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The alleged bid by the British government and army to close down investigations into torture and murder in Iraq and Afghanistan appears to be the latest aspect of a widespread desire in the UK to forget all about these failed wars.Joining the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 is commonly blamed on Tony Blair, but there is little interest in the desperate situation into which British troops were plunged post-invasion, first in southern Iraq and then, three years later, in Helmand province in Afghanistan.

The gravity of the miscalculations in each case is not in doubt. Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, the British ambassador in Kabul at the time, wrote in his memoirs that the worst mistake made by the Foreign Office in the previous 30 years was the invasion of Iraq, and the second worst was its enthusiastic endorsement of Britains half-baked effort to occupy Helmand in 2006.

The allegation that war crimes were committed to be claimed in a BBC Panorama programme on Monday evening is in keeping with Britains dismal record in these conflicts.

The ICC has said it is considering opening an investigation into the claims, based on leaked documents. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said the allegations are unsubstantiated.

After the capture of Baghdad, the British army stayed in the south of Iraq, mostly in and around Basra, apparently under the impression that this would be quieter than the Sunni Arab provinces that had more strongly supported Saddam Hussein.

It swiftly became clear that, while the Shia population of the south was glad to be rid of Saddam, they were not about to accept a British occupation. An ominous sign of this came on 24 June 2003 when six British Royal Military Police were shot dead in a town called Majar al-Kabir near the city of Amara.

They died because they were advising local police at the same moment as British paratroopers were carrying out an aggressive patrol in another part of the same town and had had an exchange of fire in which several locals had died. The RMPs were killed soon afterwards in a revenge attack.

The incident sums up the fatal contradiction facing the British expeditionary force in Iraq. Their numbers and dispositions were suitable for a country in which most of the population was friendly, but if the opposite were true, as it certainly was, then the soldiers were vastly outnumbered and in danger. British officers used to annoy their American counterparts by claiming prior expertise in this type of warfare, drawing on British experience in Malaya and Northern Ireland. A captain in military intelligence stationed for a year in Basra later said that I kept trying to explain without success to my superiors that in Malaya and Northern Ireland we had local allies while in Basra we had none.

The weakness of the British position was exposed in detail by the Chilcot Report in 2016, but its findings were masked by the media obsession with finding a smoking gun that would prove the culpability of Tony Blairand by the shock result of the Brexit referendum that had taken place at the same time.

The report explains that by 2007 the British forces in Basra had run out of ideas and it was humiliating that the UK reached a position in which an agreement with a militia group [the Mahdi Army], which had been actively targeting UK forces, was considered the best option available.

According to Chilcot, the one consistent British strategy between 2003 and complete withdrawal in 2009 was to reduce the level of deployed forces and to do so without offending the US. The means of doing so was to redeploy the troops to Afghanistan, which was supposedly safer, but where they arrived just as the Taliban were restarting their guerrilla war and where 405 British troops were to be killed in the coming years.

Those who may have committed war crimes in these conflicts have been investigated, even if they were not prosecuted. It would be good if those responsible for these doomed military forays should also be held responsible for their actions.

Read more from the original source:
Reports of War Crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan Highlight the Failures of Both Wars - CounterPunch

Bam Bams BBQ (Siftey)Reviews and write-ups

Heres the low down on all the reviews, ravings and rantings from the past month. Looking for somewhere new to dine this weekend? Start here

Afghan Kitchen (South Salt Lake)https://yaburnedit.net/f/afghan-kitchen-in-south-salt-lake

Amber Restaurant (South Salt Lake)https://www.southsaltlakejournal.com/2019/11/19/290834/amber-restaurant-is-back-with-even-fluffier-rolled-omelets

Bambara (SLC)https://www.saltlakemagazine.com/bambara-salt-lake-city/

Bam Bams BBQ (Orem)https://siftey.com/bam-bams-bbq_utah_restaurant-review/

Beirut Cafe (Murray)https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/food/2019/10/23/this-lebanese-restaurant/

Big Jake Burger (Ogden)https://www.standard.net/lifestyle/food/shakes-ice-cream-more-shakes-and-the-big-jake-burger/article_2813724f-6912-5c13-85c2-619668dabb10.html

Celeste (Murray)https://www.saltlakemagazine.com/paolo-celeste-salt-lake-city/

Changarro Loco (Ogden)https://www.standard.net/go/ogden-s-changarro-loco-offers-spicy-fruit-cups-big-meat/article_4f8da679-5f1a-5f70-b450-b372d92a1d3d.html

Courchevel (Park City)https://www.saltlakemagazine.com/courcheval-park-city/

Cuppa (Ogden)https://www.standard.net/go/cuppa-cafe-makes-cozy-home-in-ogden/article_73589718-0f2a-56f3-b643-7f6d8efd2cf7.html

