Afghan Commentary Post

  The Mockery of ICC Justice: Why Duterte is Targeted While Putin, Netanyahu, and the Taliban  Walk Free? ICC's double standards undermine the international legal Order By Wahab Raofi On Tuesday, Philippine police arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila and sent him to the Netherlands to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC). “His arrest could bring victims and their families closer to justice and sends a clear message that no one is above the law. The Marcos government should swiftly surrender him to the ICC,” said Bryony Lau, Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director. But is this truly justice, or just a selective show of accountability? Is everyone really equal before the law? Mr. Lau, since you speak of justice, let me ask you: What about Russian President Vladimir Putin, responsible for the deaths of thousands in Ukraine? What about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused of m...

    By Wahab Raofi Summary: Elon Musk’s efforts to bring private-sector efficiency to government operations is a compelling idea, and he could succeed if he take s a more precise, scalpel-like approach to trim unnecessary spending without jeopardizing essential functions of government. His approach has faced resistance from bureaucrats and government agencies alike . Appointed by President Trump to streamline the government, Elon Musk has been tasked with cutting wasteful spending and preventing fraud. On its face, it seems a laudable plan, but his efforts have opened significant cracks. One notable example occurred during a cabinet meeting with President Trump and about 20 others, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed frustration, accusing Musk of overstepping his bounds. According to The New York Times , Rubio had been privately critical of Musk for weeks, especially after Musk's team effectively shuttered an entire agency under Rubio's purview: the Unite...

      Reevaluating Alliances: The Case For U.S.-Russia Rapprochement Is Trump’s rapprochement with Russia a calculated strategy aimed at preventing U.S. rivals from forming alliances that could pose a challenge to U.S. national security? By Wahab Raofi President Trump is steering U.S. policy on Russia away from confrontation and toward a bold new détente. Following his recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he hailed the conversation as “lengthy and highly productive,” signaling a potential shift in the decades-old dynamic between the two superpowers. However, the warming of relations with Putin has had a chilling effect, sparking a wave of criticism both at home and abroad.   Domestically, critics argue that aligning closely with Russia undermines democratic values and compromises America's global standing. Writing in The New York Times, Peter Baker, an author of books on President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, points out th...

  Reforming Foreign Aid: Balancing Generosity with Accountability By Wahab Raofi Cutting fu nding for USAID undermines the nation's global image. However, increasing oversight and accountability can strengthen its effectiveness.   The phrase "Can I help you?" is a cultural symbol of American generosity, reflecting the nation’s goodwill and reinforcing its leadership on the world stage. This generosity earns the U.S. admiration from allies and respect from rivals. However, foreign aid is increasingly facing scrutiny and calls for reform.   In September 2013, Mike Hopkins, in his essay Pride in The USA , wrote, " In the midst of this crisis, who is helping? Who is on the scene with the necessities of life? Whether it is a refugee crisis in Europe, an earthquake in Haiti, or a volcano in Peru, it is the people of the United States of America who arrive on site, 'the firstest with the most.'   Americ...

  My article on the issue of American immigration has been published in Stars and Stripes . In it, I highlight the delay affecting 40,000 Afghan migrants whose cases were approved, yet their flights were postponed for three months. The article explores solutions to fix the broken U.S. immigration system. I live in a well-to-do middle-class neighborhood in Foothill Ranch, California. During my daily walk to the nearby public park, I pass a man tending to the landscape. Upon seeing me, he shuts off his noisy lawnmower, and we exchange smiles. I greet him with Buen día and he kindly reciprocates. A few steps further, I notice a sign that reads "Caution Construction in Progress." Nearby, a couple in safety gear is repairing the sidewalk. They pause their work until I pass safely. They speak Spanish, a language I don’t understand. Later, I return home and meet José, my landscaper. He brings along his teenage son to translate for us as we discuss how to set the sprinkler ...

  By Wahab Raofi The Prussian diplomat Klemens Wenzel Fürst von Metternich famously said, "When America sneezes, the world catches a cold." In much the same way, one could say that when America speaks, the world listens. American adversaries carefully analyze and adjust their agendas in response to U.S. actions, while regional powers focus on strategies to exert influence over their weaker neighbors. Trump was quoted as saying he would not rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland, part of a broader expansionist agenda he has promoted since winning the Nov. 5 election. From Greenland to Panama to Mexico, leaders are in shock.  One has to wonder if Trump is even aware that such rhetoric undermines diplomatic norms, jeopardizes global stability and emboldens adversaries to take similar actions, potentially escalating conflicts beyond control.  What does Trump, as an incoming president, aim to achieve by with such pr...