Waylander

Bruno was one and maybe the best attacking Utd player in the last two seasons so Ronaldo needs to click with him unlike what happened at the the Euros. You also have Pogba and Sancho to fit in and then you have Greenwood, Cavani and Martial probably mostly on the bench. A lot of attacking players to keep happy,

Sounds gruesome. After the surgery was over were you able to play again?

In the original I was very impressed with Mother Abigail and Randalf Flagg characters thought both were very good. I have had a few ESP experiences too so may be one reason why I enjoyed it more than most.

Not so much a movie yet I watched it like one on Youtube all 5hours. Stephen King's, The Stand from the 90s. Thought it was good.

My ex- gave up drinking and smoking (after some encouragement) when she was pregnant and after our daughter was born she had a few drinks one night. She was breast feeding at the time. Next day no problem. Day two my daughter was uncharacteristically tired and then came to the conclusion, hangover at three months. Next rule no drinking until the breast feeding stops.

I understand your point and got suspicious with the sudden mainstream news of ISIS-K all brandishing new uniforms, face masks all based somewhere with rich fertile soil and a lot of trees, guess the country as I can't yet certainly not Afghan. or Iraq. I would not be surprised if this wasn't someone from the ranks of the Taliban just frustrated that the evacuations were taking too long rather then some glossy new terror group or official Taliban policy. The next steps taken might give us some better insight.

We still have I Syrian women selling the Big Issue at my supermarket, makes me wonder what will happen to the Afghans that may just have a suitcase. It is not fun to be in a Western society without any money and residing in a poor neighbourhood. They might be better in a moderate Muslim country though many of those have their own problems too. i was surprised we did not automatically allow the translators to come, seems there are some last minute changes in approach though how the chips we fall is anyone's guess.

Funny isn't, I agree with us knocking Arsenal off the pinnacle of London football though Spurs seem to take it more badly. I watched on a stream and later on BBC MOTD and like you say a good rapport between Lukaku and the fans. A shame we could have not scored more and they also had the odd chance like the Holding chance from the corner. So cannot get complacent. Liverpool likely to provide a greater challenge this w/e.

Another RT article on resistance to the Taliban. Alleging that former Afghan officials and soldiers that did not surrender to the Taliban have joined Massoud's group in Panshir. Despite this Russian sources do not think this will be enough to stop the Taliban. https://www.rt.com/news/532764-afghanistan-panjshir-northern-alliance/

This link albeit from Russian media suggests the Taliban are being pushed out of a few areas north of Kabul https://www.rt.com/news/532708-anti-taliban-resistance-afghansitan-baghlan/

For me they will having been getting supplies, heavy machine guns, RPGs, mortars as well as small arms. Other things like vehicles and radios. Someone has been supplying the funds to buy these or the Taliban have been raising through terrorist activity like kidnappings and ransoms or taxes from businesses or wealthy individuals under their control. Assuming the Taliban have been getting financial aid, I expect it will be done covertly certainly not publicised. Your Massoud post is intriguing, if he does decide to withdraw or work with the Taliban his treatment will be interesting.

I think we need to understand without the Opium Afghanistan is a poor country, so the Taliban will get support form Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The Northern Alliance will also need support as well so suspect the US in some way (CIA) will get funds to them to continue the struggle. I guess when the Taliban surrounded the country it was the middle area that was last to fall, this is where the majority of the mountains are and also a lot of different ethnic groups. I think there will be a civil war and stalemate with the Northern Alliance holding some mountainous areas and valleys. Will be interesting to see how China handles these parties as it seeks to undertake mining in Afghanistan.

I can't read either, just ideas. Hard on the Capitol Hill protestors, prison beatings etc, one lost an eye.. Noises about further gun controls, likley to fail. Foreign relations, surprisingly relented to allow Germany to buy cheaper oil from Russia. Supposedly was intending to meddle in the Ukraine though suspicion is 'deep state' said China was the concern. Belarus is wobbling and if it moves to a democrat state away from Russian influence would suit the older democrat ideals. China made aggressive noises about Taiwan as the US was pulling out of Afghanistan. In other words still not clear.