Diversion Eatery (SLC)https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/food/2019/11/06/diversion-salt-lake-citys/

Foodie And Sweetie (SLC)https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/food/2019/11/19/salt-lake-citys-foodie/

Just Burgers (SLC)https://siftey.com/just-burgers_utah_restaurant-review/

Feldmans Deli (SLC)https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/deli-belly/Content?oid=14328466

Ginger Street (SLC)https://siftey.com/ginger-street_utah_restaurant-review/

Ginger Street (SLC)https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2019/10/30/dine-or-dash-ginger-street/

Mexiquense (Sandy)https://redneckfoodrambles.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/mexiquense-sandy-utah-another-visit/

Mystique Dining (West Jordan)https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/dinner-and-a-poe/Content?oid=14351330

Saola (Cottonwood Heights)https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/food/2019/10/10/pho-garlic-noodles/

Shooting Star Saloon (Huntsville)https://yaburnedit.net/f/hands-down-best-burger-in-utah-shooting-star-saloon

Simply Sushi (Various locations)https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/on-a-roll/Content?oid=14402830

Soys Sushi Bar And Grill (Murray)https://siftey.com/soys-sushu-bar_utah/

The Store (SLC)https://slceats.com/2019/10/19/the-store-opens-at-the-gateway/

The Tavernacle (SLC)https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/brunched-in-the-face/Content?oid=14433371

Tradition (SLC)https://www.slugmag.com/food-reviews/tradition-comfort-close-to-home/

Tradition (SLC)https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/slow-and-steady/Content?oid=14378170

Trolley Wing Company (SLC)https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/food/2019/11/13/salt-lake-citys-trolley/

Tin Angel Eccles (SLC)https://www.saltlakemagazine.com/tin-angel-eccles/

Tuk Tuks (West Valley City)https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/food/2019/11/08/tuk-tuks-west-valley/

Vessel Kitchen (Midvale)https://utahstories.com/2019/10/mission-accomplished-a-visit-to-vessel-kitchen/

Vuduu Pizza (St George)https://siftey.com/vuduu-pizza_utah_restaurant-review/

Wimpy And Fritz (Ogden)https://www.standard.net/lifestyle/food/new-taco-bar-wimpy-and-fritz-opens-inside-the-yes/article_9df26d7b-054e-5dd2-a8d7-e114c6bf519f.html

Adventuresome dininghttps://www.skiutah.com/blog/authors/yeti/dinner-and-then-some-adventure

Best date night dininghttps://utfoodie.com/?p=61

Funeral potato rounduphttps://www.cityweekly.net/utah/putting-the-fun-in-funeral/Content?oid=14464212

Latino dining in Utah Countyhttps://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/dining/latino-owned-restaurants-bring-taste-of-homeland-to-utah-county/article_87fff17c-8b33-5efe-97dd-caa158fa6eea.html

City Creek Mall dininghttps://www.cityweekly.net/utah/mall-in-the-family/Content?oid=14217828

Pickling at restaurantshttps://www.saltlakemagazine.com/we-can-pickle-that/

SLCs best cheesesteaks ratedhttps://www.saltlakemagazine.com/salt-lakes-top-cheesesteaks/

Top 16 aprs ski spotshttps://www.skiutah.com/blog/authors/adam/the-best-apres-ski-joints-in-utah

Want to discuss this post or the SLC food scene in general? Check out our Facebook group and come talk with other likeminded SLC foodies.

Hi, Im Stuart, nice to meet you! Im the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC and The Utah Review; Im also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. Ive worked extensively with other local publications from Utah Stories through to Salt Lake Magazine and Visit Salt Lake.

Im a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for more than a decade. Im largely fueled by Uinta Cutthroat, alliteration and the use of too many big words I dont understand. I ate all the pies.

This article may contain content provided by one of our Partners or Sponsors. These are some of the best businesses in Utah. The current businesses we work with include: Alamexo, The Angry Korean, Avenues Proper, BGR, Bourbon House, BTG Wine Bar, Caffe Molise, Cafe Niche, Campos Coffee, Current Fish & Oyster, Desert Edge Pub, Kyoto, Feldman's Deli, Log Haven, Oasis Cafe, Proper Burger, Proper Brewing Co, Punch Bowl Social, Saffron Valley, SLC Eatery,Stanza Italian Bistro, Taqueria 27, Vine Lore, Whiskey Street, White Horse. For a list of all our past relationships and timelines, please see our historical partnerships page.

