Task Force Argo’s Post

Sure, aggressions, Abandonment, and Betrayal are the fitting words to describe the fate of an innocent nation once best known as one of the safest and neutral countries on earth, turned into a war theatre of the world’s superpowers over the last four-plus decades. Afghans were just fine and going on about their lives while enjoying the fantastic calm, beauty, culture, and a nation that posed no threat to anyone, only to be forced towards despair by uninvited aggressions, bombings, and killings of literally millions while forcing millions of others to flee their homeland. Trump and company have no clue about history and/or have any empathy for the innocent victims in the hands of the handful of powers, so we must stay tuned as we witness immoral, irresponsible, and reckless behaviors. It is important to note there will always be a few bad apples and criminals, just like millions inside the world’s so-called modern societies, and it is never OK to paint and blame the innocent masses with a broader brush. #refugees #migrants #dignity #war #weapons #humanity #politics 

𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: 📣 At Aman Lara, we continue to advocate for our Afghan allies who risked so much to help Canada’s mission and build a better Afghanistan. As the article linked below emphasizes, there is a need for continued and comprehensive support for those who to this day continue to face retribution for those actions. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ek9_wBMf

What I really think I. December 17, 2024. Everybody on my side of the argument knows we are trained to hate our country or rather particularly Amharas. This has been a prominent paradigm for the last three decades. And It needs to be re-trained. Hypothesis two: saying a bad thing is a good thing doesn't make it good however elaborate the scheme you build around it. And saying a good thing is a bad thing doesn't make it a bad thing. These are universal sentiments. We are going to cut aid to our allies. We need to eliminate foreign aid. It is a bad idea. But our allies should be held responsible.That's a good idea. What we should instead do is scrutinize whether "our" foreign aid brought the desired result, did it preserve/promote "our" national interest? Was is appropriately spent? Did it build bridge? Reliance on technology is strategic, but more strategic is building relationships. My aunt once said something that resonate with me - "real politics is in helping people". That's why America should continue peace corps program. Once, seven (7) years ago, in a bar, in Springfield, IL, I sat next to a woman who was a peace corps that came to celebrate her friend's birthday. She kept telling me, after I told them that I am Ethiopian - "Man, I am telling you, I was in Ethiopia". But she wasn't well aware of public sentiment, may be she was, either way she was oblivious to the inner workings of our society. ከሚያስጠሉኝ ነገሮች አንዱ ሰዎችን ማዘዝ ነው። Especially when you know they don't want to do it. Luckily, even though I was too lazy at work I was protected by my superiors. I didn't understand what የነገ ሀገር ተረካቢዎች ናችሁ meant. Nobody explained it to me. I didn't know somebody hostile could take hold of it. I both hate and admire Meles Zenawi that now he is dead. When I was Pro-war, he was Pro-peace. When I was slacking, he was working hard. Continued ...

𝐉𝐃 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬: 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐞, 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞 While Vice President JD Vance passionately defends rigorous refugee vetting, one can't help but notice the cognitive dissonance in America's approach to "security." Afghan allies who risked their lives for U.S. troops are left in bureaucratic limbo, while domestic gun buyers breeze through background checks that often feel more like "speed bumps" than true barriers. Apparently, "no one gets left behind" applies only as far as slogans on military recruitment posters, not to the interpreters, guides, and other locals who kept Americans alive overseas. But hey, they should take comfort in knowing that the country they've been abandoned by is still debating how many rounds per second the average citizen needs for "self-defense." The message is clear: vetting is vital—unless you're buying a gun or living in a nation no longer useful to American foreign policy. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒕𝑮𝑷𝑻, 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒗𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆. https://lnkd.in/g5Ms75a8

Gives you pause to reflect… In light of recent events on October 7 and the rise of anti-Israel sentiment and Jewish hate seen across Canada, it’s worth reflecting on something fundamental: People who come to Canada often do so to escape authoritarian regimes, violence, and restrictions on freedom—places where fundamental rights are limited or denied. Canada, like other Western democracies, is built on values of tolerance, democracy, and individual freedoms. These are values that, historically, people have sought and sacrificed to be a part of, often fleeing oppression, conflict, and fear in their home countries. If Canada’s values and freedoms are what draw people here, why do some seem intent on undermining these very principles once they arrive? If the systems and sentiments they left behind were so desirable, then why leave? We have a responsibility to safeguard Canada’s core values, to ensure they are respected and preserved for everyone. In times like these, it’s essential to remember that our shared democratic values are what make Canada a place of refuge and opportunity. Gives you cause to reflect… #CanadianValues #DefendDemocracy #StandWithCanada #UnityInDiversity

✉️ | A message to my fellow African Descent People : Let's Stay Focus on our (Afro)future instead of Racist Distraction. Toni Morrison sostain that the function of racism is to distract us. Recent false claims against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, are exactly that—an attempt to dehumanize and divert attention from real issues. These outdated narratives have no place in the future we are building. As we push forward, let’s reject distractions and focus on a world where dignity, truth, and progress shape our collective path. The strength of Haitian (migrants) and Afro-descendant communities lies in our resilience and vision for a just future. #Afrofuturism #HaitianExcellence #BlackResilience #FightRacism #TruthMatters #Unity #Haiti #AfricanDescentPeople #Migrants #FutureOfJustice #AfroDiaspora #NoToDiscrimination

Today is a big day! My book, When Rambo Meets the Red Cross: Civil-military Engagement in Fragile States has come to life in the flesh. I could not imagine being in a place more fitting than The United States Army War College, where the words of the US Secretary of War, Elihu Root are inscribed “not to promote war, but to preserve peace by intelligent and adequate preparation to repel aggression, this institution is founded.” When Rambo Meets the Red Cross explores how US Civil Affairs Units and NGOs navigate the complex terrain in which they both operate, and describes how these entities can have a better relationship. In the changing character of conflict, these organizations need one another, and have everything at their disposal for a productive engagement. At a time when civil-military engagement is becoming ever more critical, I hope that this work will help both strategists and field staff to find answers, but importantly, ask more questions. King's College London Rowman & Littlefield International  Alliance for Peacebuilding US Army US Army United States Military Academy at West Point USAID InterAction United Nations UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency NATO Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CCOE)United Nations OCHA Michael Kerns Reach out to me if you'd to hear more about this work, and order your copy through the link below:

The journal #InternationalNegotiation, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, is making articles available for free until February 28, using access token INER2025. Great opportunity to download lots of stuff including my 2019 article, "Consequences of Excluding Armed Groups from Peace Negotiations: #Chad and the #Philippines" (vol. 24, no. 1). #peaceprocesses #inclusivity #peacenegotiations https://lnkd.in/g-iaXMkm

Afghans who worked alongside the U.S. and are now persecuted cannot access safety if pathways are closed, suspended, or defunded. We must act to protect those who risked everything for our shared values. Here’s how we can restore relocation for Afghans: ✔️ Allow processing for Afghans through all refugee referral mechanisms, including: • P-1 and P-2 referrals • P-3 family reunification • P-4 private sponsorship ✔️ Resume congressionally mandated Resettlement & Placement Services for Afghan refugees and SIV recipients, ensuring they are not evicted or left without essential resources. ✔️ Reopen the USRAP Private Sponsorship program (Welcome Corps) to support veterans and private sponsors working with Afghan allies. ✔️ Ensure CARE (Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts) remains fully funded and operational, as authorized by Congress. The solutions are clear, achievable, and easy to implement. For those who risked everything for us, we owe them safety and dignity. It’s time for action. Let’s urge President Trump and Secretary Rubio to lead on remedying what we assume was an unintended impact.