Gino Kenny Criticises US Afghanistan Occupation, Backs Evacuees
Gino Kenny spoke about Afghanistan, criticising two decades of occupation and US policy while welcoming a programme to admit Afghanis with relatives here. He described the situation as tragic, blamed occupation and imperialism for civilian deaths and state collapse, and affirmed solidarity with the Afghani people.
Support for evacuation programme
He echoed the sentiment for the programme to admit Afghanis who have relatives here, calling it a good initiative and praising Ireland's humanitarian solidarity and tradition of helping those in need.
Critique of two decades of occupation
He described the circumstances in Afghanistan as "truly, truly tragic" and argued the tragedy was caused by occupation over the last 20 years. He questioned the purpose of the US presence, invoked the events in New York on 2011, and cited over 75,000 civilian deaths, noting that many victims were women and children.
Hypocrisy on women's rights and international partners
He challenged the narrative that Western involvement was about protecting women's rights, calling the argument hypocritical and pointing to US relations with Saudi Arabia. He argued that the US's economic ties with Saudi Arabia undermine claims about promoting women's rights.
Origins of the Taliban and state collapse
He traced part of the Taliban's origins to earlier US support for the Mujahideen in 1979-1989, calling the current situation the bitter fruit of imperialism and adventurism. He said the Afghani army collapsed within two or three weeks after the US announced its withdrawal.
Solidarity with the Afghani people
He labelled the Taliban "fanatics, reactionary fanatics" and insisted they are no friends of the Afghani people, predicting eventual resistance against them. He concluded by condemning imperialism and stating that he stands shoulder to shoulder with the Afghani people.
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Minister, I too want to echo the sentiment about the programme for emitting Afghanis that have relatives here. I think it's a good initiative and Ireland has always played a good role in humanitarian solidarity across the world. There are other facts that I would fundamentally disagree with you, but our people across the world have always put a hand out to those that are in need. It's a very proud tradition that we have and that's very, very good. First of all, Minister, the circumstances in Afghanistan are truly, truly tragic. But it's been a tragedy that has been made by occupation over the last 20 years. And we have to understand, what was the last 20 years all about? What was that all about? Why were the United States in Afghanistan in the first place? Afghanistan had nothing got to do with the events in New York on 2011. Absolutely nothing got to do. Yet, over 75,000 people, civilians, were killed in Afghanistan. And ironically, most of them were women and children. And then that followed the absolute catastrophe of what happened in Iraq. Through the occupation of Iraq. So these circumstances, the Americans have, you know, putting themselves as the libertarian. They're not the libertarian. They're the oppressor. And the oppressor that have left Afghanistan in a pretty terrible, pretty terrible state. And the amount of money that was spent is astronomical. Absolutely astronomical. And after all that money, and after all that occupation, and all that debt and destruction, whether it was Afghani civilians, combatants, American soldiers, NATO soldiers, you know, after all that, as soon as the Americans said they were leaving, everything fell apart. Everything fell apart. The Afghani army fell apart after literally two or three weeks. So what does that say about kind of Western imperialism and American imperialism? And I know there's a veneer that is kind of, there's a narrative that this was about protecting women's rights. But that's, I mean, the hypocrisy is incredible, really. I mean, look at Saudi Arabia. Who is the best, who is the biggest economical contributor to Saudi Arabia? The United States. Nobody's saying anything about that. You know, what's, what's women's rights in Saudi Arabia is? It's terrible. Well, America, you know, deals with Saudi Arabia, no problem. So there's incredible hypocrisy around here. And the Taliban is, in fact, in some ways the creation of the United States. I mean, before, in 1979 to 1989, the Mujahideen were supplied by arms by the United States. That killed thousands of people. So this is the bitter, bitter fruit of imperialism and the bitter fruit of occupation. And the Taliban are no friends of the Afghani people. Absolutely, they're fanatics, reactionary fanatics. And eventually the Afghani people will turn against them. You know, they're seen in some guises because the state was so corrupt. So corrupt the president went where? I think Qatar, because he knew the game was up. So all this is the bitter fruit of adventurism, of imperialism. And we should have nothing got to do with it. But we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Afghani people here in Afghanistan. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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