reader

From Coconuts Bangkok Phuket ‘7+7’ scheme expands travel options to other islands Thailand’s ballyhooed sandbox just got a little bigger. The COVID-19 task force on Monday gave the greenlight to the so-called “7+7” extension to the Phuket sandbox. Effective immediately, the new program will allow fully vaccinated travelers arriving from abroad to spend seven nights on Phuket and then another seven in select other destinations before being able to move freely around Thailand, current restrictions aside. Those other destinations include Koh Phi Phi, Koh Ngai, and Railay in Krabi; Khao Lak and Koh Yao in Phang-Nga; and Surat Thani’s three holiday islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/phuket-77-scheme-expands-travel-options-to-other-islands/

From Thai Enquirer Police deny using live rounds against protestors The police said Tuesday they did not use live rounds during the previous day’s protests. “I insisted that the crowd control police only used non-lethal weapons,” said Police Lieutenant General Pakkapong Pongpetra, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. “No live rounds were used, but the protesters had weapons that could harm the police.” “Live rounds have been used but we do not know who used them,” he added. “Police officers were injured and vehicles were shot at while steel balls, nuts and ping-pong bombs were also used.” The protest by the Thalu-Fah group started off peacefully at Victory Monument before the march to the Government House around 5 pm. The protest was then called off around 6 pm after the police fired tear gas and water cannons at protestors who were trying to remove their barriers. However, some protesters refused to go home, leading to a violent confrontation with the police at Sam Liam Din Daeng Junction and then at Din Daeng Police Station. Pakkapong said three people were injured from unknown weapons during the protest. One of them, around 20 years olds, has a wound on his neck and there is a piece of metal lodged in his body, he added. Rajavithi Hospital said on Tuesday that the patient came in with a gunshot wound on the left side of his neck, and a bullet is now lodged in his brain stem. They have not been able to identify him because he did not have ID. The hospital said he was not breathing when he was brought in around 10 pm on Monday. It took them six minutes to resuscitate him and he is now in a coma. The police said the initial investigation shows that the injured person was running from the Princeton Bangkok Hotel and was passing the front of the Din Daeng Police Station before he fell to the ground 50 metres from the station. https://www.thaienquirer.com/31385/police-deny-using-live-rounds-against-protestors/

From Bangkok Post Weeds are seen growing around taxis parked at a company parking lot, after drivers were unable to pay rent on them due to the economic hardship of Covid-19 and more than a year of no incoming foreign tourism, in Bangkok, on July 20, 2021. (AFP file photo) The governor of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) has called for an additional 1 trillion baht in government spending to counter coronavirus, saying the blow to the economy from the pandemic is greater than from the Asian financial crisis in 1997. The government can fund additional spending by borrowing more, BoT Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said Monday at a briefing in Bangkok. Even if public debt tops 70% of gross domestic product by 2024, that would be manageable given high domestic liquidity, low borrowing costs and the country’s current-account surplus, he said. “Additional state borrowing will help support GDP’s growth potential to revive at a faster rate, and will lower the debt-to-GDP ratio in the long run,” Mr Sethaput said. “If the government doesn’t quickly provide additional economic support during a time of high uncertainty and to shield against a prolonged crisis,” public debt will remain at a high level and will be difficult to lower in the long run. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2166135/bank-of-thailand-head-says-virus-fight-may-need-1-trillion-baht-more

As events play out in Kabul, we're witnessing a great humiliation for a new US administration that narrowly avoided a constitutional crisis just seven months prior. That threat rapidly paled in comparison to the strangle hold Covid held on the nation. Overhanging these events was the impending departure from a decades long war in Afghanistan. Now as that plays out on the international stage, America's vulnerable underbelly is exposed to criticism for the manner it's managing this disentanglement. And justifiably so. I've shared my thoughts on the matter along with others who've posted in this thread. On the whole, comments cited the obvious missteps over the past 20 years. Yes, there were also advances in human rights westerners hold in high regard, but most of those will fade away as the Taliban promises to restore traditional customs. But also discussed was the inevitably of the outcome. For over a thousand years the country had been ruled by a religion-based code of behavior enforced by warlords who function as autonomous governors. They and their survivors have kept long memories and never considered democratic rule even remotely acceptable. The reckoning has arrived for them as they banish the Americans as they did the Russians and British before them. As an American, I share that humiliation. It reinforces lessons that should have been learned in the past: good intentions are insufficient to bring about nation building. Few in the population aspired to it because they never truly experienced it. They just want to live their lives in some manner of peace. As new rulers take over Afghanistan, attention will be drawn to other regions of the world. And it will fall, as it inevitably does, to the nations with the most assets to decipher what role--if any--they should play in current and future disputes. Already sides are being drawn in the South China Sea as an aggressive Beijing seeks to expand its domination of Southeast Asia with its 9-dash line claims. The US, UK, Australia and India appear determined to keep the seaways open but the situation remains tense. As the exodus from Afghanistan winds down, I expect that even America's friends will continue to be critical but I likewise hope they don't see it as an opportunity to kick their friend when she's down. You never know when you may very much need her once more in the future.

A Chinese national and four Thais--three males and a transgender woman--were caught live streaming porn in Jomtien in early July. The police raid was the subject of a post in the Pattaya forum. From Pattaya Mail https://www.pattayamail.com/news/porn-actors-caught-with-pants-down-in-pattaya-362597

From Reuters / Channel News Asia MANILA: The Philippines' health ministry said on Sunday (Aug 15) it has detected the first case of COVID-19's Lambda variant in the country, and reminded the public to strictly observe minimum public health standards. The country recorded 14,749 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, its second-largest daily increase, bringing the Southeast Asian country's total confirmed infections to 1.74 million. The Department of Health also reported an additional 270 deaths, the third highest one-day spike in fatalities, increasing the death toll to 30,340. The World Health Organization classifies Lambda as a "variant of interest", which was first identified in Peru in December, as laboratory studies showed it has mutations that resist vaccine-induced antibodies. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/philippines-reports-first-case-lambda-covid-19-variant-second-highest-daily-new-cases-2114126

Rick Steves, who produces the popular PBS travel series about Europe and its environs, visited Iran in 2014 and made an hour-long episode. His reaction was identical to that of PeterRS, describing the country as the most surprising and fascinating land he's ever visited. He also had the same reaction to the people he encountered.

