Steve McGookinTaliban tightens grip as Afghan chaos unfolds
Confusion continues around the Kabul airport as America’s longest war comes to an end, with many Afghans desperate to escape the country as the Taliban consolidates its takeover. There were heartbreaking accounts of women passing their babies over the wall to US soldiers, and of a 17-year-old footballer who fell to his death from a departing aircraft.
Britain and the US are working against the clock to get nationals and associated Afghans airlifted to safety. As the Western Allies consider immediate next steps, there are also debates over the role of Nato and future security collaborations.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab came under pressure to resign over his actions as the evacuation crisis began; while Andrew Rawnsley wrote in The Observer that Boris Johnson’s “Global Britain” had been “exposed as impotent and friendless” by the situation.
President Biden’s performance over recent days was attacked by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as by both Republicans and Democrats at home; with his approval rating taking a hit, even though most Americans continue to support the withdrawal.
On Sunday, the US announced it was enlisting the help of commercial airlines to accelerate the laborious process of evacuating Americans and Afghans with special visas. It was also reported that the numbers of those visas had been deliberately limited during the previous administration.
See Also:
Taliban Takes Kabul, Returns To Power In Afghanistan
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Capitol “bomb threat” reawakens domestic terror fears as 9/11 anniversary nears
In Washington DC on Thursday, a man claiming to have a bomb parked his pickup truck near the Library of Congress, throwing a spotlight back onto the issue of domestic terrorism amid continued warnings in the wake of the Jan 6th assault on the Capitol building.
The suspect posted video of himself on social media and Reuters reported that the man talked about “revolution” while holding a metal canister. He surrendered to police after several hours and has been charged, but perhaps predictably, the political rhetoric surrounding the incident remained inflammatory.
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History At Stake As Impeachment Trial Begins
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Covid continues its persistent, tragic spread
With the US bracing for the effects of Covid on returning school populations across the country, and with still stubborn rates of non-vaccination, it hasn’t been a good week for efforts to control the spread of the virus around the World.
Both Australia and New Zealand extended lockdowns while thousands protested against the restrictions on the streets of Melbourne.
In the UK, case numbers were described as “worrying” as debate continued over the process for rolling out a booster shot.
Here in NI, the much-promoted ‘Big Jab’ weekend followed a spike in numbers that saw us record the highest number of cases in a single day since the pandemic began.
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Climate warnings grow increasingly urgent
There were further dramatic instances of extreme weather across the planet this week as dire warnings continued ahead of November’s COP26 meeting.
At the weekend, the northeastern US was battered by Tropical Storm Henri, causing reportedly the rainiest night in New York City history and forcing an end to a Central Park concert intended to mark the city’s “return” from Covid.
Several people were reported to have died in severe flash flooding in Tennessee, while Hurricane Grace, pounded Mexico on Saturday, causing further death and destruction.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the recent 7.2 earthquake in Haiti his risen to more than 2,200 amid fears of disease among the wreckage. More than 300 people are still missing.
And…
See Also:
The Case For An Eco-Thinking Centenary
Re-framing The Next Hundred Years
Weather Extremes Prompt Urgent Climate Warnings
Build Back Differently: How NI Can Tackle Climate Change (2020)
‘Everything Is Getting Much Worse, Much Faster, Everywhere’ (2019)
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Greens To Join SNP in Government
The Scottish National Party and the Green Party agreed a power-sharing arrangement at Holyrood that will see Green representatives enter government in the UK for the first time. The deal includes a commitment to hold a referendum on Scottish independence within the next five years, preferably by the end of 2023. It also has significant implications for Scotland’s energy sector.
In the rest of Britain, the effects of Brexit continue to be felt.
Not to mention…
And…
In NI politics meanwhile, there was a significant legal development in the case of the 1988 killing of Aidan McAnespie.
There was also condemnation this week after a paramilitary display in Derry.
See Also:
Genuine Progress On Legacy Remains Elusive
Don’t Let Border Poll Become The Irish Brexit (2019)
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