veteranstoday--2020-05-25--Afghanistan: Glitches after historic peace agreement

The Taliban regime under Mullah Omar took over power after capturing Kabul in October 1996 .
It managed to eliminate war lordism , poppy growing and crimes and restore normalcy by introducing strict Sharia .
The regime was recognized by Pakistan , Saudi Arabia and UAE .
For the first time Pakistan ’ s western border became safe and the Indian influence in Afghanistan waned .
The US extended a helping hand to the ruling regime but it came in bad books when the deal with the UNICOL for sharing profits on oil and gas pipelines didn ’ t materialise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county was demonized , sanctioned and ostracized .
After a false flag operation on 9/11 , story of Al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden based in Afghanistan was woven .
When Taliban Shura sought proof of OBL ’ s involvement and suggested a fair trial at a neutral venue , George W. Bush rejected the request since invasion had been preplanned .
Pakistan was threatened to be pushed into Stone Age if it didn ’ t cut off relations with the Taliban and refused to provide all the support the US needed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the invaders to impress the world were : To avenge the killings of about 3000 Americans ; free the Afghans from the tyranny of Taliban ; liberate and educate the women ; eliminate opium production ; and make the country democratic and prosperous .
Hidden motive was to make Afghanistan a strategic outpost against China , Russia , Iran and Pakistan and to extract mineral resources from Central Asia .
The US in 2001 was the wealthiest and strongest nation in the history of the world .
Afghanistan had already undergone 10-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had suffered 1.2 million fatalities and that many injuries .
The war was followed by bloody civil war for another 6 years during which there was more bloodshed .
This could have been avoided had the US not exited in haste in 1990 , and left the seven Mujahideen groups as well Pakistan , which had played a key role , high and dry .
Penurious Afghanistan was encircled from all sides .
Troops of Northern Alliance trained by the militaries of Iran and India were used for ground invasion on October 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided by US-NATO forces .
Once the Taliban carried out a tactical withdrawal to Tora Bora caves and then to FATA in order to avoid destruction of the country , Bush and his team sounded victory bugles .
Megalomania impelled the adventurers to invade Iraq in 2003 under fake charges of weapons of mass destruction with a view to change the boundaries of Middle East , steal its oil and mineral resources and establish Greater Israel .
During his eight-year rule , Bush adopted fight-and-fight strategy to defeat Al-Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to weaken Pakistan covertly through proxies and ‘ Do More ’ mantra .
He paid little heed to rebuild the destroyed country rehabilitate the people , and instead focused more on destabilizing Pakistan and Iraq .
From 2004 onwards , Pakistan was accused of abetting terrorism , while RAW-NDS were encouraged to foment terrorism in Pakistan from Afghan soil .
In order to share the spoils of war , 48 countries of the world joined the war on terror in Afghanistan .
The ISAF comprised of 30,000 troops .
Occupiers enjoyed strategic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantages , but couldn ’ t stop the Taliban from regrouping and returning back to their original bastion in southern Afghanistan .
Obama framed Af-Pak policy , closed the Iraqi front and shifted the centre of gravity to Afghanistan by carrying out troop surges in 2009/10 and increased the troop level from 30,000 to 1 , 30,000 .
The ISAF under Gen Petraeus tried hard to launch military operations in Qandahar , Khost and in Helmand , but couldn ’ t do so even when its demand of clearance of North Waziristan from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistan in 2015 .
Obama made drone as choice weapon and used it extensively in Afghanistan and in FATA so as to disrupt , dismantle and defeat Al-Qaeda with the help of Pakistan .
In 2011 , peace prong was launched in Afghanistan and fight and talk policy was adopted .
Since troop surges proved expensive and couldn ’ t make any headway , Obama decided to pullout and troop drawdown commenced in July 2011 .
Same year Spring offensive was launched in Middle East to change regimes and create chaos .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was signed .
Similar agreements were also inked between India-Afghanistan and India-USA .
Combat missions in all 34 Afghan provinces ( 403 districts ) were handed over to US-UK trained 350,000 strong ANSF by mid-2013 .
Green-on-blue attacks intensified in 2014 .
On August 5 , 2014 , Maj Gen Harold J. Greene was killed and 15 officers and men including German Brig were injured by an Afghan gunman dressed in ANA uniform .
By December 2014 , the ISAF strength was reduced to 13000 with 9800 US troops .
This force named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under bilateral security agreement to provide backup support to ANSF .
Once bulk of troops withdrew in December 2014 , the Taliban took advantage and intensified their attacks to turn the tide in their favor .
In December 2016 , 1000 US troops withdrew and 8400 troops were deployed in four military bases of Kabul , Bagram , Qandahar and Jalalabad .
Pakistan carried out all the major offensives in Swat-Malakand region , Bajaur , South Waziristan , Mohmand , Kurram , Khyber , Orakzai , North Waziristan agencies during Obama rule and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 , Trump discarded talk ’ s option and readopted George Bush ’ s policy of fight and fight with greater vigor .
3000 additional troops were inducted .
From September 2017 till end 2018 , revenue sources , transportation networks and leaders of Taliban were targeted .
200 air strikes were conducted dropping 7500 bombs and drones were fired extensively .
Mother of all bombs was dropped at Nangarhar .
The Taliban conducted 8000 attacks .
Civilian casualties in 2018 surged to 10,993 .
2019 was the most expensive year for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every province in the country and threatened provincial capitals .
Farah and Ghazni Provinces were briefly seized in May and August 2018 respectively .
Over 60 % districts came under their control .
To hide his embarrassment , like his two predecessors , Trump blamed Pakistan for instability in Afghanistan .
Obama regime initiated the peace process in 2011 and helped in opening Taliban political office at Doha in June 2013 .
Pakistan managed to convince the defacto Taliban Ameer Mullah Mansour Akhtar and hosted an intra-Afghan dialogue in Murree on 07 July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influential Afghan leaders .
Representatives of USA and China sat as observers .
Spoilers of peace disrupted the next round of talks scheduled on 31 July 2015 by releasing the news of death of Mullah Omar .
Quadruplicate peace talks initiated by US , China , Afghanistan and Pakistan couldn ’ t make any headway .
When Pakistan once again created conducive conditions for the meeting , Mullah Mansour was droned to death in May 2016 .
Once Trump took over power in January 2017 , he cancelled peace talks and planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year of rigorous use of force and failing to achieve any results , Trump nominated Zalmey Khalilzad to open talks with Taliban in July 2018 and end the war .
In September 2019 , Trump abruptly cancelled peace talks on the pretext of death of one US soldier .
In October 2019 , Islamabad hosted a Taliban delegation headed by Mullah Baradar and also facilitated Taliban ’ s meeting with Khalilzad in Islamabad .
The US , China , Pakistan , and Russia came together in the Moscow talks where all four sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only road to peace in Afghanistan .
China also hosted an intra-Afghan dialogue in Beijing which was attended by Mullah Baradar , Pakistan and USA reps .
In December 2019 , the US resumed talks with Taliban .
From July 2018 till February 2020 , ten rounds of peace talks took place .
The sticking points on which the process got lengthy were insistence of the US to carryout permanent ceasefire , inclusion of Kabul regime in peace talks and letting the US military to retain some bases .
The Taliban didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete withdrawal of foreign forces .
On insistence of Pakistan , the Taliban agreed to curb violence for 7 days from 22 to 28 February 2020 to sign peace agreement .
Presidential elections were held in September 2019 .
Although the Election Commission declared Ashraf Ghani a winner on 18 February 2020 with 50.64 % votes , Dr. Abdullah securing 39.52 % votes rejected the results .
Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah held presidential inauguration ceremonies at Kabul on 9 March separately , thereby laying the foundation for a divided Afghanistan on ethnic/sectarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO held by Abdullah .
The US applied pressure by cutting $ one billion aid and also made persistent efforts to end the feud since power tussle politically weakened the US installed regime .
The two rivals signed power sharing agreement on 16 May 2020 .
Mullah Baradar and Zalmey Khalilzad signed the historic peace agreement in Doha on 29 February 2020 , bringing the war to a potential end .
Subsequently it was ratified by the UNSC .
The important clauses of Doha agreement were : • Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be used for terrorism against USA , NATO .
• US-NATO will refrain from use of force or meddling in internal affairs of Afghanistan .
• Comprehensive ceasefire and Taliban will desist from attacking US-NATO troops in major cities .
• IEA will start intra Afghan dialogue and negotiations by 10 March 2020 to arrive at comprehensive political settlement .
• Both parties will retain control over their respective areas until formation of new Afghan Government .
• The US will seek economic cooperation and reconstruction of Afghanistan .
• In first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 ( 135 days ) , 5000 US troops will be pulled out leaving behind 8600 .
• Complete withdrawal of foreign forces completed by May 2021 .
• Release of 5000 prisoners of Taliban and 1000 US/ANSF soldiers by the start of intra-Afghan dialogue on 10 March at Oslo , and the rest within three months .
• Removal of Taliban leaders from UN/US blacklist and end to economic sanctions on Taliban by 27 August 2020 .
The US would carry out withdrawal of 13000 American troops in two phases in 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shorter timetable than the one given by Obama which was 3 ½ years long , this time delay could also be on purpose .
Signing of an agreement implies that the US has lost the war , but ego restrains it from admitting its defeat .
It is eager for a face saving and safe exit .
Seeking of economic cooperation implies that USA intends to keep its presence for some more time .
Since no American official signed the peace accord , possibility of U-turn can not be ruled out .
Hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement , when spoilers sprang into action to derail the agreement and mar the happiness of peace seekers .
Jilted Ashraf Ghani angered over being kept out of the grand event and egged on by India and NDS , threw the first spanner on March 01 by stating that he was not bounded by any agreement to release the prisoners .
Pressured by USA , Ghani issued a decree on 10 March for release of 1500 prisoners and rest in batches of 500 , and that too conditional to an undertaking by them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battlefield .
Taliban rejected the offer saying that the agreement lays down release of all prisoners in one go .
Taliban withdrew from prisoner swap talks with Kabul regime on 7 April , initiated on 30 March and made the start of talks conditional to release of prisoners .
On 8 April , 1000 Taliban prisoners were released .
Ceasefire announced by Taliban during Eidul Azha enthused Ghani and he ordered release of 2000 Taliban prisoners a day before Eid .
