Afghan Commentary Post

      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 ...