Read the rest here:
Afghanistan to New Jersey a world of flavors in the roundup - gastronomicslc.com

The US Treasury imposed sanctions against Afghanistan-based Nejaat Social Welfare Organization for using false charitable pretenses while transferring funds and supporting activities of Daesh in Afghanistan, the US Treasury said in a statement released on Monday.

The report said that the Nejaat Social Welfare Organization has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, ISIS-K( Khorasan).

In mid-2016, the report claimed, an ISIS-K facilitator managed a non-governmental organization called Nejaat, and an ISIS-K recruiter worked at Nejaat and recruited ISIS-K fighters in Kabul and arranged for their travel to Nangarhar Province.

Also according to the report, in late 2016 Afghan leaders of ISIS-K held planning meetings under the cover of a Salafi solidarity meeting sponsored by Nejaat and executive members of Nejaat and prominent Salafi leaders in Afghanistan led the meeting, some of whom were financial supporters of Nejaat.

The report named Rohullah Wakil as one of the executive members of Nejaat who co-led the meeting.

The US Treasury described the organizations raising and distribution of funds for Daesh.

Nejaat collected donations on behalf of ISIS-K from individuals in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern countries. Money was then transferred from the Gulf to Asiavia the banking systemwhere an ISIS-K coordinator would collect the transferred funds. Nejaat's offices in Kabul and Jalalabad distributed the funds to ISIS-K commanders.

The US Treasury report named individuals:

Sayed Habib Ahmad Khan

Sayed Habib Ahmad Khan is a leader or official of the Nejaat Social Welfare Organization, whose property and interests in property have been blocked, the Treasury report stated, adding As of 2019, Sayed Habib Ahmad Khan was identified as the director of Nejaat. He is located in Kuwait. The report also described Sayed Habib Ahmad Khan as an ISIS-K facilitator.

Rohullah Wakil

The report states that Rohullah Wakil has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, ISIS-K and is an executive member of Nejaat who co-led a 2016 Nejaat Salafi solidary meeting which served as a cover for ISIS-K planning.

As a result of the US Treasury action, all financial activity or related dealings with Nejaat and the individuals named in the report are prohibited, and any person or group involved in transactions with Nejaat could be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.

Visit link:
US Treasury: Afghanistan-based Organization Aiding Daesh - TOLOnews

With an engaged government, rich natural resources and a young and diverse population, Afghanistan has the potential to make significant progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, decades of complex and protracted conflicts, combined with a changing climate, gender inequalities, rapid urbanization and underemployment pose considerable challenges in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 on Zero Hunger and improved nutrition.

Over half of the countrys population lives below the poverty line, and food insecurity is on the rise, largely due to conflict and insecurity cutting off whole communities from livelihood opportunities. This particularly affects a predominantly young population, more than two-thirds of which are under the age of 25. Concerns about corruption, transparency and illegal industry further exacerbate the situation, and living standards vary greatly between those cities and rural areas. 12.5 million people identified as severely food insecure.Since the beginning of 2019, WFP had supported 3.5 million people in most parts of the country.

Undernutrition is of particular concern in women, children, displaced people, returnees, households headed by women, people with disabilities and the poor. Despite progress in recent years, undernutrition rates are now increasing and the prevalence of stunting in children under 5 remains high at 41 percent at the national level, with peaks of 60 to 70 percent in some provinces. In the first six months of 2019, WFP reached 162,800 girls and boys under 5 and mothers with treatment of moderate acute malnutrition.

Every year, some 250,000 people on average are affected by a wide range of environmental disasters including floods, droughts, avalanches, landslides and earthquakes. In 2018, that number was much higher, with the country seeing its worst drought in over a decade. The impact of disasters and dependency on water from rain or snowmelt severely limit the productivity of the agricultural sector, which provides a source of income for 44 percent of the population. During the severe drought that struck the country throughout 2018, WFP scaled up its emergency operations, reaching 3 million who were affected.

By the end of 2018, WFP had provided food assistance to more than 2.7 million people affected by the drought in 22 of 24 provinces, with assistance continuing into 2019.

Present in Afghanistan since 1963, the World Food Programme works with partners to ensure that, in line with humanitarian principles, assistance reaches conflict- and disaster-affected populations wherever they are. WFP also supports the Government in its efforts to achieve SDG2 on Zero Hunger through transformative actions that strengthen the resilience and livelihoods of individuals and communities with a special focus on women and support local economies, thus contributing to the long-term development and stability of the country.

Read more:
Afghanistan | World Food Programme

Criminal Penalties:U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are subject to Afghan laws. A U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution, and may result in heightened attention by police and prosecutors, some of whom may seek to exploit your status as a U.S. citizen for financial or political gain. Persons violating Afghan laws, even unknowingly, may be fined, arrested, imprisoned, or possibly executed. Penalties in Afghanistan can be more severe than for similar offenses in the United States. Due to security and travel limitations, the U.S. Embassys ability to provide consular assistance for U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is limited, particularly for persons outside Kabul.

