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Symbolic Failure Point: Female Afghan Pilot Wants Asylum In The U.S.
History loves little markers, tidy packages of symbolism that wrap up a big, complex thing.
You know, the helicopter on the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon standing in for years of failed war, the Berlin Wall being knocked down to visually note the end the Cold War, that sort of thing.
Well, the never-ending-gobsmacker of the Afghan War may have gotten its iconic moment.
Crash and Burn
Afghanistan’s first fixed wing female pilot, Captain Niloofar Rahmani, above, has applied for asylum in the U.S., citing worsening security conditions, and harassment by male colleagues. Rahmani says her family faces serious death threats from the Taliban and her father has had to go into hiding to avoid being killed. The Afghan government even stopped paying Rahmani’s salary, despite earmarks from the U.S. government for funding.
Captain Rahmani noted, as something as an afterthought, the Taliban also continue to make gains across her country even as America’s War for Freedom enters its 16th year of freeing Afghanistan.
Being a Propaganda Tool is Hard Work
As icons went, America loved Rahmani.
Rahmani was once widely hailed in Washington, D.C., where she received the Woman of Courage award from the State Department in 2015 and was personally praised by First Lady Michelle Obama. Rahmani was rolled into an Obama policy move to focus greater attention and resources on adolescent girls through the Let Girls Learn initiative which no one ever heard from again.
The Afghan pilot was even celebrated as a “woman who builds peace, prosperity, and stability,” which just happened to also be a U.S. propaganda slogan for the Afghan war. And sure, what the hell, the State Department threw in that “she will not be intimidated and she will not be silenced.”
Rahami also had her own Twitter, in English of course, but not updated in over a year. “Her” last tweet– “#Salute to the #daughter of nation #Flying #Officer #Marium embraced $shahadat today #Mianwali The few the proud…” And that Rahami was photogenic by coincidence was not unnoticed.
The Captain summed it all up — her femaleness represented American goals of empowering women, her chosen career as a killer was in line with U.S. plans to destroy the Taliban, and her being in the Afghan Air Force seemed to justify the $3.7 billion U.S. tax dollars expended to create an indigenous Afghan fighting force.
Mayday, Mayday!
So it’s just a neat kick in the Uncle Sam ass for Rahmani, in the United States for all sorts of expensive training, to bail out and request asylum after 15 months in America training via photo ops and not fighting any Taliban. Why, it’s as if the entire war in Afghanistan itself was merely a lengthy exercise in Potemkin foreign policy…
BONUS: Here’s George W. Bush posing with some Iraqi women of courage or whatever from that war. I love that photo.
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John Poole said...
1There’s still an entire warehouse full of bumper stickers the Russians made to export to the USA way back. They read: Friends don’t let friends do stupid invasions.
12/28/16 9:47 AM | Comment Link
chuck said...
2Great journalism. Is sarcasm allowed here? “Tear down the wall”. “All in all were just another brick in the wall” “Happy New Year”. Power to the people..
12/28/16 10:07 AM | Comment Link
chuck said...
3Off topic but some course on War Games makes me think Israel will do something with Jordon, or to the country. Kerry to speak about stuff. He looks like he should do a Munster’s movie. How is his wife? Peas…
12/28/16 10:09 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
4If her asylum request is granted, then EVERY person in the Afghan military will be eligible. Trump twitter red alert!
12/28/16 10:33 AM | Comment Link
chuck said...
5I like it. The MSM does not know how to handle Twitter alerts! Change…
12/28/16 12:07 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
6Gloria Steinam and the Women’s March is the Democratic Party BS. Most have not touched the streets except for getting in a cab or limo. You want change? Have a nice day.
12/28/16 12:38 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
7BDS
12/28/16 12:49 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
8I grew up with a girl in the hood. Her last name was Forbes. She was John Kerry’s COS later in life. Kerry interview today with Andriea Mitch is State TV. Enjoy. Happy New Year,… We Watch Propaganda.
12/28/16 1:01 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
9Truth is good. Israel is bad. BDS…
12/28/16 1:02 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
10But… They have nukes! (no they don’t, for some if you say they do you will go to jail)! Follow the Law, or else. Have a nice day. #1 (repeat and wave flags).
12/28/16 1:04 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
11As an Atheist, I must say religious people are good. Peace is good. War is bad. Time out.
12/28/16 1:09 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
12How many millions did The Clinton Foundation make of of Haiti ? Wave flags…
12/28/16 1:12 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
13off (sp)
12/28/16 1:12 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
14The MSM is melting!
12/28/16 1:13 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
15(exhale) Thanks for listening.
12/28/16 1:13 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
16Wait… BB will speak soon! Buy defense stocks. It’s the Russians. Happy New Year.
