The Pretense of Democracy in the Russian Parliamentary Elections

The results of the Russian parliamentary elections completed yesterday were determined ahead of time in favor of the ruling party by tyrant Vladimir Putin, a former Soviet intelligence officer, who does not tolerate serious opposition or criticism. True opposition parties are not permitted to compete effectively in Russian parliamentary elections. Only parties that are pro-Putin or that are not overly critical are allowed to compete in federal legislative or other elections, as a pretense of democratic representative government. The two major parties that are tolerated are the Communists and the far-right nationalists, which serve to make the ruling party seem reasonable by contrast. A new pro-Putin center-right party was formed by the Kremlin to take away votes from the center-right opposition. Furthermore, as with any critics of Putin, opposition parties and leaders are subject to persecution, while basic freedoms are not tolerated. One of the main opposition leaders, Alexei Navalny, who is imprisoned after having been poisoned and whose party was prevented from fielding candidates, urged Russians to vote for one of the parties other than the ruling party as a tactic. The tactic has been effective at times in regional elections.

Islamists Were Routed in the Moroccan Parliamentary Elections

The Islamist party that has ruled Morocco for ten years since Morocco’s establishment as a constitutional monarchy after the Arab Spring has been routed in the Moroccan parliamentary elections, led by center-right, free enterprise and royalist parties. See my post from June of 2011, Morocco: First Fruits of the Arab Spring: https://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2011/06/morocco-first-fruits-of-arab-spring.html. The Islamists finished in eighth place, losing many seats. Although they led the government, the King has strong influence over government in Morocco. Morocco had recognized Israel and is dealing with an insurgency in the former Spanish Western Sahara, which Morocco claims. The King gave a mandate to the leader of the economic party that won the largest number of seats to try to form a government, which should be easy to accomplish.

The 1996 Global Abandonment of Afghanistan Let the Taliban Take Over the First Time

The recent American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization withdrawal from Afghanistan is not the first time the United States and the international community let the Taliban take over the central Asian State after abandoning Afghanistan. After the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989, Pakistan created the Taliban to counter its arch-rival India in Afghanistan. The Islamist Taliban militia began to fight with the Afghan government by 1992. Bill Clinton mostly ignored Afghanistan and did little to prevent the Taliban from seizing most of Afghanistan and taking power by 1996, although he continued to recognize the Northern Alliance-led government. The Taliban then provided sanctuary to al-Qaeda, the Islamist terrorist organization founded by the Saudi Osama bin Laden that was responsible for the September 11 Attacks, after they left Sudan. Clinton conducted one missile strike against al-Qaeda after the twin American embassy bombings in 1998 in Kenya and Tanzania, but did not follow through. After the September 11 Attacks, President George W. Bush led an international coalition to overthrow the Taliban and deny safe haven to al-Qaeda, which had been using Afghan soil to plot and train. After the recent American and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban, whose organization remains intertwined with Islamist terrorists, quickly seized power, as feared. Al-Qaeda’s leader as sworn an oath of loyalty to the Taliban’s leader. The Islamist terrorists provided support to the Taliban’s takeover. Therefore, there are concerns that the Taliban will again provide safe haven to al-Qaeda and other violent jihadists. Instead of withdrawal and isolationism, continued vigilance and support for allies is essential for American and global security.

Twentieth Anniversary of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks by al-Qaeda Islamists