Since Ghani ’ s acts were in violation of peace agreement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positons in districts of Kunduz and Helmand on 3 March .
33 targets were hit in 13 provinces .
The US also broke the pledge by carrying out air attack in Helmand in support of beleaguered Afghan soldiers on the following day .
The Taliban reminded that they were free to attack Afghan forces in rural areas , and spring offensive will be launched in first week of April .
Between 3 March and 15 April , Taliban undertook 4500 attacks and killed 900 ANSF soldiers .
The Taliban are determined to establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find no place for the collaborators in the future govt .
Mullah Omar ’ s son Mulla Yaqub has been appointed overall military commander .
Phased and condition-based release of prisoners was rejected by Taliban .
Americans were told to vacate the country as per schedule and not to worry about safety of their puppet regime .
Haqqani Network ( HN ) threatened to capture Kabul and said fate of Ghani wouldn ’ t be different to Dr. Najibullah .
Post 9/11 war on terror is the longest war ever waged by USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still not terminated .
In 2009 , the occupiers abandoned boots on ground strategy , bunkered themselves in military bases , relied wholly on airpower and drones , and used 250,000 ANA to undertake ground operations .
Change in posture helped the Taliban to gain initiative , which could not be regained by the occupying forces .
Thereon , it was a losing battle but the US kept reinforcing failure with zero result .
Obama took the credit of dismantling and defeating Al-Qaeda , where as it was done by Pakistan .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by pitching HN against Taliban , or to create leadership crisis but failed .
HN was painted as the most dreadful monster .
Pakistan was made a scapegoat by USA to hide US failures .
Plight of the people of Afghanistan and that of the women is as dismal as it was , if not worst .
During five-year rule of Taliban , poppy growing was almost eliminated in Afghanistan , but now it has become the biggest narcotic den and exporter of opium in the world .
CIA is the biggest beneficiary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been supporting covert operations with the help of drug money .
Having spent $ 2 trillion in Afghanistan and lost 2400 soldiers , ( total casualties of coalition forces 3550 ) , USA couldn ’ t accomplish any of its stated and hidden objectives .
Instead , it has melted its economy , lost its prestige and earned hatred of the world .
The US drew no lessons from history that it is easier to enter Afghanistan , but most difficult to get out of it and that historically it has been the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that Afghanistan is a tribal society which shuns modernism , democracy and alien culture .
Governed by Pashtunwali , Mullahs and tribalism reign supreme and ethnicity is stronger than religion .
Afghans are at war for the last 40 years and the third generation is currently fighting the war and to them , hardships , sufferings , casualties and time do not matter .
The US and its partners wanted to tire out and exhaust the Taliban and to break their will to fight , which they couldn ’ t .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ full of fight to free their country , the occupiers have got tired and exhausted .
They are demoralized and have no heart left to continue fighting and that too without a cause .
They are suffering from post-stress disorders , committing suicides , and are desperate to return home .
Victory against the Soviets was a miracle of 20th century .
The Mujahideen had seven groups under seven commanders and were supported by Pakistan , USA and the free world .
This miracle is much more awe-inspiring since the Taliban turned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commander .
Power hungry Ghani , Abdullah and warlords are interested in power only and not in peaceful Afghanistan .
War on terror has all the gains for the deceitful Indo-Israeli axis .
The duo obsessed with global ambitions is instrumental in plunging the fortunes of USA .
By staying out of war , Russia and China consolidated their respective military and economic power .
They are merrily watching the endgame of the declining sole super power with a twinkle in their eyes .
Pakistan had a big hand in facilitating peace process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by USA has been made conditional to control of violence , which provides Washington flexibility to sabotage the peace agreement and to continue maintaining its residual presence .
Salfi group ’ s alignment has further strengthened Taliban .
Jihadi Afghanistan , Revolutionary Iran and Islamic Pakistan are unacceptable to USA , Israel and India .
The US commenced thinning out of troops from Bagram base on 14 March .
Underestimating the enemy and over-estimating own capabilities .
Installation of pro-India and anti-Pakistan regime of Northern Alliance in Kabul and ignoring majority Pashtuns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ regimes of Karzai and Ghani in Kabul .
Establishing biggest base for covert operations to destabilize and denuclearize Pakistan .
Opening 2nd front in Iraq without consolidating gains in Afghanistan .
These distractions veered away occupiers from their main mission and allowed the Taliban to regroup .
Distrusting and blaming Pakistan , and trusting self-serving India , Israel and puppet regimes in Kabul made Afghanistan perpetually unstable .
US Civil & military leadership lied and misled American public about the war .
2002/03 was the best time to sign peace deal with Taliban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make a clean break .
Mistakes were never corrected and no military strategy made to convert defeat into victory .
The US was forced to sign agreement with the so-called monsters , after it concluded that it could neither win the war , nor defeat or contain the Taliban , or to exit safely and honorably .
USA vainly tried to convince the Taliban to share power with Ashraf Ghani .
Wish of USA to make India a key player in Afghanistan couldn ’ t be fulfilled .
India couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duties .
ANSF lack capacity and will to fight Taliban .
They lost 50,000 soldiers in last 5 years .
Pakistan restricted its support to peace process only and refused to fight other ’ s war .
Taliban broke their isolation by gaining support of Russia , China , Iran , Pakistan , Arab States and Turkey .
Peace process was meant to white wash war crimes of USA and to conceal defeat .
2020 being the election year , Trump is desperate to pull out 60 % of 13000 US troops before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few electoral brownie points .
US administration .
It wants to retain a foothold and extract mineral resources from Afghanistan , CARs .
Pentagon & CIA .
The duo want their arms industry and drug business to continue .
India .
It doesn ’ t want to lose its $ 2-3 billion investment and influence in Afghanistan , and would like to keep Pakistan in a nut-cracker situation .
Kabul regime/NDS .
Doesn ’ t want to lose power .
The Taliban dub the regime as illegitimate .
Israel .
Loss of Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Russia and Jihadi forces .
Security contractors , drug Mafia , warlords .
They have their mercantile interests .
Islamic State of Khurasan , Black Water .
It is an alternative force to back up ANSF and to keep the pot boiling .
To malign Taliban , Daesh carried out deadly attacks on Sikh Temple , hospital and a funeral in Kabul .
Understanding among local tribes to bring them on one page Afghan government controls only 40 % of territory mostly in central Afghanistan , while Taliban have full control over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern Afghanistan and parts of urban areas .
USA , India and Iran are averse to the idea of establishment of IEA , and would like the present unity government in Kabul to share power with Taliban as a senior partner .
The US is keen to retain their strongest Bagram airbase which has multi-layered defence system and can house 10-12000 troops .
Russia is keen to regain its influence in Afghanistan with the support of Taliban .
China wants peaceful and friendly Afghanistan for the success of CPEC , to explore minerals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its soft belly in Sinkiang .
Islamic State of Khurasan and militias under warlords would keep the country turbulent .
Seeing that Afghanistan has slipped out of its hands as well as of India , the US is looking for an alternative base in the Af-Pak region .
Ladakh in J & K suits USA from where it can keep an eye over it chief rival China , CPEC and Pakistan .
This strategic consideration impelled Trump to elbow Modi to integrate disputed occupied Kashmir into Indian Union .
Offer of mediation on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pacified and to lure it to provide a military base .
Resolution of Kashmir dispute through Trump ’ s mediation for sure will be on Indian terms and Pakistan will be a loser .
Yet another option could be to deploy UN peace keeping force with heaviest contingent from India .
Unpredictable Trump may put the blame on Taliban to snuggle out of peace deal once he wins elections in coming November and decide to hold on to Afghanistan with reduced troop level , backed by 25000 Blackwater and Daesh .
Many countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Afghanistan .
It is brimming with sectarian , ethnic and religious fault lines and is primed for chaos .
If intra-Afghan peace process doesn ’ t succeed , the country is likely to plunge into another civil war .
If the Taliban try to take over power by force , the liberals , nationalists and non-Pashtuns will resist fiercely thereby igniting ethnic/sectarian flames .
While USA will play a double game to maintain its importance in both camps , Pakistan will remain in two minds .
Peace in Afghanistan is dependent upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ability of the Afghans to think beyond parochial interests .
If the US is sincerely interested in restoring peace , it will have to co-opt Pakistan , Russia , China and Iran to arrive at viable power sharing arrangement .
Pakistan will have to become proactive to save the peace agreement and arrive at a political settlement .
After their well-deserved victory , Taliban are in better position to conduct intra-Afghan dialogue .
Pakistan should take China , Russia and possibly Iran in loop and arrange a meeting at Islamabad or Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Political office of Taliban to be opened at Islamabad .
Let the 14-month troop withdrawal get completed smoothly .
Remove trust deficit between Taliban-US and veer the US from minority NA to majoritarian Taliban .
Complete fencing of western and southern borders and further improve border management .
Return all Afghan refugees by end of this year .
Ask US to release Dr. Aafia Siddiqui .
Ask US to settle Durand Line issue .
Insist on closure of RAW-NDS-TTP-BLA terror infrastructure and return of runaway terrorists .
USA failed due to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to their superior cause , steadfastness and extraordinary valor .
Pakistan suffered since it couldn ’ t differentiate between friend and foe , and never had a strategy to get out of inferno of imposed war .
There are still many a slip between the cup and the lip .
Euphoria seem to be dying down and ominous shadows of civil war are looming .
We have been unwisely trusting USA and supporting anti-Pakistan regime in Kabul which in collusion with India has caused excruciating pain to Pakistan .
Single-handed facilitation by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA and Kabul regime , and modest influence over Taliban , will not produce results .
For lasting peace , Pakistan will have to stay engaged with all Afghan power centres in Afghanistan , and tread our course steadily , prudently and wisely .
The writer is a retired Brig , war veteran , former Defence Attaché ’ and Dean of Corps of Military Attaches ’ in Cairo , defence & security analyst , international columnist , author of five books , Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan , Director Measac Research Center , Member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Member Council TJP .
[ email protected ]