12/28/16 1:24 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
17Israel is evil towards Peace. Jews are not. Wage Peace.
12/28/16 1:33 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
18I would tweet about all of this, but I don’t even know how to cut and paste (no cell)! Sorry to make too many comments!
12/28/16 1:49 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
19BB… Happy Hanuka.
12/28/16 1:51 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
20Jordan rather than Gaza?
12/28/16 1:51 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
21BB at news conference not speaking in English is a big deal. Happy Hanuka.
12/28/16 1:59 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
22Oh wit, the second half was wits a Philly ascent!
12/28/16 2:01 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
23BB is an ass. Sorry,time out.
12/28/16 2:10 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
24Does Re-max still sell in the West Bank (condo’s)?
12/28/16 2:25 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
25b d s
12/28/16 2:25 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
26Sorry PVB to be a hog!
12/28/16 2:26 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
27Hillary hired (cookie monster, and check out her husband and PNAC ) Victoria Nuland. Happy New Year!
12/28/16 2:30 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
282o17/ Russia
12/28/16 2:32 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
29Did the Israeli’s mind billions in arms sales?
12/28/16 2:44 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
30We can change. Thanks for your help.
12/28/16 2:55 PM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
31Chuck- why define yourself with a negative? Rather than saying you don’t believe a divine deity created homosapiens why not go with a positive? I’m a hopeful believer that this planetary existence may make some sense eventually. Twenty billion of us (inclusion of those who came before 2016) may be given entrance into the knee slapping laughter fest of this comical terrestrial soap opera.
12/28/16 3:06 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
32TY John. We will make it better. Back to work. . o says it’s the Russians. Peas…
12/28/16 3:21 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
33Stay TUNED. tHIS just in. I have gas. Enjoy all. All can work together. Enjoy!
12/28/16 3:23 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
34W0w! Russia hacked our US ( US the people not Corps.) Stay Tuned…
12/28/16 3:27 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
355 eyes
12/28/16 3:27 PM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
36Peter,
If you could avoid going back… Wouldn’t you?
I sure as hell would.
I’m presuming you saw the report with Russia, Turkey and Syria all saying they can prove the US is funneling weapons the Kurdish Al Quida? And ISIS?….
Btw… Nice choice of words…. Photogenic….. I translate that to .. Cute as hell.
Sexist…. Nope… Just an observation.
M
12/29/16 9:14 AM | Comment Link
teri said...
37Symbolic failure: The US embassy in Turkey felt the need to issue an official statement that the US does not support ISIS (Da’esh) and has never supplied arms to the YPG or PKK. The fact that the US had to offer an official statement is rather, uh, telling. (Who ya going to believe – us or your lying eyes?)
Here’s the official statement:
*********************
The truth regarding misinformation in Turkish media concerning United States and Coalition operations against ISIL in Syria:
December 28, 2016 – The U.S. Embassy in Ankara
There is considerable misinformation circulating in Turkish media concerning U.S. and Coalition operations against ISIL in Syria. For those interested in the truths, here are the truths:
The United States government is not supporting DAESH. The USG did not create or support DAESH in the past. Assertions the United States government is supporting DAESH are not true.
The United States government has not provided weapons or explosives to the YPG or the PKK – period. We repeatedly have condemned PKK terrorist attacks and the group’s reprehensible violence in Turkey.
As we have throughout the campaign against ISIL, we continue to work closely with our counterparts in the Turkish government to determine how we can increase our efforts to defeat ISIL and eliminate this scourge that threatens both our peoples. This includes ongoing discussions about how we can best support Syrian opposition and Turkish forces engaging ISIL around al Bab.
Like Turkey, the United States also has experienced attacks by ISIL supporters. We mourn the losses that the Turkish Republic has suffered in facing this and other threats from terrorism.
– US Embassy and Consulates in Turkey
https://tr.usembassy.gov/statement-12282016/
***************
On the SAME fucking day, the WaPo has an article out that reads in part:
***********
“[…] At the heart of the issue is the U.S. military’s policy of sending arms to the area controlled by the main Syrian Kurdish militia, the People’s Protection Units, widely known as the YPG.
“The decision has paid off so far. The YPG — which constitutes the Kurdish component of the SDF — has proved to be the United States’ most effective military ally in Syria, and it has retaken vast swaths of territory. It is also expanding deep into Arab areas as it presses forward against the militants, raising questions among observers about the long-term sustainability of the gains.