Today is the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania by the al-Qaeda Islamist terrorists that killed nearly 3,000 people. As always, I post in memory of those who died and in appreciation of those who have participated in many ways in the War on Terrorism, starting from that day, which have been successful in preventing another September 11-scale attack. There have been terrorist attacks around the world that each have killed hundreds of people and there have been attacks against Americans or on American soil by Islamists. Even adding up all the other terrorist or other attacks by Islamists on American soil over the last two decades does not equal the loss from September 11 and the same can be said of other attacks that are commonly mislabeled as “terrorism,” but were targeted at government or officials or other political targets, instead of against innocent civilians in order to intimidate them to pressure their government to give into the demands of the terrorists, or attacks based on hatred that are more properly labeled “genocide.” Major policy changes, such as sharing intelligence among domestic agencies and with foreign governments, expanding law enforcement tools used for other crimes to terrorism, and tighter domestic and international financial controls have been critical counterterrorism tools. But the military role has been essential, particularly overthrowing by the United States and its allies of the Taliban de facto regime of Afghanistan that had been willfully harboring al-Qaeda so the terrorists could train and plot freely, as well as targeting al-Qaeda for destruction, which did degrade them to a degree. Denying safe havens to terrorism is imperative. Keeping the Taliban from returning to power by aiding our allied Afghan government kept America and the world safe from September 11-scale attacks by al-Qaeda, although the Islamist terrorists and their offshoot, the Islamic State, like other Islamist or other terrorists and militants, continue to conduct smaller-scale attacks and remain a threat to global security. Islamists believe in advancing Islam through any means necessary, including violence. Conquering and holding territory is seen as a sign of divine favor for their cause. Therefore, the withdrawal of American and NATO forces from Afghanistan has been particularly disturbing, as I have been posting, despite a U.S. threat to continue to attack terrorist targets in Afghanistan from afar without apparently adequate intelligence on the ground and while the Biden Administration is letting the Taliban, which remains intertwined with al-Qaeda and other Islamist terrorists and which has formed a provisional government full of terrorists, destroy our Afghan allies whom we had relied upon to help overthrow the Taliban by 2002. Coupled with other withdrawals and planned draw-downs of troops, it appears that the isolationist policy of “ending wars” in terms of no longer having troops on the ground, even if not engaged in a combat role, while threats remain will weaken U.S. and allied ability to protect against terrorism. It is necessary to reassess American policy immediately and implement a more robust defense against Islamist terrorism to prevent an increase of terrorist and other attacks on Americans and U.S. interests around the world and on allies.

Follow-Up on the Trump-Biden Withdrawal from Afghanistan; Trump’s Abandonment of Afghan Allies

The Trump-Biden Withdrawal: There is currently a debate between supporters of Donald Trump and Joe Biden over responsibility of the American abandonment of the Afghan government, which was an ally of the United States in the War on Terrorism, but both are to blame. Trump’s surrender agreement with the Taliban not only legitimized the terrorist sponsors and undermined the Afghan government, but provided political cover for Biden’s intention to withdraw, and it would have made it even more politically challenging for Biden to reject the agreement and retain some forces in Afghanistan, although he should have shown such leadership. Furthermore, after striking the Taliban by air a couple times, the Biden Administration cited the Trump agreement’s provisions on disallowing U.S. airstrikes, except for limited instances, in failing to provide adequate support to Afghan security forces. The Taliban were able to take over nearly all of Afghanistan. The Trumpist argument that Trump would have handled the withdrawal better than Biden, who obviously bungled it by not planning for the contingency of a rapid advance of the Taliban and the collapse of Afghan forces, which he had further undermined by reducing their military aid, is belied by Trump’s abandonment of the Kurds in Syria to the terrorist-sponsoring Assad regime. In either case, both Trump and Biden were wrong to concede to the Taliban and plan to withdraw and leave the Afghan government to have to defend themselves alone against the Taliban, instead of backing the Afghan government sufficiently to defeat the Taliban. The Trump-Biden withdrawal from Afghanistan is like the premature withdrawal from Iraq by Barack Obama that created a power vacuum filled in part by al-Qaeda’s offshoot, the Islamic State, which seized large swathes of northern Iraq and western Syria before the U.S. and allies had to return to help Iraqi forces to take away its territory. And the betrayal of America’s Afghan allies is reminiscent of Trump’s betrayal of the Syrian Kurds, who were allies against the Islamic State in Syria. Trump’s Abandonment of Afghan Allies: Trump’s policies also prevented many Afghan allies from escaping Afghanistan. Hundreds of Afghans who collaborated with the U.S. in the War on Terrorism were denied visas to America because of Donald Trump’s counterproductive policies, despite their eligibility, leaving them at risk of retaliation by the Taliban after the U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan. Under Trump’s Muslim ban, the Administration implemented duplicative and unnecessary restrictions on visas for Iraqis and Afghans who worked with Americans. Despite minimal risk from refugees because of adequate protections, Trump had instituted the ban on the entry of refugees from entire States because of his demagogic anti-refugee and anti-immigrant rhetoric and support from nativists and White Nationalists, one of whom as directing anti-migrant policies in the Trump Administration. Therefore, the demagoguery that was supposedly based on protecting Americans from terrorists effectively undermined U.S. security by jeopardizing the lives of allies.