Yes when the US said they were after Bin Laden the Taliban said show us the evidence and we will hand him over. That never happened instead the bombs and invasion. Mark Curtis did an interesting TV program about events before 9/11 and it included details of the Neocons hosting the Taliban elders in Texas about proposed oil piplines to be built and cross Afghanistan on their way to the richer markets of Pakistan and India. The Taliban refused this offer. If you look at the topography they would have crossed Helmand province where some of the heaviest fighting took place. Everyone officially denies it was about oil or gas pipelines instead it was about hunting a Saudi terrorist mastermind with advanced kidney disease. If the pipelines had been allowed to cross Afghanistan I guess Saudi Arabia would have been the loser as these fossil fuels were coming from Azerbaijan and crossing the Caspian sea and so avoiding any bottlenecks near Suez or the Persian Gulf. I find it interesting that we have staged some important matches in Baku as both Chelsea and Arsenal fans know.

It is difficult to know how this will unfold, I think it is safe to say women will not have so much freedom yet the words so far suggest more allowances than given before. The detail will be crucial to their sense of freedom. I'm sure atrocities have taken place already though think this might not be policy yet nasty people on the Taliban side taking what they can at a point of a gun. That can happen in all victorious armies in the West the PR side kicks in very quickly and takes whatever action behind the scenes though sometimes the legal side catches up..

Check this out: Afghanistan - Taliban Press Conference Notes Notes taken during the just ended Taliban news conference (video, Pashtun+English overvoice) today held by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah. - Starts with a Koran recitation congratulating the victorious and another one on unity. - We had legitimate right to liberate the country. - Pardoning all who have fought against us. - We want no external or internal enemies. - Strong Islamic and inclusive government. - No Talib casualties in Kabul. - Assures security in Kabul. - Assures embassies of security. - We want no chaos or inconvenience in Kabul. - Confirms Talib only went into Kabul for security on streets. Rioters, thieves wanted to abuse Taliban name to search houses etc. - Assures security for all neighboring countries. - Assures international community that no country will be harmed from Afghan soil. - Rights for women within framework of Sharia. Education, working etc allowed. - Will build infrastructure for Afghan economy. - Asks international community to contribute. - Assures media activity. Can continue to report. But nothing against Islamic values. Should be impartial. Shall critique Talib work so Talib can improve. - Media shall not work against national values or unity of the nation. Questions round: Q Aljazeerah: About women. Talib: Women key part of society. Will work with them. Within framework of Islam. Q: Security of contractors, translators who worked for U.S., others etc.? Talib: We assure that all have been pardoned. No revenge. We don't want them to leave. We need their talents. Nobody will be interrogated or will have their houses searched. All soldiers who have been fighting against us are pardoned. Q Tolonews: Pardoning? Talib: Everyone is pardoned. Harm was done by Talib due to the war. Assures that such will no longer happen. Q: About riots, thieves reports? Talib: We had to intervene in Kabul to stop that. Will disarm such people. Will bring back services. Q: ? Talib: Negotiations took place in Doha for 18 month. But previous government sabotaged them and had plans for another six month war. We have instructed everybody to not enter other people's house. Government formation will soon happen and things will then be clear. Q: ? Talib: There will be difference in what Talib did 24 years ago in government and what it will do in future. More developed now. Q: a. Government formation? b. Borders? Talib: a. Ongoing. b. Borders are secured by Talib. No smuggling allowed. ... Q: ? Talib: We have not one case of murders in provinces since we rule. Currently one kidnapping case. These will stop too. Q: Narcotics ? Talib: We will assure that narcotics will end. Lots of our youth use narcotics. From now on Afghanistan will be narcotics free. International help needed for alternative crops. Q: ? Talib: We will have a strong government based on Islamic values. Still consulting on it. Will be inclusive. Women will be able to work. Q: Foreign fighters in Afghanistan? Talib: Afghan soil will not be used against other countries. People who want to do that are not allowed on our ground. Q: Can women still work in the media? Talib: Everyone will be able to work. New government will issues laws regulating various fields. Q: Contacts with Abdullah, Hekmatyar, Karzai? Talib: Communicating with them. Who wants to serve the nation will not be ignored. Inclusive government. Q: International relations? Talib: Want to have good relations with all. END Posted by b on August 17, 2021 at 15:50 UTC | Permalink From MoonofAlabama.org The only answer above that looks odd is about women working in the media, the response is vague suggesting to me they will not have women working in the media.