“The cooperation has, moreover, provoked the ire of Turkey, because of the YPG’s long-standing ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara and Washington. Turkey is waging its own offensive against the Islamic State in nearby Aleppo province but has hinted it may soon turn on the SDF alliance and perhaps then make its own push for the Islamic State capital.[…]”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/world/2016/12/28/on-the-front-lines-of-the-fight-for-the-islamic-states-capital-of-raqqa/
***************
Of course, it is widely known that the US DOES supply arms and weapons to the YPG and the PKK (and has mysteriously avoided any causing any serious damage to ISIS forces) since we started the whole “depose al Assad” shit a couple of years ago. The US has openly talked about arming the “rebel groups” – this ain’t no secret, for god’s sake. Congress has even allocated money to the “rebels” and just signed a bill giving strong enough weapons to these groups that they will be able to take an airplane out of the sky with them.
But, yeah, let’s hope the Turks and Syrians read the US consulate’s website and not the newspapers. Or the bills coming out of Congress. Let’s hope they don’t talk to any of their countrymen or look out their windows, either.
12/29/16 9:34 AM | Comment Link
teri said...
38“(and has mysteriously avoided any causing any serious damage to ISIS forces)” …..I’ve got an extra “any” in here….
And Mitch, we not only supply them weapons, we invented both al Qaeda and ISIS. We are also openly (OPENLY) allied with al Qaeda in Syria. Some members of Congress seem a tad uneasy about it, given that supposedly al Qaeda bombed us on 9/11 and they are the whole reason for the AUMF which is being used as “war authorization” everywhere we go. These couple of Congressmen are pretty much laughed at when they bring it up, however. Having a defined enemy and/or asking Congress to maintain the proper constitutional order is not how we roll any more.
12/29/16 9:45 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
39So we can bomb ourselves, accordng to the AUMF.
12/29/16 11:22 AM | Comment Link
chuck said...
40I had friend in Turkey who was a MSM guy there. He was truthful, and died in a horrible fire. Moving Forward… Happy New Year. Peace to all…
12/29/16 11:29 AM | Comment Link
chuck said...
41Will a surge for anti DAPL in Jan. be the correct move?
12/29/16 11:57 AM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
42Teri,
We are Totally on the same page.
You left out the part where, the US government is funding ISIS to overthrow Assad.
Which used to be a US friendly government.
Just stupid.
Also…. Anyone who believes that the US government was not involved with 9/11…. Needs to change their drug of choice.
M
12/29/16 12:35 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
43Bldg. 7 ?
12/29/16 1:41 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
44Whoa… Obomber protecting DNC.
12/29/16 2:07 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
45Russia bad. DNC and Donna, Good for cheaating.
12/29/16 2:11 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
46Bernie/2020 for 4 years!
12/29/16 2:12 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
47It ain’t the Russkies. It’s computers.
12/29/16 2:23 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
48Bring back Natasha and Boris cartoons. Rocky will save US !
12/29/16 2:27 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
49We need Victoria Nuland to hand out cookies .
12/29/16 2:29 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
50How is her husband?
12/29/16 2:29 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
51Does Israel have Nuclear weapons?
12/29/16 2:34 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
52Looking back, not For(War)”D”, Obomber (Tues. Kill list) has been a loser for the people. He had no good things til his last weeks. He will make 2 million a yaer or more. US # 1
12/29/16 2:40 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
53god is dog spelled backwards (see Loki Wolf Dog on something). Bless You and yours.
12/29/16 2:42 PM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
54So Chuck. Obama will soon be with the ruling elite- a group he lusted to join since high school. He worships at their altar of money and power. He’ll do very well financially. People will actually buy his book-pathetic journalists so they can talk about it, post quotes and maybe get some traction on their pithy comments. Since everyone wants to be a journalist he’ll sell maybe 20 million copies so everyone can play at being a reporter and book reviewer. Even PVB will make Obama richer by buying his book. That is how empires go.
12/29/16 2:43 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
55I hope, change, believe O feels Karma. Enjoy!
12/29/16 2:48 PM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
56Yep….. Its Trump we all have to be scared to death of…. Yep…. All Trump…
http://foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=22995&external=3849551.proteus.fma#quickPage_html_page_22995_content_118569136_pageNum_1
http://topstories.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=17224&content=118568812&pageNum=-1
The guy is just begging to start a war…. One with Russia…. The other with the Bundy’s (as if his last two rounds did not teach him)…
M
12/29/16 7:35 PM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
57Well,
This was fucking predictable……..
Yep…… Its Trump we have to be terrified of…..
http://foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=22995&external=3849815.proteus.fma#quickPage_html_page_22995_content_118569909_pageNum_1
M
12/30/16 7:44 AM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
58Happy Putin is not the nutcase the US media tries to make him out to be…
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38464612
M
12/30/16 8:04 AM | Comment Link