Asif Haroon Raja, … for VT
Taliban Seized Power
The Taliban regime under Mullah Omar took over power after capturing Kabul in October 1996. It managed to eliminate war lordism, poppy growing and crimes and restore normalcy by introducing strict Sharia. The regime was recognized by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE. For the first time Pakistan’s western border became safe and the Indian influence in Afghanistan waned.
The US extended a helping hand to the ruling regime but it came in bad books when the deal with the UNICOL for sharing profits on oil and gas pipelines didn’t materialise in 1997. There on, the county was demonized, sanctioned and ostracized.
False Flag Operation
After a false flag operation on 9/11, story of Al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden based in Afghanistan was woven. When Taliban Shura sought proof of OBL’s involvement and suggested a fair trial at a neutral venue, George W. Bush rejected the request since invasion had been preplanned.
Pakistan Threatened
Pakistan was threatened to be pushed into Stone Age if it didn’t cut off relations with the Taliban and refused to provide all the support the US needed.
Reasons for Invasion. The reasons propounded by the invaders to impress the world were:
To avenge the killings of about 3000 Americans; free the Afghans from the tyranny of Taliban; liberate and educate the women; eliminate opium production; and make the country democratic and prosperous.
Hidden motive was to make Afghanistan a strategic outpost against China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan and to extract mineral resources from Central Asia.
Invasion of Afghanistan
The US in 2001 was the wealthiest and strongest nation in the history of the world. Afghanistan had already undergone 10-year war against the Soviets in which it had suffered 1.2 million fatalities and that many injuries.
The war was followed by bloody civil war for another 6 years during which there was more bloodshed. This could have been avoided had the US not exited in haste in 1990, and left the seven Mujahideen groups as well Pakistan, which had played a key role, high and dry.
Penurious Afghanistan was encircled from all sides. Troops of Northern Alliance trained by the militaries of Iran and India were used for ground invasion on October 7, 2001, while air support was provided by US-NATO forces.
Once the Taliban carried out a tactical withdrawal to Tora Bora caves and then to FATA in order to avoid destruction of the country, Bush and his team sounded victory bugles.
Iraq Invaded
Megalomania impelled the adventurers to invade Iraq in 2003 under fake charges of weapons of mass destruction with a view to change the boundaries of Middle East, steal its oil and mineral resources and establish Greater Israel.
George Bush’s Fight-&-Fight Strategy
During his eight-year rule, Bush adopted fight-and-fight strategy to defeat Al-Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan and resistance forces in Iraq, and to weaken Pakistan covertly through proxies and ‘Do More’ mantra.
He paid little heed to rebuild the destroyed country rehabilitate the people, and instead focused more on destabilizing Pakistan and Iraq. From 2004 onwards, Pakistan was accused of abetting terrorism, while RAW-NDS were encouraged to foment terrorism in Pakistan from Afghan soil.
ISAF
In order to share the spoils of war, 48 countries of the world joined the war on terror in Afghanistan. The ISAF comprised of 30,000 troops.
Occupiers enjoyed strategic, technical, technological, administrative and informational advantages, but couldn’t stop the Taliban from regrouping and returning back to their original bastion in southern Afghanistan.
Barack Obama’s Rule
Obama framed Af-Pak policy, closed the Iraqi front and shifted the centre of gravity to Afghanistan by carrying out troop surges in 2009/10 and increased the troop level from 30,000 to 1, 30,000.
The ISAF under Gen Petraeus tried hard to launch military operations in Qandahar, Khost and in Helmand, but couldn’t do so even when its demand of clearance of North Waziristan from the presence of HN was fulfilled by Pakistan in 2015.
Obama made drone as choice weapon and used it extensively in Afghanistan and in FATA so as to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al-Qaeda with the help of Pakistan. In 2011, peace prong was launched in Afghanistan and fight and talk policy was adopted.
Since troop surges proved expensive and couldn’t make any headway, Obama decided to pullout and troop drawdown commenced in July 2011. Same year Spring offensive was launched in Middle East to change regimes and create chaos.
In May 2012, US-Afghan strategic partnership agreement was signed. Similar agreements were also inked between India-Afghanistan and India-USA. Combat missions in all 34 Afghan provinces (403 districts) were handed over to US-UK trained 350,000 strong ANSF by mid-2013. Green-on-blue attacks intensified in 2014.
On August 5, 2014, Maj Gen Harold J. Greene was killed and 15 officers and men including German Brig were injured by an Afghan gunman dressed in ANA uniform.
By December 2014, the ISAF strength was reduced to 13000 with 9800 US troops. This force named as Resolute Support Group was left behind under bilateral security agreement to provide backup support to ANSF.
Once bulk of troops withdrew in December 2014, the Taliban took advantage and intensified their attacks to turn the tide in their favor.
In December 2016, 1000 US troops withdrew and 8400 troops were deployed in four military bases of Kabul, Bagram, Qandahar and Jalalabad.
Pakistan carried out all the major offensives in Swat-Malakand region, Bajaur, South Waziristan, Mohmand, Kurram, Khyber, Orakzai, North Waziristan agencies during Obama rule and achieved decisive results.
Donald Trump’s Tenure
On August 21, 2017, Trump discarded talk’s option and readopted George Bush’s policy of fight and fight with greater vigor. 3000 additional troops were inducted. From September 2017 till end 2018, revenue sources, transportation networks and leaders of Taliban were targeted. 200 air strikes were conducted dropping 7500 bombs and drones were fired extensively. Mother of all bombs was dropped at Nangarhar.
The Taliban conducted 8000 attacks. Civilian casualties in 2018 surged to 10,993. 2019 was the most expensive year for ANSF.
The Taliban controlled or contested every province in the country and threatened provincial capitals. Farah and Ghazni Provinces were briefly seized in May and August 2018 respectively. Over 60% districts came under their control.
To hide his embarrassment, like his two predecessors, Trump blamed Pakistan for instability in Afghanistan.
Peace Talks Initiated
Obama regime initiated the peace process in 2011 and helped in opening Taliban political office at Doha in June 2013. Pakistan managed to convince the defacto Taliban Ameer Mullah Mansour Akhtar and hosted an intra-Afghan dialogue in Murree on 07 July 2015, which was attended by many influential Afghan leaders. Representatives of USA and China sat as observers.
Spoilers of peace disrupted the next round of talks scheduled on 31 July 2015 by releasing the news of death of Mullah Omar.
Quadruplicate peace talks initiated by US, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan couldn’t make any headway. When Pakistan once again created conducive conditions for the meeting, Mullah Mansour was droned to death in May 2016.
Once Trump took over power in January 2017, he cancelled peace talks and planned to decimate the Taliban. After over one year of rigorous use of force and failing to achieve any results, Trump nominated Zalmey Khalilzad to open talks with Taliban in July 2018 and end the war. In September 2019, Trump abruptly cancelled peace talks on the pretext of death of one US soldier.
In October 2019, Islamabad hosted a Taliban delegation headed by Mullah Baradar and also facilitated Taliban’s meeting with Khalilzad in Islamabad. The US, China, Pakistan, and Russia came together in the Moscow talks where all four sides agreed that ‘negotiations’ are the only road to peace in Afghanistan. China also hosted an intra-Afghan dialogue in Beijing which was attended by Mullah Baradar, Pakistan and USA reps. In December 2019, the US resumed talks with Taliban.
From July 2018 till February 2020, ten rounds of peace talks took place. The sticking points on which the process got lengthy were insistence of the US to carryout permanent ceasefire, inclusion of Kabul regime in peace talks and letting the US military to retain some bases. The Taliban didn’t agree to any and insisted upon complete withdrawal of foreign forces. On insistence of Pakistan, the Taliban agreed to curb violence for 7 days from 22 to 28 February 2020 to sign peace agreement.
Power Tussle in Kabul
Presidential elections were held in September 2019. Although the Election Commission declared Ashraf Ghani a winner on 18 February 2020 with 50.64% votes, Dr. Abdullah securing 39.52% votes rejected the results.
Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah held presidential inauguration ceremonies at Kabul on 9 March separately, thereby laying the foundation for a divided Afghanistan on ethnic/sectarian lines. Ghani abolished the portfolio of CEO held by Abdullah.
The US applied pressure by cutting $ one billion aid and also made persistent efforts to end the feud since power tussle politically weakened the US installed regime. The two rivals signed power sharing agreement on 16 May 2020.
Historic Peace Agreement
Mullah Baradar and Zalmey Khalilzad signed the historic peace agreement in Doha on 29 February 2020, bringing the war to a potential end. Subsequently it was ratified by the UNSC.
The important clauses of Doha agreement were:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) will not allow Afghan soil to be used for terrorism against USA, NATO. US-NATO will refrain from use of force or meddling in internal affairs of Afghanistan. Comprehensive ceasefire and Taliban will desist from attacking US-NATO troops in major cities. IEA will start intra Afghan dialogue and negotiations by 10 March 2020 to arrive at comprehensive political settlement. Both parties will retain control over their respective areas until formation of new Afghan Government. The US will seek economic cooperation and reconstruction of Afghanistan. In first phase from 13 March to 27 July 2020 (135 days), 5000 US troops will be pulled out leaving behind 8600. Complete withdrawal of foreign forces completed by May 2021. Release of 5000 prisoners of Taliban and 1000 US/ANSF soldiers by the start of intra-Afghan dialogue on 10 March at Oslo, and the rest within three months. Removal of Taliban leaders from UN/US blacklist and end to economic sanctions on Taliban by 27 August 2020.
Inferences
The US would carry out withdrawal of 13000 American troops in two phases in 14 months. Although this is a much shorter timetable than the one given by Obama which was 3 ½ years long, this time delay could also be on purpose.
Signing of an agreement implies that the US has lost the war, but ego restrains it from admitting its defeat. It is eager for a face saving and safe exit.
Seeking of economic cooperation implies that USA intends to keep its presence for some more time.
Since no American official signed the peace accord, possibility of U-turn cannot be ruled out.
Initial Cracks in Peace Agreement
Hardly had the ink dried on the peace agreement, when spoilers sprang into action to derail the agreement and mar the happiness of peace seekers.
Jilted Ashraf Ghani angered over being kept out of the grand event and egged on by India and NDS, threw the first spanner on March 01 by stating that he was not bounded by any agreement to release the prisoners.
Pressured by USA, Ghani issued a decree on 10 March for release of 1500 prisoners and rest in batches of 500, and that too conditional to an undertaking by them that they won’t return to battlefield. Taliban rejected the offer saying that the agreement lays down release of all prisoners in one go.
Taliban withdrew from prisoner swap talks with Kabul regime on 7 April, initiated on 30 March and made the start of talks conditional to release of prisoners. On 8 April, 1000 Taliban prisoners were released.
Ceasefire announced by Taliban during Eidul Azha enthused Ghani and he ordered release of 2000 Taliban prisoners a day before Eid.
Response of Taliban
Since Ghani’s acts were in violation of peace agreement, the Taliban renewed their attacks on ANSF positons in districts of Kunduz and Helmand on 3 March. 33 targets were hit in 13 provinces. The US also broke the pledge by carrying out air attack in Helmand in support of beleaguered Afghan soldiers on the following day.