Photography of military installations, including equipment or troops, may lead to arrest or detention. Possession of alcohol is illegal as is driving under the influence. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs are severe, with offenders often facing long jail sentences and heavy fines. Sexual relations between unmarried couples are generally forbidden in Afghanistan.

U.S. citizens should also note that they are still subject to U.S. federal laws while traveling or living abroad. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crimeprosecutable in the United States.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. The Department of States website has further information on U.S. citizen arrests or detentions. The security environment and Embassy travel restrictions severely limit consular staffs ability to visit U.S. citizens detained or imprisoned in Afghanistan.

Religion and Islam: Islam provides the foundation for Afghan customs, laws, and practices. Foreign visitors -- men and women -- are expected to remain sensitive to the Islamic culture and not dress in a revealing or provocative manner, including the wearing of sleeveless shirts and blouses, halter-tops, and shorts.

Although the Constitution of Afghanistan allows for the free exercise of religion, proselytizing may be deemed contrary to Islam and harmful to society. Committing a blasphemous act or producing or distributing material deemed critical of Islam is punishable by long-term incarceration or the death sentence. Apostasy may carry a maximum penalty of death for Muslims who denounce Islam or convert to another religion. Allegations of conversion of Afghan citizens are taken particularly seriously. False accusations of blasphemy or insulting Islam have led to deadly mob violence.

Financial Debts: U.S. citizens in Afghanistan have been detained and arrested in cases involving financial debts and contract disputes, as these disputes are generally considered as criminal matters in Afghanistan. Hiring an attorney in the early stages of such a dispute is recommended. The Embassy maintains a limited list of lawyers in Afghanistan.

Women Travelers: Afghanistan is a traditional country, particularly when it comes to gender roles and behavior. To help maintain a low profile, women should ensure their shirts cover their full arms, collarbone, and waistband, and their pants/skirts cover their ankles, especially when traveling outside Kabul. Almost all women in Afghanistan cover their hair in public; female travelers are advised to carry scarves for this purpose. Women visiting Afghanistan should be alert of the risk of sexual assault and are recommended to review the Department of States travel tips forwomen travelers.

LGBTI Rights:While homosexuality is not explicitly illegal under Afghan law, individuals may be prosecuted under laws forbidding sodomy, and sexual relations between unmarried individuals is generally forbidden. LGBTI individuals face discrimination, violence, and persecution in Afghan society. See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Forced Marriage: The Embassy is aware of cases involving U.S. citizen women of Afghan heritage who have been convinced by their families to travel to Afghanistan, usually under the guise of visiting relatives, only to find themselves forced into marriage. The U.S. government considers forced marriage to be a violation of basic human rights and in the case of minors, a form of child abuse. Forced marriage is defined as one in which one or both parties have not consented to the marriage (or are incapable of providing meaningful consent), and differs from arranged marriage. Often, victims of forced marriage are subjected to non-consensual sex, physical and emotional abuse, and isolation. Individuals who refuse a forced marriage may be threatened with violence or with being disowned by their families, who also often confiscate their belongings (including passports). In such situations, the U.S. Embassy may be able to replace stolen or wrongfully retained passports and identify resources for return travel to the United States.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: Afghan law protects the rights of persons with disabilities, but the provisions are not implemented in practice. Persons with disabilities face limited access to transportation, public buildings, hotels, and communication accommodations. There are few sidewalks and no curb-cuts, and most buildings lack elevators.

Banking: Access to banking facilities in Afghanistan is limited and unreliable. The economy generally operates on a cash-only basis, though the use of credit cards is becoming more common in larger cities. ATMs are available in major cities, but U.S. banks often deny transactions from Afghanistan unless a traveler provides advanced notice of the transaction. International wire transfers options are limited.

Customs: Afghan customs authorities generally enforce strict regulations on the import/export of certain goods such as alcoholic beverages, religious materials, antiquities, medication, precious stones and metals, and printed materials. U.S. citizen travelers have faced fines and/or confiscation of items considered antiquities upon exiting Afghanistan. Specific information on customs requirements is available from theEmbassy of Afghanistanin Washington or theMinistry of Interior Affairs.

Weapons/Firearms: U.S. citizens, including security contractors and military personnel, should carefully review Afghan import/export restrictions on weapons, firearms, and ammunition, including antique or display models. It is also important to review the regulations of any country through which you may transit, as many countries have strict rules prohibiting these items, even in checked luggage. Consult the U.S. Customs and Border Protectionfor information on traveling with such items into or out of the United States.

Read more:
Afghanistan International Travel Information