Italian News Summary

National Unity Governnment: After the fall of the coalition government of the populist party and parties from the center to the left when a centrist junior coalition member party turned against the populist Prime Minister, a new government of national unity was formed amidst the Coronavirus pandmeic. Led by former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi, the grand coalition included the populist, anti-establishment party and parties from the left to the far-right anti-migrant Trumpist League Party, as well as non-political technocrats. The center-right party of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Forza Italia, joined the coalition. The only significant national party in Parliament not to join is the party on the far right between Forza Italia and the League on the ideological spectrum, though the three parties remain in a bloc for elections. Even after several months, Draghi’s government remains popular, with most parties satisfied with his leadership on the pandemic, his securing of aid from the European Union, and on his successful reform to speed up Italy’s notoriously slow judicial system without letting criminals like corrupt officials or organized criminals escape justice. The main friction comes from disagreements from the League on pandemic responses that are relatively minor, compared to the differences between American parties, such as the time for a curfew, which the Government set at 10:00 PM, despite the League’s preference for 11:00 PM. Forza Italia, by contrast, has supported responsible restrictions, which Italy does enforce, based on the data. There is a debate about mandatory vaccinations and consideration is being given to a vaccine booster. Italy’s vaccination campaign is ahead of that of Americans, but there is much progress to be made as the delta variant has become dominant among the unvaccinated. There was a disagreement among the parties in the coalition over a proposed equality law for homosexuals that raised concerns of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, with which the Italian State has a treaty regarding its relationship with Italy, that could have compromised the freedom to hire and to express different points of view. The uncompromising proposal from the center left has stalled the bill’s progress, despite consensus on the need for equality, as the bill does not raise particular moral concerns. There is also tension within the coalition over migrant policy, with Italy again trying to coordinate policy with a mostly sympathetic EU, with the League being hostile to refugees. In addition to migrants from the Mediterranean, Italy has been welcoming Afghan refugees and is among the EU members seeking a shared accommodation of them. Forza Italia Rejects a Proposed Ultranationalist European Parliamentary Group: Meanwhile, Forza Italia rejected the proposal by the League party for their fellow bloc members to form a new far-right parliamentary group within the European Parliament, together with ultranationalists and authoritarians like the ruling party of Hungary, which had left the European People’s Party after having been suspended for breaking with the group’s principles of liberty and representative government. Forza Italia, which is not as anti-European as the League, believes in Western ideals of liberty and representative governmnent and in the transatlantic alliance with the United States, will remain in the EPP.

Afghanistan Update: Anti-Taliban Resistance and Protests, Refugees, International Taliban Relations, Continued War on Terrorism in Afghanistan