The Taliban reminded that they were free to attack Afghan forces in rural areas, and spring offensive will be launched in first week of April. Between 3 March and 15 April, Taliban undertook 4500 attacks and killed 900 ANSF soldiers.
The Taliban are determined to establish IEA under Ameerul Momineen Mulla Akhundzada and find no place for the collaborators in the future govt. Mullah Omar’s son Mulla Yaqub has been appointed overall military commander. Phased and condition-based release of prisoners was rejected by Taliban.
Americans were told to vacate the country as per schedule and not to worry about safety of their puppet regime. Haqqani Network (HN) threatened to capture Kabul and said fate of Ghani wouldn’t be different to Dr. Najibullah.
Postmortem of 18 Years’ War
Post 9/11 war on terror is the longest war ever waged by USA in its entire history, which has still not terminated.
In 2009, the occupiers abandoned boots on ground strategy, bunkered themselves in military bases, relied wholly on airpower and drones, and used 250,000 ANA to undertake ground operations.
Change in posture helped the Taliban to gain initiative, which could not be regained by the occupying forces. Thereon, it was a losing battle but the US kept reinforcing failure with zero result.
Obama took the credit of dismantling and defeating Al-Qaeda, where as it was done by Pakistan. The US tried hard to divide Taliban movement by pitching HN against Taliban, or to create leadership crisis but failed.
HN was painted as the most dreadful monster. Pakistan was made a scapegoat by USA to hide US failures. Plight of the people of Afghanistan and that of the women is as dismal as it was, if not worst. During five-year rule of Taliban, poppy growing was almost eliminated in Afghanistan, but now it has become the biggest narcotic den and exporter of opium in the world.
CIA is the biggest beneficiary of drug business, and it has been supporting covert operations with the help of drug money.
Having spent $ 2 trillion in Afghanistan and lost 2400 soldiers, (total casualties of coalition forces 3550), USA couldn’t accomplish any of its stated and hidden objectives. Instead, it has melted its economy, lost its prestige and earned hatred of the world.
The US drew no lessons from history that it is easier to enter Afghanistan, but most difficult to get out of it and that historically it has been the graveyard of empires.
The US ignored the fact that Afghanistan is a tribal society which shuns modernism, democracy and alien culture. Governed by Pashtunwali, Mullahs and tribalism reign supreme and ethnicity is stronger than religion.
Afghans are at war for the last 40 years and the third generation is currently fighting the war and to them, hardships, sufferings, casualties and time do not matter. The US and its partners wanted to tire out and exhaust the Taliban and to break their will to fight, which they couldn’t.
While the resistance forces are upbeat and full of fight to free their country, the occupiers have got tired and exhausted. They are demoralized and have no heart left to continue fighting and that too without a cause. They are suffering from post-stress disorders, committing suicides, and are desperate to return home.
Victory against the Soviets was a miracle of 20th century. The Mujahideen had seven groups under seven commanders and were supported by Pakistan, USA and the free world. This miracle is much more awe-inspiring since the Taliban turned the tide single-handed as one entity under one commander.
Power hungry Ghani, Abdullah and warlords are interested in power only and not in peaceful Afghanistan. War on terror has all the gains for the deceitful Indo-Israeli axis. The duo obsessed with global ambitions is instrumental in plunging the fortunes of USA.
By staying out of war, Russia and China consolidated their respective military and economic power. They are merrily watching the endgame of the declining sole super power with a twinkle in their eyes. Pakistan had a big hand in facilitating peace process culminating in peace agreement.
Troop drawown by USA has been made conditional to control of violence, which provides Washington flexibility to sabotage the peace agreement and to continue maintaining its residual presence.
Salfi group’s alignment has further strengthened Taliban. Jihadi Afghanistan, Revolutionary Iran and Islamic Pakistan are unacceptable to USA, Israel and India. The US commenced thinning out of troops from Bagram base on 14 March.
Mistakes Made by USA
Mendaciousness of purpose and intentions.
Underestimating the enemy and over-estimating own capabilities.
Installation of pro-India and anti-Pakistan regime of Northern Alliance in Kabul and ignoring majority Pashtuns.
Continued reliance on most inept and corrupt regimes of Karzai and Ghani in Kabul.
Spending $90 billion on raising non-Pashtun heavy ANSF which lack combat ability.
Establishing biggest base for covert operations to destabilize and denuclearize Pakistan.
Opening 2nd front in Iraq without consolidating gains in Afghanistan.
These distractions veered away occupiers from their main mission and allowed the Taliban to regroup.
Distrusting and blaming Pakistan, and trusting self-serving India, Israel and puppet regimes in Kabul made Afghanistan perpetually unstable.
US Civil & military leadership lied and misled American public about the war.
2002/03 was the best time to sign peace deal with Taliban. Next best time was December 2014 to make a clean break.
Mistakes were never corrected and no military strategy made to convert defeat into victory.
What Impelled Trump to End Longest War?
The US was forced to sign agreement with the so-called monsters, after it concluded that it could neither win the war, nor defeat or contain the Taliban, or to exit safely and honorably.
USA vainly tried to convince the Taliban to share power with Ashraf Ghani.
Wish of USA to make India a key player in Afghanistan couldn’t be fulfilled.
India couldn’t be convinced to take over the security duties.
ANSF lack capacity and will to fight Taliban. They lost 50,000 soldiers in last 5 years.
Pakistan restricted its support to peace process only and refused to fight other’s war.
Taliban broke their isolation by gaining support of Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Arab States and Turkey.
Peace process was meant to white wash war crimes of USA and to conceal defeat.
USA faced fiascos on all fronts.
2020 being the election year, Trump is desperate to pull out 60% of 13000 US troops before Christmas as promised by him and earn few electoral brownie points.
Spoilers of peace
US administration. It wants to retain a foothold and extract mineral resources from Afghanistan, CARs.
Pentagon & CIA. The duo want their arms industry and drug business to continue.
India. It doesn’t want to lose its $2-3 billion investment and influence in Afghanistan, and would like to keep Pakistan in a nut-cracker situation.
Kabul regime/NDS. Doesn’t want to lose power. The Taliban dub the regime as illegitimate.
Israel. Loss of Afghanistan implies gains for nuclear Pakistan, China, Russia and Jihadi forces.
Security contractors, drug Mafia, warlords. They have their mercantile interests.
Islamic State of Khurasan, Black Water. It is an alternative force to back up ANSF and to keep the pot boiling. To malign Taliban, Daesh carried out deadly attacks on Sikh Temple, hospital and a funeral in Kabul.
Uncertainties in Peace Deal
Lack of guarantors
Structure of future government
Power sharing mechanism within stakeholders
Absence of ownership
Economic commitment by USA
Lack of involvement of local leadership
Understanding among local tribes to bring them on one page
Peace agreement rejected by Iran
Challenges to Peace Agreement
Integration among ethno-political factions is a difficult proposition.
Afghan government controls only 40% of territory mostly in central Afghanistan, while Taliban have full control over the entire rural belt in eastern and southern Afghanistan and parts of urban areas.
USA, India and Iran are averse to the idea of establishment of IEA, and would like the present unity government in Kabul to share power with Taliban as a senior partner.
The US is keen to retain their strongest Bagram airbase which has multi-layered defence system and can house 10-12000 troops.
Russia is keen to regain its influence in Afghanistan with the support of Taliban.
China wants peaceful and friendly Afghanistan for the success of CPEC, to explore minerals and expand trade, and to safeguard its soft belly in Sinkiang.
Islamic State of Khurasan and militias under warlords would keep the country turbulent.
Options for USA
Seeing that Afghanistan has slipped out of its hands as well as of India, the US is looking for an alternative base in the Af-Pak region.
Ladakh in J&K suits USA from where it can keep an eye over it chief rival China, CPEC and Pakistan.
This strategic consideration impelled Trump to elbow Modi to integrate disputed occupied Kashmir into Indian Union.
Offer of mediation on Kashmir by Trump is to keep Pakistan pacified and to lure it to provide a military base.
Resolution of Kashmir dispute through Trump’s mediation for sure will be on Indian terms and Pakistan will be a loser.
Yet another option could be to deploy UN peace keeping force with heaviest contingent from India.
Unpredictable Trump may put the blame on Taliban to snuggle out of peace deal once he wins elections in coming November and decide to hold on to Afghanistan with reduced troop level, backed by 25000 Blackwater and Daesh.
Future Prospects
Many countries and groups with vested interests are involved in Afghanistan. It is brimming with sectarian, ethnic and religious fault lines and is primed for chaos. If intra-Afghan peace process doesn’t succeed, the country is likely to plunge into another civil war.
USA, India, Ghani will not handover Afghanistan easily.
If the Taliban try to take over power by force, the liberals, nationalists and non-Pashtuns will resist fiercely thereby igniting ethnic/sectarian flames.
While USA will play a double game to maintain its importance in both camps, Pakistan will remain in two minds.
Peace in Afghanistan is dependent upon the US intentions and hidden motives, and ability of the Afghans to think beyond parochial interests.
If the US is sincerely interested in restoring peace, it will have to co-opt Pakistan, Russia, China and Iran to arrive at viable power sharing arrangement.
Some Suggestions for Pakistan
Pakistan will have to become proactive to save the peace agreement and arrive at a political settlement.
After their well-deserved victory, Taliban are in better position to conduct intra-Afghan dialogue.
Pakistan should take China, Russia and possibly Iran in loop and arrange a meeting at Islamabad or Beijing to chalk out a comprehensive way out.
Political office of Taliban to be opened at Islamabad.
Let the 14-month troop withdrawal get completed smoothly.
Remove trust deficit between Taliban-US and veer the US from minority NA to majoritarian Taliban.
Press USA to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan, former FATA.
Complete fencing of western and southern borders and further improve border management.
Return all Afghan refugees by end of this year.
Prevent balkanization of Afghanistan.
Seek war/drones compensations from USA.
Ask US to release Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
Ask US to settle Durand Line issue.
Insist on closure of RAW-NDS-TTP-BLA terror infrastructure and return of runaway terrorists.
Conclusion
USA failed due to its own blunders; the Taliban earned victory due to their superior cause, steadfastness and extraordinary valor.
Pakistan suffered since it couldn’t differentiate between friend and foe, and never had a strategy to get out of inferno of imposed war.
There are still many a slip between the cup and the lip. Euphoria seem to be dying down and ominous shadows of civil war are looming.
We have been unwisely trusting USA and supporting anti-Pakistan regime in Kabul which in collusion with India has caused excruciating pain to Pakistan.
Single-handed facilitation by Pakistan when it has no influence over USA and Kabul regime, and modest influence over Taliban, will not produce results.
For lasting peace, Pakistan will have to stay engaged with all Afghan power centres in Afghanistan, and tread our course steadily, prudently and wisely.
The writer is a retired Brig, war veteran, former Defence Attaché’ and Dean of Corps of Military Attaches’ in Cairo, defence & security analyst, international columnist, author of five books, Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan, Director Measac Research Center, Member CWC PESS and of Veterans Think Tank, and Member Council TJP. asifharoonraja@gmail.com


