopted. Russia took an active part in the work on this document. At the same time, they were forced to abstain from voting on it due to the categorical refusal of the Western members of the Security Council to include in the text a direct mention of the Taliban de facto authorities. We are convinced that this issue should have been coordinated with the new Afghan authorities. However, our insistent proposals were ignored, although host State support for any UN mission is an absolute imperative in deciding the work of all peacekeeping and special political missions of the Organization.
We consider it necessary to intensify our joint work with the leadership of the UN and its Afghan mission in order to ensure that the interests of Afghanistan’s neighbours and other regional partners in the context of the reconstruction of this country are fully taken into account.
Dear colleagues,
Despite the general cessation of hostilities and a significant decrease in the number of civilian casualties, the security situation in the country cannot yet be called stable. A serious factor of tension remains the activities of international terrorist organizations, such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Jamaat Ansarullah, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, East Turkestan (IMU, ETIM), etc. Additional tension is created as a result of the activities of Panjshir guerrillas from the National Resistance Front.
Of particular concern are the plans of ISIS and their supporters to destabilize the Central Asian states and export instability to Russia. An alarming signal is the build-up of jamaat Ansarulla detachments and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) in the area of the Afghan-Tajik and Afghan-Uzbek borders.
As we have already stated, we consider unacceptable the deployment of any military infrastructure of the United States and NATO or the Afghans who served them on the territory of neighboring states, primarily in Central Asia. Such plans run counter to the security interests of our States and contradict the obligations that arise from the charter documents of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. We urge you to be extremely careful about appeals regarding the placement of Afghan refugees in the territory of neighboring countries and carefully weigh the possible negative consequences that carry high risks for the country concerned and regional security as a whole. Even if such visits are submitted under noble humanitarian slogans, it will not be superfluous to show increased vigilance.
The problem of illicit drug trafficking is not decreasing. According to some estimates, income from the drug business ranges from 6 to 11 percent. GDP of Afghanistan. At the end of last year, an increase in the yield of narcotic crops and the volume of drug production was recorded. As far as is known, the Taliban authorities, despite the measures to which our President referred, do not prohibit local farmers from cultivating opium poppy due to the difficult situation in the economy. The high-ranking representatives of the DT themselves are sounding the alarm in connection with the growth in the number of drug addicts to 5 million people, including, according to estimates, 1 million – women and children. Call on the international community to assist Afghanistan in its transition to alternative cultures. We are convinced that approaches to resolving the Afghan drug problem should be comprehensive and combine law enforcement with the development of national agriculture and the health system.
Dear colleagues,
After 20 years of NATO’s military presence, accompanied by a completely collapsed experiment in imposing recipes and values alien to the Afghan people, the “collective West” bears direct responsibility for the current humanitarian situation, the deplorable state of the Afghan economy. Consequently, it must shoulder the brunt of the financial burden of overcoming the crisis and stabilizing the situation.
However, Washington, as we have seen more than once, is trying to evade responsibility for the fate of Afghan citizens and refugees, including those who served the Americans and are now “stuck” on the way to the United States in “transit countries”. It seems that Washington is not averse to leaving these people in the region on a permanent basis.
President Joe Biden’s decree to block half of the accounts of the Afghan Central Bank under the pretext of the need to pay compensation for the claims of relatives of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks looks particularly cynical and even mocking. This frankly unfair decision sharply limits the ability of the Taliban government to normalize the situation and reduces the counter-terrorism potential of the Afghan armed forces and law enforcement agencies. The sincerity of the Americans’ intentions to help stabilize the situation in Afghanistan is highly questionable.
We commend certain steps taken by international agencies and financial institutions, in particular the World Bank, which has decided to unfreeze the Afghanistan Reconstruction Fund in order to alleviate the humanitarian situation. So far, however, these measures have not led to a marked improvement in the lives of ordinary Afghans. Washington, again, through its influence in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, hinders the implementation of social programs by the Kabul authorities. In particular, it hinders the resumption of the work of Afghan financial operators with the international banking system.
In such circumstances, it is necessary to strengthen regional cooperation, consolidate our approaches aimed both at restoring and normalizing all spheres of Afghanistan’s life, and at suppressing the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking that are still emanating from this country. I also believe that the Moscow format, the SCO and the CSTO are promising mechanisms for establishing effective, sustainable and coordinated work in these areas.
It is important to continue work within the framework of the so-called expanded troika. It has a serious untapped potential and is capable of bringing together key regional partners and other donors for the comprehensive post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan.
The main thing is that our American colleagues should participate in this mechanism in good faith, proceeding not from the next geopolitical plans, but from the interests of the Afghan people and stability in the region. Russia continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan population. In November-December 2021, the next three consignments of humanitarian goods, including food and medicines, were delivered. Another batch of humanitarian aid was delivered last week, when an interdepartmental Russian delegation was in Kabul. This visit confirmed the mutual interest in establishing Russian-Afghan cooperation in such areas as energy, transport, civil aviation, mining, and agriculture.
In conclusion, I would like to note that we support the adoption of the Joint Statement following our meeting today, as well as the Tongxi Initiative proposed by the Chinese organizers. This document can serve as a basis for our further work to build up practical cooperation with our Afghan colleagues.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 31 2022 21:11 utc | 141
|