Anti-Taliban Resistance and Protests: The resistance to the Taliban has held out for nearly three weeks since the fall of Kabul. It is centered in the Province of Panjshir, inhabited by ethnic Tajiks. Local militia have been bolstered by remnants of the Afghan army, commandos and police from across Afghanistan who have fled to the naturally fortified valley famous for its successful resistance both to the Soviets and the Taliban before the Pakistani-created militia was removed from power by the United States and its allies after the September 11 Terrorist Attacks, committed by al-Qaeda, whom the Taliban harbored. The resistance is led by the former Vice President, who is acting president because the President fled the country. The caretaker president is joined by the Defense Minister and the Western military-educated son of Ahmed Shah Massoud, the Lion of the Panjshir, who had resisted the Soviets and Taliban before being assassinated by al-Qaeda shortly before September 11. The National Resistance Front is calling for an elected parliament representing all of Afghanistan’s ethnic groups, none of which constitutes a majority of the population, and all major religious sects, autonomy for provinces, respect for equality and human rights and preventing Afghanistan from again threatened the world as a base for Islamist terrorism. Meanwhile, there has also been armed resistance by ethnic Hazara militias, as the Hazaras are Shi’ite, a Muslim sect the Taliban rejects. There have also been scattered protests across Afghanistan, which the Taliban do not tolerate. In addition to trying to govern a multi-ethnic and religiously diverse state with a harsh Islamist policy, the Taliban will also have to contend with terrorists of the Islamic State, a more violent offshoot of al-Qaeda. Furthermore, the Taliban will have to take responsibility for Afghanistan’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic, amidst a severe humanitarian crisis. Afghan Refugees: The Kabul airport has been re-opened for foreign and domestic flights. In addition to international efforts to send humanitarian aid, Americans, other foreigners and eligible Afghans could possibly evacuate on any available flights. Over 100,000 Afghans were able to escape, along with Americans and other foreigners in the largest airlift in history by the U.S. its NATO allies and other foreign States. Other Afghans were able to escape across the border, joining over two million Afghans as refugees in Pakistan and Iran. International Policy toward the Taliban: The U.S. and most of its NATO allies, among other foreign States, are unlikely to recognize the regime the Taliban is forming as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, despite the militia’s pledge of an inclusive government and tolerance. The international community is maintaining dialogue with the Taliban, but insisting on an inclusive government for the multi-ethnic state that respects rights and does not allow Afghanistan to return to being a base for terrorists. The Taliban are intertwined with and supported by al-Qaeda and other Islamist terrorists and have engaged in reprisal killings and are violating human rights in numerous ways as they have declared an Islamist state based on a strict interpretation of Islam that is not shared by most Afghans. The U.S. may also continue economic sanctions against the Taliban, freeze Afghan bank accounts, and cut off any aid to Afghanistan that would be routed through the Taliban. Foreign States are considering similar responses. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have already cut off Afghanistan from aid. There have been international protests of Afghans living in asylum against recognition of the Taliban. Continued War on Terrorism in Afghanistan: The U.S. has declared its intent to continue to strike terrorists in Afghanistan, but its ability to conduct strikes from outside of the country will be limited by the unnecessary withdrawal of the relatively small U.S.-led NATO force that had supported the Afghan government in a mostly advisory role in preventing a return to power of the Taliban, lest it again provide safe haven for its ally, al-Qaeda, to plot and train for more terrorist and other attacks.

The United States Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey

After a long campaign by supporters, the United States finally recognized the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916. The Turks massacred hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenians. The Islamist Turkish Government falsely denies the genocide, which was one of the earliest mass genocides in world history. Armenians and most Greeks, who are both Christians, were forcibly removed from Turkey after the First World War when Turkey succeeded the Ottoman Empire, which was broken up after its defeat as one of the Central Powers. International recognition of genocide, which is the killing of a people, is essential to preventing it again.

Coronavirus Pandemic Update: Sweden and the Word Health Organization

Sweden: Sweden imposed its first restrictions in regard to the Coronavirus-2019 pandemic, after having relied upon voluntary guidelines. Most Swedes had abided by the guidelines, as the liberal Swedish Government trusted they would act responsibly, but enough did not that it had been threatening to impose restrictions. Sweden has been cited by those who deny or minimize Covid-19 as a supposedly successful example of the strategy of developing herd immunity in lieu of restrictions and the economic damage they cause, but Sweden did not adopt such a strategy and its economy has suffered the same as other States have as Swedes have effectively been restricting themselves and Sweden has experienced a disproportionately high number of cases and deaths from the contagion without the imposition of restrictions. World Health Organization: A study of independent experts commissioned by the World Health Organization concluded that the pandemic from the Coronavirus 2019 could have been avoided. It faulted Communist China and the WHO for delays, but blamed widespread denial, delays and a lack of coordination around the world.