veteranstoday--2020-05-25--We Choose To Go To The Moon

We Choose To Go To The Moon

On May 25 , 1961 , President John F. Kennedy told Congress : “ I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal , before this decade is out , of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.
” In Washington , what he considers urgent national needs brings Pres .
Kennedy to Congress to deliver before an extra- ordinary joint session an outline of the challenges facing the nation – An exposition of the threatening perils he believes demand of the people new measure of hardship and sacrifices .
Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extraordinary times and we face an extraordinary challenge , our strength as well as our conviction ’ s have imposed upon this nation the roll of leader and freedoms caused .
Finally if we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyrrany the dramatic achievements in space which occurred in recent weeks should have made clear to us all as did the sputnik in 1957 the impact of this adventure on the minds of men everywhere who are attempting to make a determination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early in my term , our efforts in space have been under review , with the advice from the Vice President who is chairman of the national space council we have examined where we are strong and where we are not , where we may succeed and where we may not , now it is time to take longer strides , time for a great new American enterprise , time for this nation to take a clearly leading roll in space achievement which in many ways may hold the key to our future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the resources and talents necessary , but the facts of the matter are that we have never made the national decisions or marshaled the national resources required for such leadership .
We have never specified long range goals on a urgent time schedule or managed our resources in out time so as to ensure their fulfillment .
I therefore ask the congress above and beyond the increases I have earlier requested for space activities to provide the fund that is needed to reach the following national goal .
First I believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the goal before this decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely back to the earth .
No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the long range exploration of space and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish .
In conclusion let me emphasize one point , it is not a pleasure for any President of the United States as I am sure it was not a pleasure for my predecessors to come before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place burdens on our people .
I came to this conclusion er , with some reluctance , but in my judgement this is a most serious time in the life of our country and in the life of freedom around the globe and it is the obligation I believe of the President of the United States to at least make his recommendations to the members of the congress , so that they can reach their own conclusions with that judgement before them , you must decide yourselves as I have decided and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the way that I have decided or not , that your judgement as my judgement is reached in what is the best interest for the country .
”

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy told Congress:
In Washington, what he considers urgent national needs brings Pres. Kennedy to Congress to deliver before an extraordinary joint session an outline of the challenges facing the nation – An exposition of the threatening perils he believes demand of the people new measure of hardship and sacrifices.
Kennedy’s Speech –
“These are extraordinary times and we face an extraordinary challenge, our strength, as well as our convictions, have imposed upon this nation the role of leader and freedoms caused. Finally, if we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyranny the dramatic achievements in space which occurred in recent weeks should have made clear to us all as did the sputnik in 1957 the impact of this adventure on the minds of men everywhere who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take. Since early in my term, our efforts in space have been under review, with the advice from the Vice President who is chairman of the national space council we have examined where we are strong and where we are not, where we may succeed and where we may not, now it is time to take longer strides, time for a great new American enterprise, time for this nation to take a clearly leading roll in space achievement which in many ways may hold the key to our future on earth.
I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary, but the facts of the matter are that we have never made the national decisions or marshaled the national resources required for such leadership. We have never specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule or managed our resources in our time so as to ensure their fulfillment. I, therefore, ask the congress above and beyond the increases I have earlier requested for space activities to provide the fund that is needed to reach the following national goal.
First I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely back to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the long-range exploration of space and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. In conclusion let me emphasize one point, it is not a pleasure for any President of the United States as I am sure it was not a pleasure for my predecessors to come before the Congress and ask for new appropriations which place burdens on our people.
I came to this conclusion er, with some reluctance, but in my judgment, this is a most serious time in the life of our country and in the life of freedom around the globe and it is the obligation I believe of the President of the United States to at least make his recommendations to the members of the congress so that they can reach their own conclusions with that judgment before them, you must decide yourselves as I have decided and I am confident that whether you finally decide in the way that I have decided or not, that your judgment as my judgment is reached in what is the best interest for the country.”


veteranstoday--2020-05-25--Fake doctor who made millions scamming people is now promoting bogus CV19 cure

