The Taliban

[Green_Mountain]

Recently some would say data points supporting America first have been cherry picked. So heres some cherry picking.

My understanding is the Taliban in Afghanistan is funded $40m per week from the US and potato head Joe. Help us understand how this helps US citizens?

Your thoughts if any?

[HDGristle]

https://burchett.house.gov/media/bur...-going-taliban

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghani...er-withdrawal/

https://www.usip.org/publications/20...afghan-economy

https://www.propublica.org/article/u...liban-takeover

More reading for the boys so you can educate on this before you snap react

[HDGristle]

Now that folks have had some time.

1. The U.S. isn't sending $40 million a week to the Taliban. The U.N. provides $40 million a week in aid to Afghanistan.

2. It's foreign aid, that for context is a drop in a bucket where the whole bucket it about 1% of our total budget.

What its intended to do is to help bolster national security by supporting allies in promoting regional and global stability. We do have allies in Afghanistan.

It reflects our U.S. values of caring for others in need by focusing on providing humanitarian assistance to victims of war, violence, famine, and natural disasters

It also advances our enconomic interewts by helping grow and stabilize economies and markets. It's also about the same level of aid as we gave under Trump.

Don't pretend that canceled $100 million energy project assistance was the only U.S. aid to Afganistan.

When you choose to cherry pick check your facts, first make sure your understanding is correct.

I await your reasoned response.

[tommy156]

Originally Posted by HDGristle

Now that folks have had some time.

1. The U.S. isn't sending $40 million a week to the Taliban. The U.N. provides $40 million a week in aid to Afghanistan.

2. It's foreign aid, that for context is a drop in a bucket where the whole bucket it about 1% of the total budget.

When you choose to cherry pick check your facts first to make sure your understanding is correct.

Lol. Cherrypicking and snap reacts are their whole game. See also: the dozens of lies surrounding the L.A. wildfires for another example.

Just pigs out to score political points. Facts are technically meaningless to them.

Let's never forget when trump invited the Taliban to Camp David around 9/11 in 2019. Come on in, boys. Welcome to the country you hate so much

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49624132

[Green_Mountain]

Despite the fact you want to minimize how much foreign aid is given as a % of budget I’m of the opinion that amount should be $0.

Until every US citizen is taken care of and the US is out of debt I believe foreign aid should not happen. And I don’t give a fuck about the counter point. We can’t be the handout giver for the world.

Here are some direct quotes from the articles provided. Appalling.

“Legend confirmed: “Yes, the money does end up feeding and supporting the Taliban.”

“Aid workers at non-profit organizations in Afghanistan that receive financial support from the U.S. government say they're being forced to pay fees and provide services to the Taliban.”

"Unfortunately, as I sit here today I cannot assure this committee or the American taxpayer, we are not currently funding the Taliban,"

[HDGristle]

You can want $0 spent all day. I don't believe you really do want all U.S. citizens taken care of. Frankly doesn't matter

Enjoy the links. Put them to good use.

[Green_Mountain]

The links were better than I could have imagined. Actually mostly confirmed my initial post. Thanks for sharing.

Glad you know how I feel about wanting to take care of all US citizens. Sounds like back to chapter 2 “confronting bias” for you in your DEI handbook.

[HDGristle]

I give breadcrumbs for both sides of a conversation. See who nibbles on which and ignores the others.

I also didn't say I know hiw you feel.... I just don't take what you say at face value. Trust deficit.