Foreign Digest, Western Europe: France, Italy, the European Union, and the United Kingdom

France and Italy: France finally arrested 8 Leftist militants wanted by Italy after having been convicted for militancy, including murders, during the “Years of Lead” from the 1970s to the ‘80s, while two other fugitives turned themselves in to authorities after being charged. During that period, there was much violence by extreme factions, particularly by the Red Brigades, a Marxist organization, among which several of the fugitives sought in France were members. The Red Brigades is most infamous for kidnapping and killing Christian Democratic Party leader and ex-Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1979. The militants now face extradition to Italy, but the process will take two to three years under French law. Italians hailed the arrests as serving justice. The French Socialist Government of Francois Mitterand had harbored militants, but the current President noted the policy, which was for those who renounced violence, ought not to include those responsible for crimes of blood. Brazil had also been among the countries that had harbored militant Italian fugitives convicted of crimes. After originally declining to extradite a long-sought Italian Leftist militant who had been convicted of murder, Brazil appeared to be open to considering the evidence. The fugitive fled to Bolivia after its leftist government was forced from power, which then extradited him to Italy. Former Brazilian center-left President Inacio Lula recently apologized to Italy for failing to extradite him because he had disbelieved the truth about the militant. Several other foreign States harbor other fugitive Italian militants from the Years of Lead, but France had protected the most. The European Union Parliament has again voted in favor of the extradition of a Red Brigades terrorist being harbored by the Marxist Sandinista government of Nicaragua. The European Union and the United Kingdom: A commercial accord between the European Union and the United Kingdom was ratified by the EU Parliament. Fishing rights and customs were among the major subjects. The agreement keeps in place the arrangement between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. The British withdrawal from the EU had been approved by both parties last year, after a 2016 referendum in which Britons voted to withdraw from the EU.

Foreign Digest, Latin America: Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Peru

Venezuela: The United Nations’ human rights commission cites crimes against humanity committed by the Socialist dictatorship of Venezuela. Presidential elections were held. The democratic opposition did not participate in them because they were not free and fair. An opposition leader was arrested in July. Cuba: The largest protests in Cuba in 30 years occurred this summer across the island against the Communist dictatorship, the poverty caused by socialism and a lack of effective measures against the increasing contagion from Coronavirus-2019. The Communists regime and its supporters blame the U.S. embargo for the economic hardship, but the rest of the world has long traded with Cuba, while travel restrictions for Americans to Cuba had been loosened and Cuban-Americans are allowed to send remissions to family remaining on the island-prison. The protestors are specifically calling for liberty. Nicaragua: The increasingly authoritarian Marxist Sandinista regime of Nicaragua has arrested four presidential candidates and a vice presidential candidate. The Sandinistas had seized power in a coup in 1979 and ruled as a dictatorship until allowing elections after the end of the Cold War, losing them and leaving power. Their leader won elections and has violated human rights, such as the freedom of assembly, which he did violently, and limited press freedom. Peru: Shining Path Maoist terrorists committed a massacre in May.

Foreign Digest, Africa: Chad, West Africa, Mozambique and Congo

Chad: The longtime President of Chad was killed by rebels in April. He was an ally against Islamist terrorists in Mali and Nigeria. His son is filling in for him until elections. West Africa: The leader of Boko Haram, the West African Islamic State affiliate, which had been affiliated with al-Qaeda, was killed in Nigeria in June. The Islamist terrorists have killed, injured and kidnapped thousands of people in Nigeria and neighboring West African States. Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have both been battling Islamist terrorists.

Foreign Digest, East Asia: China, North Korea and the Philippines

China: There have been more persecutions in Hong Kong, in continued violation of Communist China’s promise to respect autonomy and liberty in the city-state when it reverted from British rule in 1997. The United States extended temporary refugee status to residents of Hong Kong. The U.S., Canada, United Kingdom and the European Union imposed coordinated sanctions for human rights violations against Uighurs, the Muslim minority being persecuted by Communist China. Australia pulled out of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, citing incompatible politics. The U.S. has proposed a new Silk Road initiative to counter the Chinese initiative. The United States accused the Communist Chinese government of financing cyberattacks, including some that were cases of extortion for ransom. As I posted today on Russian developments, Communist China, like the Russian Federation, spreads misinformation about American vaccines to undermine confidence in them in favor of their own vaccines. North Korea: A United Nations report found that North Korea had stolen over $300 million through cyberattacks on foreigners. Philippines: Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte, the “Filipino Trump,” rejected an investigation by the International Criminal Court into his policy of encouraging the murder of drug dealing suspects that has resulted in the deaths of thousands in police custody. The Philippines had withdrawn from the ICC treaty.