Robert O .
Young is a fraudster who made millions selling false medical cures to cancer patients , among others , and went to jail for practicing without a license .
Since his release , Young has been promoting bogus cures for cancer and now COVID-19 on his “ Dr.Robert.O.Young ” Facebook page , which has nearly 60,000 followers .
Young is a medical commentator whose “ foundational ” and false medical theory “ suggests that the human body is alkaline by design and acidic by function ” and the “ one treatment ” for any health problem is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-wrote a series of “ pH Miracle ” books that are still distributed by Hachette Book Group , one of the largest trade book publishers in the country .
He currently promotes various alkaline products through the online store pHMiracleProducts.com , which is billed as “ the exclusive source of the World ’ s Number One health and beauty products from the original formulator and manufacturer , Dr. Robert O.
Young.
” Young filmed a welcome video for the site , has promoted the store on Facebook , and has referred to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products.
” ( Young has claimed that pHMiracleProducts.com “ is not my company , you know , I don ’ t make any money by promoting ” the products in the store ) .
Young has a long history of scamming people .
In 2017 , he went to jail for several months for practicing medicine without a license ( Young ’ s PhD is from an unaccredited and now-shuttered diploma mill ) .
In 2018 , a jury awarded $ 105 million to terminal cancer patient Dawn Kali after Young advised her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard cancer treatments ( the judgement was reportedly reduced after appeal ) .
The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote in June 2017 that as part of a plea deal , “ Young had to make a public admission declaring that he is not microbiologist , hematologist , medical or naturopathic doctor or trained scientist.
” The publication added that Young ’ s trial judge “ said Young had ‘ stolen time ’ from terminally ill people , including some who ‘ were bilked out of tens of thousands of dollars ’ and said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not repeat itself.
” Young has returned to scamming people with bogus medical advice .
The Wall Street Journal reported in July 2019 that Young has been using Facebook to promote “ baking-soda injections and juicing regimens ” as a way to treat cancer .
Young ’ s use of social media follows a familiar pattern ; the Journal wrote that “ Gina Darvas , the San Diego deputy district attorney who prosecuted him , said that Mr. Young used the internet—in particular YouTube and Facebook—to earn as much as $ 5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that report , Facebook has not taken down Young ’ s page ( @ Dr.Robert.O.Young ) , which features numerous posts falsely claiming that he has cured cancer .
Young is now pitching his services , books , and the “ ph Miracle ” supplements as a cure for the coronavirus through Facebook and his website , DrRobertYoung.com .
An initial one-hour phone consultation with Young costs $ 300 .
In line with his bogus theories , Young ultimately claims that the coronavirus — or what he refers to as the “ corona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people living an acidic lifestyle .
As a result , he has claimed that people should follow his teachings or take pH supplements to treat or “ cure ” the coronavirus .
Here are five examples from his website : • In a post headlined “ Do Germs Like the CoronaVirus Cause Disease ?
” published on February 12 , Young wrote that “ disease is manufactured by YOU and your own acidic choices from what you eat , what you drink , what you breathe , what you think , what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not something that you get or catch it is something YOU do .
So STOP believing in a phantom virus ( HIV , Hepatitis C , Ebola , West Nile , Flu , SARS , ZIKA , Measles , Polio or CORONA VIRUSES ) and the germ theory ( which has never been proven to cause any disease ) and realize that you are the author of your health and fitness or the author of your sickness and disease.
” In his conclusion , Young promoted products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post headlined “ Protect Yourself From Environmental Acids ( Viruses Like Corona & Flu ) For True Immunity , ” Young recommended products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com and his books .
• In a March 15 post headlined “ 21 Ways to Prevent or Reverse the Symptoms Associated with Coronavirus , ” Young recommended “ 21 different ways to take pHour Salts , ” a product that ’ s sold at pHMiracleProducts.com .
• In a March 18 post headlined “ The Cause and the Cure for Corona , ” Young wrote that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful treatment for the symptoms associated with the ‘ Corona Effect ’ or what is being called COVID 19 ” and then directed readers to pHMiracleProducts.com and his books .
He also wrote that people can set up an appointment with him .
• In a post headlined “ What Can I Do to Prevent or Reverse the Symptoms of the ‘ Corona Effect ’ in 3 to 5 Days ?
” published on April 10 , Young touted products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com and suggested people schedule a consultation with him .
Young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the coronavirus .
Here are just five of the numerous examples on his page : • On March 18 , Young posted a version of his “ The Cause and the Cure for Corona ” piece that promoted his services .
• On March 18 , Young wrote “ Is There a Way to Prevent or Reverse the ‘ Corona Effect ’ ?
” and linked to a piece that touted products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com as the answer to the coronavirus .
• On April 3 , Young wrote “ The Truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reverse the ‘ Corona Effect ’ ” and then linked to numerous pieces of content on his website and directed readers to products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com • On April 7 , Young linked to a post about how “ to prevent or reverse the Symptoms of the ‘ Corona Effect ’ in 3 to 5 days ” and wrote : “ Have a personal consultation with Dr. Robert O Young and get started NOW on improved health , energy , vitality and fitness .
Book a consultation today.
” • On May 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ links to “ scientific articles written by Dr. Young that will be helpful in understanding that disease is born in us and from us.
” The list included links to posts on his site touting products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com and his services as solutions to the coronavirus .
In recent months , Young has also appeared on various online shows , including on Facebook and YouTube , to discuss the coronavirus and promote his bogus theories .
Media Matters has documented numerous people and companies that have been using the pandemic as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially through social media .

Robert O. Young is a fraudster who made millions selling false medical cures to cancer patients, among others and went to jail for practicing without a license. Since his release, Young has been promoting bogus cures for cancer and now COVID-19 on his “Dr.Robert.O.Young” Facebook page, which has nearly 60,000 followers.
Young is a medical commentator whose “foundational” and false medical theory “suggests that the human body is alkaline by design and acidic by function” and the “one treatment” for any health problem is “an alkaline lifestyle and diet.” He co-wrote a series of “pH Miracle” books that are still distributed by Hachette Book Group, one of the largest trade book publishers in the country.
He currently promotes various alkaline products through the online store pHMiracleProducts.com, which is billed as “the exclusive source of the World’s Number One health and beauty products from the original formulator and manufacturer, Dr. Robert O. Young.” Young filmed a welcome video for the site, has promoted the store on Facebook, and has referred to the products sold there as “our nutritional products.” (Young has claimed that pHMiracleProducts.com “is not my company, you know, I don’t make any money by promoting” the products in the store).
Young has a long history of scamming people. In 2017, he went to jail for several months for practicing medicine without a license (Young’s PhD is from an unaccredited and now-shuttered diploma mill). In 2018, a jury awarded $105 million to terminal cancer patient Dawn Kali after Young advised her to undergo his alkaline therapy instead of standard cancer treatments (the judgement was reportedly reduced after appeal).
The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote in June 2017 that as part of a plea deal, “Young had to make a public admission declaring that he is not microbiologist, hematologist, medical or naturopathic doctor or trained scientist.” The publication added that Young’s trial judge “said Young had ‘stolen time’ from terminally ill people, including some who ‘were bilked out of tens of thousands of dollars’ and said he’s “hopeful that this will not repeat itself.”
Young has returned to scamming people with bogus medical advice.
The Wall Street Journal reported in July 2019 that Young has been using Facebook to promote “baking-soda injections and juicing regimens” as a way to treat cancer. Young’s use of social media follows a familiar pattern; the Journal wrote that “Gina Darvas, the San Diego deputy district attorney who prosecuted him, said that Mr. Young used the internet—in particular YouTube and Facebook—to earn as much as $5 million a year before his conviction.”
Despite that report, Facebook has not taken down Young’s page (@Dr.Robert.O.Young), which features numerous posts falsely claiming that he has cured cancer.
Young is now pitching his services, books, and the “ph Miracle” supplements as a cure for the coronavirus through Facebook and his website, DrRobertYoung.com. An initial one-hour phone consultation with Young costs $300.
In line with his bogus theories, Young ultimately claims that the coronavirus — or what he refers to as the “corona effect” — is the result of people living an acidic lifestyle. As a result, he has claimed that people should follow his teachings or take pH supplements to treat or “cure” the coronavirus.
Here are five examples from his website:
In a post headlined “Do Germs Like the CoronaVirus Cause Disease?” published on February 12, Young wrote that “disease is manufactured by YOU and your own acidic choices from what you eat, what you drink, what you breathe, what you think, what you feel and what you believe. Disease is not something that you get or catch it is something YOU do. So STOP believing in a phantom virus (HIV, Hepatitis C, Ebola, West Nile, Flu, SARS, ZIKA, Measles, Polio or CORONA VIRUSES) and the germ theory (which has never been proven to cause any disease) and realize that you are the author of your health and fitness or the author of your sickness and disease.” In his conclusion, Young promoted products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com and his books.
In a March 1 post headlined “Protect Yourself From Environmental Acids (Viruses Like Corona & Flu) For True Immunity,” Young recommended products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com and his books.
In a March 15 post headlined “21 Ways to Prevent or Reverse the Symptoms Associated with Coronavirus,” Young recommended “21 different ways to take pHour Salts,” a product that’s sold at pHMiracleProducts.com.
In a March 18 post headlined “The Cause and the Cure for Corona,” Young wrote that “testing is critical for the prevention and successful treatment for the symptoms associated with the ‘Corona Effect’ or what is being called COVID 19” and then directed readers to pHMiracleProducts.com and his books. He also wrote that people can set up an appointment with him.
In a post headlined “What Can I Do to Prevent or Reverse the Symptoms of the ‘Corona Effect’ in 3 to 5 Days?” published on April 10, Young touted products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com and suggested people schedule a consultation with him.
Young also frequently posts on his Facebook page about the coronavirus. Here are just five of the numerous examples on his page:
On March 18, Young posted a version of his “The Cause and the Cure for Corona” piece that promoted his services.
On March 18, Young wrote “Is There a Way to Prevent or Reverse the ‘Corona Effect’?” and linked to a piece that touted products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com as the answer to the coronavirus.
On April 3, Young wrote “The Truth About Corona and How To Prevent and/or Reverse the ‘Corona Effect’” and then linked to numerous pieces of content on his website and directed readers to products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com
On April 7, Young linked to a post about how “to prevent or reverse the Symptoms of the ‘Corona Effect’ in 3 to 5 days” and wrote: “Have a personal consultation with Dr. Robert O Young and get started NOW on improved health, energy, vitality and fitness. Book a consultation today.”
On May 19, Young promoted a long list of links to “scientific articles written by Dr. Young that will be helpful in understanding that disease is born in us and from us.” The list included links to posts on his site touting products sold at pHMiracleProducts.com and his services as solutions to the coronavirus.
In recent months, Young has also appeared on various online shows, including on Facebook and YouTube, to discuss the coronavirus and promote his bogus theories.
Media Matters has documented numerous people and companies that have been using the pandemic as a way to grift and scam people, especially through social media.


