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 ...

  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...

    By Wahab Raofi The Biden administration’s decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan was hailed by some as the end of America’s longest war, but its repercussions continue to unfold. Donald Trump, preparing to take office in January, has made Afghanistan a key talking point, sharply criticizing the withdrawal as a strategic blunder. During his campaign, Trump emphasized the significance of Bagram Airfield, citing its proximity to China — a nation he views as America’s foremost adversary. “They also gave up Bagram, one of the biggest bases in the world. I liked it because of China. It’s one hour away from where China makes their nuclear weapons,” Trump said. His critique underscores a broader concern: did the U.S. relinquish a critical strategic foothold by pulling out entirely? As a registered Republican who did not vote for Trump, I nonetheless agree with his assessment that a contingency force at Bagram should have been retained. Such a presence coul...

  Reform, Don’t Deport: Fixing Immigration Laws Mass Deportations Could Result in Severe Damage to U.S Economy By Wahab Raofi Donald Trump has long been known for making outrageous statements, but what seemed shocking in 2011, such as questioning Barack Obama’s birthplace, now feels almost quaint compared to his rhetoric in 2024. Immigrants are no longer just “criminals and rapists” in his words; they are now accused of “poisoning the blood of our country.” Chants of “build the wall!” have been replaced with “send them back!” In the MAGA world, legal immigrants from Haiti are even falsely said to be eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, as noted in The Economist . During his current election campaign, Trump vowed to crack down on immigration, echoing   policies from his first term. He proposes mass deportations of the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States, citing 2022 data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ...

  Something must change in Afghanistan. The status quo will never do. In August 2021, when the Taliban regained power in Kabul, Afghans weary of war hoped that the Taliban had changed and would pave the way for free elections to let Afghans decide for themselves. Unfortunately, three years into their rule, Afghanistan is no better off than before. The Taliban's monopoly on power and their anti-women policies have dashed all hopes and turned the country into a prison without walls. Afghans are suffering, leaving the country due to a lack of jobs, security, and to escape the Taliban's oppressive regime. The Taliban show no inclination to share power. On the other hand, there is no strong opposition to pose a serious challenge to the regime. Members of the former government living in exile lack the support of the majority of Afghans, who blame them for corruption and for the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. The real victims are Afghan civilians, caught between a rock and a hard place...