Women abducted by Taliban

As Afghanistan Melts Down

A generation of Afghan women who have taken their place in their society are now watching that space shrink before their eyes. They entered public life as lawmakers, local governors, doctors, lawyer, teachers and public administrators, working for two decades to help create a civil society and generate opportunities for those who come after them.

Now the Taliban are going door-to-door in some areas, compiling lists of women and girls aged between 12 and 45 years for their fighters to forcibly marry. Women are again being told they cannot leave the house without a male escort, they cannot work, study or dress as they please. Schools and colleges are being shut and businesses destroyed. The exodus of those who can afford to flee the country is growing by the day (Bloomberg).

Last month, Biden asserted, “Do I trust the Taliban? No. But I trust the capacity of the Afghan military, who is better trained, better equipped, and more re... more competent in terms of conducting war.”

Yet since Friday, the Taliban has won control of well over half of the country, including nine of its 34 provincial capitals — a number expected to rise in the coming days. The Taliban stepped up its attacks after Biden announced the plan to withdraw in April, but it has only started to retake major cities, such as Kunduz, as the August 31 deadline for completion of the U.S. exit approaches.

The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon assesses Kabul could fall within 90 days; some officials predict that’ll happen within a month — which would coincide with the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks (National Review).

Where he once insisted that two decades of U.S. backing had left Afghan forces capable of defending themselves, Biden and his aides have shifted to a more cold-blooded mantra: If they can’t, that’s not our problem (Politico).

After all the rape, murder and mayhem, the uncomprehending White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said “The Taliban also has to make an assessment about what they want their role to be in the international community” (RedState).