Foreign Digest, Middle East: Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Iran and Turkey

Lebanon: There have been Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shi’ite terrorists, in Lebanon, in addition to occasional attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian positions in Syria. A member of Hezbollah was convicted and sentenced to prison for the murder of a former Prime Minister in 2005. Libya: Russian mercenaries missed a deadline given by the Libyan government to withdraw amidst a decade of civil war. A new Libyan transitional government of national unity was formed, under the auspices of the United Nations, which then turned over power to a provisional government in March to lead Libya to elections in December. Libya has suffered a decade of civil war. The Libyan people overthrow longtime tyrant Muamar Qaddafi, but were divided among Islamists and non-Islamists, with also some tribal divisions. Syria: The United States has imposed more sanctions on the tyrannical Syrian regime of Bashar Assad for opposing a political solution to the bloody civil war in Syria that has killed hundreds of thousands and caused millions to flee over nearly a decade. Germany convicted an agent of Assad residing on its soil of crimes against humanity. The United Kingdom has indicted they Syrian tyrant and his wife, a Briton, for war crimes. The war has lasted 10 years, killed well over half a million people and made refugees of millions. Syria is an ally of fellow state sponsor of terrorism Iran. Various non-Islamists and Islamists oppose the regime, while Russia and Iran support it with troops. Meanwhile, Israel continues to strike targets of Iranian-backed terrorists in Syria. The United States struck Iranian-backed jihadists in Syria in retaliation for rocket attacks on Americans in Iraq. There was another rigged presidential election in May in which the Assad regime continued its half-century hold on power, despite being from a small minority Muslim sect, as meaningful opposition is not permitted in Syria. Iran: There was another presidential election in Iran in June that was not free and fair, as the Islamic Republic continued its 42-years of Islamist tyranny. The regime does not permit any but Islamist candidates. Turkey: There continued to be more arrests allegedly for the failed military coup in 2016, including in Northern Cyprus, a breakaway state inhabited by Turkish Cypriots that is only recognized by Turkey.

Foreign Digest, Eastern Europe: Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Moldova, Hungary and Bosnia

Belarus: There have been more protests in Belarus against the dictatorship, especially against the August rigged election that kept the longtime “Last Dictator of Europe” in power, which he has been since independence from the Soviet Union, and more arrests of protestors and opposition leaders. The United States added more economic sanctions on Belarus. Armenia and Azerbaijan: Contrary to the professional media’s portrayal of the fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is not over “disputed” territory, but over an administrative district, Nagorno-Karabakh, within the predominately Muslim Azerbaijan that is inhabited by ethnic Armenians who are predominately Christian. Nagorno-Karabakh is mostly controlled by separatist ethnic Armenians who were backed by Armenia, which established a corridor to the territory after the first war between the two ex-Soviet Republics after independence from the Soviet Union. Moldova: A pro-European candidate won the Moldovan presidential election, defeating the incumbent pro-Russian one. There is a breakaway ethnic Russian exclave in the former Soviet Republic, where Russian Federation troops are present. Hungary: The European Court cited the far-right Government of Hungary for violating the rights of refugees seeking asylum. A broad coalition of opposition parties has formed to nominate single candidates in districts for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The leading independent radio station was shut down by the self-described “illiberal” Hungarian Government, which has put independent media under pressure, as it has the judiciary and cultural and educational institutions. The ruling party left the European People’s Party, a European Union parliamentary group of the center-right, after its suspension for violating the group’s principles of liberty. Bosnia and Herzegovina: There were arrests of Bosnian Serbs for war crimes committed during the Bosnian War for independence from Yugoslavia in 1992-1995. Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was condemned to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Court for genocide during the civil war in the former Yugoslav Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991. The separatist Bosnian Serbs coined the phrase “ethnic cleansing” for their crimes against Muslims and Croats. They were backed by Communist Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic.