@Dr. Gonzo I was looking at Massoud in Afghanistan and came across Dari the Persian based language most widely spoken in Afghanistan. The language seems to be from a time when the Sassanids were dominant in both Iran and Afghanistan. Found that interesting were you aware of that?

Agree. Two good points there, firstly since this conflict Russia has been selling more of its missile defence systems like the S-400, so the war is benefiting them for sure. Secondly, although aware of the Russia and Turkish concerns, I hadn't linked Armenia and the Kurds. My take is Erdogan is crazy and trying to create a greater Turkey and hence supporting Azerbaijan. Russia made a point saying they would get involved if Azerbaijan went beyond a certain point. There have been clashes in Northern Syria as the Syrian Army (S.A) was retaking lost territory. The Russians are not impressed with Turkish backed militias continuing to try and hold on to Syrian territory The Russians allegedly told Assad it was pointless to try to take back Kurdish Syria, Assad did not accept that and has the S.A periodically shelling Turkish forces to protect Syrian Kurds. Personally think Assad has too much on his hands to really retake the Kurdish areas, think the Turkish backed militias in the north together with Erdogan's desire to get more territory and Israel will take too much effort to keep at bay. I'm sure you know we also have Iran's proxy in southern Lebanon with their large missile supplies, you can bet if a shooting war starts they will be heavily involved at some point.

Yes Syria became very messy. I think the West wanted to put boots on the ground but the UK electorate after seeing the mess of Iraq and Afghanistan said, 'No.' That shook the US into taking a different path and then we saw the rise of Islamic militias that attacked both the FSA and Assad's forces. Other forces attacked Syria too like Al-Nusrah supported by Israel and forces probably linked with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. So Syria used its military treaty with Iran and so the Iranians are near Israel mainly in the Southern area which has angered Israel. Now Pandoras box has been opened as the Kurdish area in the North is largely independent which has upset Turkey who was up to that point trying to take a slice of Northern Syria yet having the largest Kurdish population does not want the Kurds to expand further. Russia is involved probably as Syria was one of their arms clients and the US is camped in the Syrian desert pumping oil that goes through the Kurdish area. Israeli air strikes have prompted Russia to give Syria a better missile defence system which has triggered Israel to say they will now use Cruise missiles. Very messy indeed and Libya is not very settled either with it's own civil war situation. It could turn very hot very quickly if someone makes a bad move.

I'm sure in one conflict Al-Jazeera took a US missile as did the Chinese embassy in the bombing of the former Yugoslavia in the 90's.

That is about the length of the Syrian civil war which started in 2011. Interesting about the Banking sector loans.

With Lebanon realise there are many undercurrents with political crises's over the years and a number of political players. Yet as its biggest neighbour is Syria due you think this is mainly due to the Syrian conflict reducing mutual trade?

This is worth a look if only for the first 1.30 of the 6 minutes. From 2011 - Congressman Ron Paul saying it was only the loss of face stopping the US getting out of Afghanistan and if they didn't it would be another decade and still a loss of face. He said you can't do nation building in a place where most see you as occupiers.

GB News reported that Mahssoud is looking to restart the Northern Alliance.

There may be something strange going here that we don't understand. I read the US had spent over $2trn on Afghanistan since 2001. We have had news about Germany buying Russian oil, Russia getting out of the US$ and perhaps China has announced an intention to do the same yet has not been made public. It might be something about cutting unnecessary costs in a hurry due to US economics.