veteranstoday--2020-05-25--Watch a US Navy battleship take down a drone with a laser

__________ Metro Watch a US Navy battleship take down a drone with a laser A US Navy battleship has shot down a drone using a mounted laser cannon .
The USS Portland – LPD 27 has conducted a successful Laser Weapon System Demonstrator ( LWSD ) test out on open water .
The ship disabled an unmanned aerial vehicle ( UAV ) in the first system-level implementation of a high-energy class solid-state laser .
And they filmed it and put it on Twitter and Facebook .
‘ By conducting advanced at sea tests against UAVs and small crafts , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator against potential threats , ’ US Navy Capt .
Karrey Sanders , the ship ’ s commanding officer , said in a press release .
‘ The Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator is a unique capability the Portland gets to test and operate for the Navy , while paving the way for future weapons systems , ‘ Sanders added .
‘ With this new advanced capability , we are redefining war at sea for the Navy.
’ The Navy said this weapons system was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of threats from UAVs as well as surveillance and reconnaissance systems from other countries .
Eventually , the US hopes to be able to knock out missiles in flight with lasers .
A report from America ’ s military suggested they will be on battlefields by 2022 and will be attached to a platoon of four vehicles .
‘ The time is now to get directed energy weapons to the battlefield , ’ Lt. Gen. L. Neil Thurgood , director of Hypersonics , Directed Energy , Space and Rapid Acquisition , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the need for directed energy lasers as part of the Army ’ s modernisation plan .
‘ This is no longer a research effort or a demonstration effort .
It is a strategic combat capability , and we are on the right path to get it in soldiers ’ hands.
’ The high energy lasers installed on the US Army ‘ Stryker ’ vehicles would travel at the speed of light and would simply melt enemy drones and aircraft .
Despite the destructive power , the energy cost will be high .
Each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power , which is enough to power three homes .
The plan to move to laser-based weapons has been in development for several years as small , nimble drones are difficult to hit with conventional weaponry .

__________
Metro
Watch a US Navy battleship take down a drone with a laser
A US Navy battleship has shot down a drone using a mounted laser cannon. The USS Portland – LPD 27 has conducted a successful Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) test out on open water.
The ship disabled an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the first system-level implementation of a high-energy class solid-state laser. And they filmed it and put it on Twitter and Facebook.
‘By conducting advanced at sea tests against UAVs and small crafts, we will gain valuable information on the capabilities of the Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator against potential threats,’ US Navy Capt. Karrey Sanders, the ship’s commanding officer, said in a press release.
‘The Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator is a unique capability the Portland gets to test and operate for the Navy, while paving the way for future weapons systems, ‘ Sanders added.
‘With this new advanced capability, we are redefining war at sea for the Navy.’ The Navy said this weapons system was being developed because of an increasing number of threats from UAVs as well as surveillance and reconnaissance systems from other countries.
Eventually, the US hopes to be able to knock out missiles in flight with lasers. A report from America’s military suggested they will be on battlefields by 2022 and will be attached to a platoon of four vehicles.
‘The time is now to get directed energy weapons to the battlefield,’ Lt. Gen. L. Neil Thurgood, director of Hypersonics, Directed Energy, Space and Rapid Acquisition, said in the report. ‘The Army recognises the need for directed energy lasers as part of the Army’s modernisation plan. ‘This is no longer a research effort or a demonstration effort. It is a strategic combat capability, and we are on the right path to get it in soldiers’ hands.’
The high energy lasers installed on the US Army ‘Stryker’ vehicles would travel at the speed of light and would simply melt enemy drones and aircraft. Despite the destructive power, the energy cost will be high.
Each laser cannon will require 50 kilowatts of power, which is enough to power three homes. The plan to move to laser-based weapons has been in development for several years as small, nimble drones are difficult to hit with conventional weaponry.


veteranstoday--2020-05-26--Libya: Tobruk Parliament “stops” Haftar. Turkish-backed Jihadists Threatening for Europe

Tripoli can thank the mercenary Jihadists of Turkey if it has managed to repel the siege of the Libyan National Army ’ s general Khalifa Haftar , now politically rejected in his announced coup also by the government of Tobruk that controls Eastern Libya ( Cyrenaica ) .
This is tremendous news for all Mediterranean countries such as Italy , as the factions of Sunni Islamic fundamentalists enlisted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help ally Fayez Al Serray , president of the Government of the National Agreement that controls the Tripolitania , thus become a point of reference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since the removal of dictator Muhammar Gaddafi , planned in 2011 by NATO countries as part of the destabilization projects in the Middle East initiated by US President George Bush and culminating in the Arab Springs of the Barack Obama administration , Libya has been torn apart by a civil war that he lived moments of tranquility and serious intensity in last year .
In April 2019 , Haftar ’ s troops , military leader from Cyrenaica and Benghazi , launched an offensive against Tripoli to attempt an unlikely conquest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around oil and gas fields .
This action was initially blamed by Russia , the main ally of the LNA leader , who then found herself forced to support him for reasons of geopolitical strategy , above all after Turkey ’ s entry into the conflict in December-January 2019 .
But in recent days , Marshal LNA has made two very heavy defeats .
The first from a military point of view due to the loss of various positions near Tripoli and in particular the Al-Watiya air base , conquered in 2014 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred in the political field due to a position taken by the Libyan parallel government of Tobruk which , in fact , had always openly or tacitly supported Haftar ’ s initiatives .
The Benghazi leader had tried to win consensus among the Libyan population in an audio message issued for the end of Ramadan with which he had praised Jihad saying that “ a holy war against the Turkish invader ” was underway .
But this was not enough to convince politicians .
« Members of the East Libya-based parliament on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khalifa Haftar » MEMO ( Middle East Monitor ) website writes , giving important news but also making it clear that it doesn ’ t have too many sympathies for the marshal .
« This came in a statement issued by 11 prominent members of the Tobruk-based parliament in which they stressed support to a peace initiative proposed by its speaker Aguila Saleh .
The parliament “ fully supports Saleh ’ s initiative as a final political solution to the Libyan crisis.
” » further reads .
« The lawmakers called on all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it comprises “ a mechanism of selection and decision-making , a fair distribution of wealth between regions and the appointment of a new committee of experts to develop a consensual constitution.
” » .
Notably , the parliament currently holds its sessions with only some one-fifth of its 200 lawmakers .
Saleh , a former Libyan president from 2014 to 2016 and current president of the Libyan House of Representatives in Eastern Libya , made his proposal already towards the end of last April , however , obtaining in response the Haftar declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Libya by announcing a coup to justify even more massive attacks against Tripoli .
This declaration was contested by the whole world , engaged with the UN and the European Union to seek a peaceful solution to the civil war .
Even Russia and France , historical allies of the Benghazi marshal , blamed him .
So much so that the Kremlin imposed a truce lasting a few hours as always … This is why the position of the political leaders of Cyrenaica takes on a decisive value which should induce Haftar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace talks for a Presidency Council as hoped for by the Berlin Conference .
Also because the same Russian military forces , present in Libya in an unofficial way with the Wagner contractors , have for days moved away from Tripoli and the conflict areas in an evident gesture of withdrawal that should induce LNA to do the same .
« In the past two days , LNA forces have withdrawn from some positions in southern Tripoli in what they described as a humanitarian gesture .
Forces allied to the internationally recognised government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MEMO LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari has always denied that foreigners were fighting with their army ( also supported by Sudanese and Chadian mercenaries ) .
But the presence of Russian contractors has been widely documented by diplomats and journalists .
In addition , “ on Monday the Libyan army ( GNA – ed ) took over the strategic air base of Al-Watiya .
It is second only to Mitiga international airport .
It had been captured in 2014 by Haftar , who used it as headquarters for attacks on the legitimate government » @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 bombings carried out by the LNA artillery against the Mitiga airport , as reported by the Anadolu agency , to be taken with caution since it belongs to the Turkish government .
It It was the commander of the Benghazi air force , Saqr al-Jaroshi , to announce in recent days “ the largest air campaign in the history of Libya ” relying on 8 fighter bombers ( 6 MiG-29 and 2 Su-24 ) previously supplied to the Russian air force .
THE THREAT OF JIHADISTS FOR ITALY AND EUROPE These news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful evolution of the Libyan conflict , which has so far made the migration flows to Italy unmanageable , one of the sources of income of the tribal clans affiliated to the two opposing armies , but they are terrible in terms of rooting of victorious Jihadists alongside Al Serray ’ s GNA .
The dangerous and ferocious Turkish mercenaries were recruited from Ankara with pharaonic salaries for the Middle East of $ 2,000 a month thanks to the financial support of the wealthy Qatar in a close alliance between Muslim Brotherhood .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the intelligence of Haftar , at least 229 international wanted for terrorism of jihadist matrix operate : as exponents of Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) the organization declared terrorist by the UN that controls the province of Idlib in Syria thanks to Turkey ’ s military and financial support .
Just in recent days LNA has reported the embarrassing presence of six of these Al Qaeda-tied criminals in the field hospital of the Italian Army ’ s Bersaglieri in Misurata , near Tripoli .
The risk is therefore that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the former president Petro Poroshennko awarded Ukrainian citizenship , very valuable for easier travel in Europe , the Chechen militants of ISIS , who came to fight alongside the GNU National Guard and the neo-Nazi militias of the Azov Battalion in the Donbass civil war .
It is therefore not difficult to imagine that one day the Tripoli government could give Libyan citizenship or a one-way ticket to Italy and other European Union countries , to pro-Turkish Jihadists who risk finding themselves without a salary in the event of a cessation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Human Rights , the factions Division al-Mu ’ tasim , Sultan Murad , Suqur Al-Shamal Brigade , Al-Hamzat and Suleiman Shah , supported by Turkey , have so far lost 318 combatants in military operations , including 18 children under the age of eighteen .
As previously reported by Gospa News , however , at least 200 have arrived in Italy leaving Libya after having deserted the militias or for some secret mission of the very dangerous MIT intelligence of Ankara as already happened in the past with the organization of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain , 260 miles from Sicily …

by Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio for VT Italy
VERSIONE ORIGINALE IN ITALIANO
Tripoli can thank the mercenary Jihadists of Turkey if it has managed to repel the siege of the Libyan National Army’s general Khalifa Haftar, now politically rejected in his announced coup also by the government of Tobruk that controls Eastern Libya (Cyrenaica).
This is tremendous news for all Mediterranean countries such as Italy, as the factions of Sunni Islamic fundamentalists enlisted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help ally Fayez Al Serray, president of the Government of the National Agreement that controls the Tripolitania, thus become a point of reference in the struggle for power in Libya.
Since the removal of dictator Muhammar Gaddafi, planned in 2011 by NATO countries as part of the destabilization projects in the Middle East initiated by US President George Bush and culminating in the Arab Springs of the Barack Obama administration, Libya has been torn apart by a civil war that he lived moments of tranquility and serious intensity in last year.
In April 2019, Haftar’s troops, military leader from Cyrenaica and Benghazi, launched an offensive against Tripoli to attempt an unlikely conquest of the country around which billionaire world interests revolve around oil and gas fields.
This action was initially blamed by Russia, the main ally of the LNA leader, who then found herself forced to support him for reasons of geopolitical strategy, above all after Turkey’s entry into the conflict in December-January 2019.
But in recent days, Marshal LNA has made two very heavy defeats. The first from a military point of view due to the loss of various positions near Tripoli and in particular the Al-Watiya air base, conquered in 2014.
The second, much more serious, occurred in the political field due to a position taken by the Libyan parallel government of Tobruk which, in fact, had always openly or tacitly supported Haftar’s initiatives. The Benghazi leader had tried to win consensus among the Libyan population in an audio message issued for the end of Ramadan with which he had praised Jihad saying that “a holy war against the Turkish invader” was underway. But this was not enough to convince politicians.
TOBRUK’S PARLIAMENT WANTS STOP HAFTAR
«Members of the East Libya-based parliament on Monday rejected an attempted coup by the warlord Khalifa Haftar» MEMO (Middle East Monitor) website writes, giving important news but also making it clear that it doesn’t have too many sympathies for the marshal.
«This came in a statement issued by 11 prominent members of the Tobruk-based parliament in which they stressed support to a peace initiative proposed by its speaker Aguila Saleh. The parliament “fully supports Saleh’s initiative as a final political solution to the Libyan crisis.”» further reads.
«The lawmakers called on all sides to accept the initiative, asserting it comprises “a mechanism of selection and decision-making, a fair distribution of wealth between regions and the appointment of a new committee of experts to develop a consensual constitution.”». Notably, the parliament currently holds its sessions with only some one-fifth of its 200 lawmakers.
Saleh, a former Libyan president from 2014 to 2016 and current president of the Libyan House of Representatives in Eastern Libya, made his proposal already towards the end of last April, however, obtaining in response the Haftar declaration which declared himself the only leader of Libya by announcing a coup to justify even more massive attacks against Tripoli.
This declaration was contested by the whole world, engaged with the UN and the European Union to seek a peaceful solution to the civil war. Even Russia and France, historical allies of the Benghazi marshal, blamed him. So much so that the Kremlin imposed a truce lasting a few hours as always …
This is why the position of the political leaders of Cyrenaica takes on a decisive value which should induce Haftar to return to sit at the table of peace talks for a Presidency Council as hoped for by the Berlin Conference.
THE RUSSIANS LEAVE THE CONFLICT AREAS
Also because the same Russian military forces, present in Libya in an unofficial way with the Wagner contractors, have for days moved away from Tripoli and the conflict areas in an evident gesture of withdrawal that should induce LNA to do the same.
«In the past two days, LNA forces have withdrawn from some positions in southern Tripoli in what they described as a humanitarian gesture. Forces allied to the internationally recognised government re-entered some of those areas» adds MEMO
«I combattenti russi alleati dell’LNA si ritirarono con le loro pesanti attrezzature dalla capitale all’aeroporto di Bani Walid, una città a circa 150 km (93 miglia) a sud-est di Tripoli, ha dichiarato Salem Alaywan, sindaco di Bani Walid. Ha detto a Reuters che i russi erano stati portati dalla Libia occidentale a Jufra, un remoto distretto centrale e roccaforte dell’LNA» si legge ancora su Middle East Monitor.
LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari has always denied that foreigners were fighting with their army (also supported by Sudanese and Chadian mercenaries). But the presence of Russian contractors has been widely documented by diplomats and journalists.
In addition, “on Monday the Libyan army (GNA – ed) took over the strategic air base of Al-Watiya. It is second only to Mitiga international airport. It had been captured in 2014 by Haftar, who used it as headquarters for attacks on the legitimate government» writes MEMO again giving the news of 12 bombings carried out by the LNA artillery against the Mitiga airport, as reported by the Anadolu agency, to be taken with caution since it belongs to the Turkish government.
It It was the commander of the Benghazi air force, Saqr al-Jaroshi, to announce in recent days “the largest air campaign in the history of Libya” relying on 8 fighter bombers (6 MiG-29 and 2 Su-24) previously supplied to the Russian air force.
THE THREAT OF JIHADISTS FOR ITALY AND EUROPE
These news is certainly positive in view of a peaceful evolution of the Libyan conflict, which has so far made the migration flows to Italy unmanageable, one of the sources of income of the tribal clans affiliated to the two opposing armies, but they are terrible in terms of rooting of victorious Jihadists alongside Al Serray’s GNA.
The dangerous and ferocious Turkish mercenaries were recruited from Ankara with pharaonic salaries for the Middle East of $ 2,000 a month thanks to the financial support of the wealthy Qatar in a close alliance between Muslim Brotherhood.
In these paramilitary forces, as demonstrated by the intelligence of Haftar, at least 229 international wanted for terrorism of jihadist matrix operate: as exponents of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) the organization declared terrorist by the UN that controls the province of Idlib in Syria thanks to Turkey’s military and financial support.
Just in recent days LNA has reported the embarrassing presence of six of these Al Qaeda-tied criminals in the field hospital of the Italian Army’s Bersaglieri in Misurata, near Tripoli.
The risk is therefore that of what has already happened in Ukraine where the former president Petro Poroshennko awarded Ukrainian citizenship, very valuable for easier travel in Europe, the Chechen militants of ISIS, who came to fight alongside the GNU National Guard and the neo-Nazi militias of the Azov Battalion in the Donbass civil war.
It is therefore not difficult to imagine that one day the Tripoli government could give Libyan citizenship or a one-way ticket to Italy and other European Union countries, to pro-Turkish Jihadists who risk finding themselves without a salary in the event of a cessation of hostilities.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the factions Division al-Mu’tasim, Sultan Murad, Suqur Al-Shamal Brigade, Al-Hamzat and Suleiman Shah, supported by Turkey, have so far lost 318 combatants in military operations, including 18 children under the age of eighteen.
As previously reported by Gospa News, however, at least 200 have arrived in Italy leaving Libya after having deserted the militias or for some secret mission of the very dangerous MIT intelligence of Ankara as already happened in the past with the organization of the travel of ISIS terrorists. Another 4,000 remain, 260 miles from Sicily …
Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio
© COPYRIGHT GOSPA NEWS
no reproduction without authorization
MAIN SOURCES
GOSPA NEWS – JIHADISTS REPORTS
GOSPA NEWS – WARZONES REPORTS
MEMO – EAST LIBYA-BASED PARLIAMENT REJECTS HAFTAR’S COUP
MEMO – RUSSIANS EVACUATED FROM WESTERN LIBYA
MEMO – HAFTAR MILITIAS STRIKE MITIGA AIRPORT