Summary of Recent Russian Developments

The European Court of Human Rights condemned the Russian Federation, led by tyrant Vladimir Putin, an ex-Soviet intelligence officer, of violating the human rights of the democratic opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, specifically his right to assemble peacefully. Russia poisoned him last year with a Soviet-era nerve agent, the same chemical weapon used against a Russian exile in the United Kingdom. Putin’s regime routinely charges anyone who opposes him with crimes, imprisons them or sends them into exile and it even assaults or kills critics in Russia and abroad. After Navalny’s return to Russia, he was immediately arrested, but was able to release another video about the pro-Putin oligarchy’s luxurious lifestyle. Over the last few years, the opposition leader has been exposing the corruption of the oligarchic regime. After American intelligence agencies also determined the Putin regime’s responsibility for Navalny’s poisoning, the United States imposed economic sanctions on Kremlin officials, joined by the European Union. The dictatorship threatened Navalny’s supporters for planning rallies. Massive rallies nevertheless took place across Russia, despite thousands of arrests and violence by police. Putin’s regime has been closing opposition offices and websites and more opposition figures have been arrested. Meanwhile, the European Union again renewed economic sanctions against the Russian Federation because of its invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and later imposed more sanctions on Russia for human rights violations. In his address to the European Parliament in April, Russian opposition leader Mikhail Khodorkovski notes the tyrannical Vladimir Putin regime's interference ("hostile activities") in western politics undermines politics "provoking conflicts, corruption and physical intimidation." Russian agents hacked the United States Agency for International Development, the entity that supports human rights organizations, including in Russia. Russians engaged in cyberattacks against American companies, including some of critical importance, such as energy supply, in exchange for demands for ransom. In addition, Russia and Communist China have been spreading information against American vaccines for Coronavirus, which has increased the contagion and deaths. The U.S. withdrew from the Open Skies Treaty in May because of too many Russian violations of the Cold War treaty that allowed aerial monitoring by the U.S. and Soviet Union of nuclear weapons programs.

Blog Notes: Posts of Summaries of Foreign News over the Last Year

Over the last year when I was usually unable to post because of computer problems, I had been keeping notes on news of interest, as always from a Christian, conservative, pro-liberty and pro-representative government perspective. I have already begun to issue these posts. I am going to continue to issue posts based on these notes, starting with digests of foreign news. Considering the combined length of the posts and the continued interface glitch that prevents indentation and line spacing, I am going to break the posts up, divided by major state, region or topic. I also made notes on topics about Pennsylvania and America and am considering posting on these topics, as well.

Follow-Up on the American Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Refuting Enemy Propaganda

The withdrawal of United States forces from Afghanistan appears to have provided a propaganda victory to enemies, like Russia, Communist China and Islamist Iran, which are celebrating the American defeat, as well as to those Americans who sympathize with their views. However, the U.S. was not militarily defeated, as it simply withdrew unnecessarily for political reasons. Moreover, the Americans and their allies had overthrown the Taliban regime in order to deny safe haven to al-Qaeda, a goal which it accomplished for over 19 years, and to be able to target the Islamist terrorists responsible for the September 11 Attacks better, which it also accomplished. The U.S. and its allies must continue to prevent a resurgence of al-Qaeda and its offshoot, the Islamic State, in Afghanistan and the tribal areas across the Pakistani border. The enemies of the U.S. claim that the Taliban return to power proves the folly of imposing “democracy,” but Afghanistan was provided the freedom of self-determination. Freedom is not imposed, but is man’s natural state. A representative constitutional republic was the choice of Afghans, not “democracy (direct popular rule),” that was inclusive of all the main ethnic groups and Muslim sects. The tyrannical enemies’ argument that the Taliban takeover proves the that imposing “foreign” ideas like representative government cannot work in countries like Afghanistan ignores the fact that Afghans had formed such a government before the Taliban took over the first time in 1995 and that the Taliban had been created by a foreign State, Pakistan and backed by Pakistan and Iran. Indeed, it ignores that the Taliban are feared and hated by most Afghans, as it also ignores that the Taliban’s harsh interpretation of Islam is foreign to Afghanistan. Furthermore, the premature American withdrawal refutes the old arguments of U.S. enemies and leftists in the West that the U.S. was motivated by imperialism. The U.S. must continue to lead the global War on Terrorism, not only to refute the propaganda of dictatorships, but for American and world security.