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — The Government has agreed to buy additional 20 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, on top of the contract for 31 million doses signed with the US company in May. The Ministry of Health was assigned to purchase the vaccine as soon as possible to meet COVID-19 prevention and control efforts and ensure quality and efficiency during the purchase and use of the vaccine. The price is not publicly available, but Pfizer has a 'differential pricing approach' for its vaccines, which essentially means Việt Nam could purchase the doses at a more affordable price than the developed nations like the US or the EU. https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1012187/government-agrees-to-buy-additional-20mln-pfizer-vaccine-doses.html

From Bangkok Post Motorists occupy Ratchaprasong intersection, one of the starting points for road rallies to oust Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,on Sunday. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul) 'Car mob' rallies rev up to drive out Prayut The country's largest "car mob" rallies to date geared up on roads in Bangkok and other provinces on Sunday to put pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign after seven years in power. Motorists took their vehicles to Bangkok roads in a three-pronged campaign organised by red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar and activist Sombat Boonngam-anong. The Tha Lu Fah movement, whose recent protests in the capital ended with clashes with riot police, on Saturday decided to join the demonstrations. Mr Nattawut, backed by protesters and members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, led a convoy at Ratchaprasong intersection. Mr Sombat headed another parade from Ayutthaya to Lat Phrao intersection. Tha Lu Fah assembled at Democracy Monument. Before his rally set off from Ratchaprasong, the red-shirt leader stated that protesters would avoid confrontations with police and stay away from politically sensitive places, including Government House and the prime minister's residence. The rallies would reach their climax at 6pm, when drivers would honk throughout the national anthem to warn Gen Prayut that he had no choice but to resign. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2165607/car-mob-rallies-rev-up-to-drive-out-prayut

The sanctions imposed by the US were targeted at individual coup leaders, freezing any assets they held in the US. But you avoided answering the questions of what actions you'd believe be taken against the Myanmar regime and who should take them. Or against China for its treatment of the Uyghurs that you talked about in a previous post. This thread has examined every possible fault that the US and its allies made relative to Afghanistan. There seems to be general agreement on what they were. I believe we all get it at this point. But if you can be so exhaustive in your analysis of that situation you surely must be able to come up with some ideas on how to handle the Myanmar and China dilemmas, no?

The popular consumer motto "never pay retail" has been embraced by the Thai Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO). Acting against the advice of the Rural Doctors Society, the GPO is going ahead with the purchase of 8.5 million questionable Covid antigen tests at a reported price said to be twice the retail cost. From Bangkok Post The battle lines have been drawn between the Rural Doctors Society and the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) over the purchases of 8.5 million Covid-19 antigen test kits that the doctors say could cause problems. The reliability of the brand chosen by the state agency, the doctors say, has been ”controversial on a global scale”. The rural doctors’ group, through chairman Dr Supat Hasuwannakit, on Saturday issued a statement demanding that the GPO, Rajavithi Hospital and the Ministry of Public Health take full responsibility if they proceed with the purchases. The conflict involves a request to buy kits by the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the unit responsible for the country’s universal healthcare programme, a legacy of the late Dr Sanguan Nittayarampong, a former chairman of the Rural Doctors Society. The budget to buy the kits belongs to the NHSO but it cannot make the purchases itself. Since the military coup in 2014, the NHSO has been required to ask Rajavithi Hospital or the GPO to buy medical supplies on its behalf. The conflict involves a request to buy kits by the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the unit responsible for the country’s universal healthcare programme, a legacy of the late Dr Sanguan Nittayarampong, a former chairman of the Rural Doctors Society. The budget to buy the kits belongs to the NHSO but it cannot make the purchases itself. Since the military coup in 2014, the NHSO has been required to ask Rajavithi Hospital or the GPO to buy medical supplies on its behalf. Disappointed, the rural doctors claimed the wholesale price for the Chinese kits was only $1 each or less than 35 baht, but price was not everything, they stressed. “We maintain ATKs are the heart of Covid containment. We should use kits with high quality and accuracy — those that could reduce or eliminate the need for retesting using RT-PCR. This will save lives, time and budget,” read the statement. Dr Supat also cited controversies around the Lepu kits. “While the product was endorsed by Thailand’s Food and Drugs Administration and tested by Ramathibodi Hospital on 150 subjects, its reliability is controversial on a global scale.” The statement cited as an example a study published in Virology Journal on 33,000 people in Pakistan, which found Lepu had a low sensitivity rate, compared to its 90% claim, and a 48% false-negative chance. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2165315/rural-doctors-oppose-choice-of-test-kits

Back in February, the US and the EU placed sanctions against Myanmar. For details, see: https://www.sanctionsexpert.com/myanmar Also in February, China blocked a UN Security Council statement condemning the military coup in Myanmar. In this thread we've seen the US lambasted for what it did--or did not--do in Afghanistan. I don't think you're going to see too many western nations lining up to send troops to intervene now in SE Asia. So if the UN is handcuffed by China, and ASEAN has no history of intervening in other than diplomatic ways, what specific actions would you suggest be taken against Myanmar and China, and who would you suggest take those actions?

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon On London’s latest health rulings, British vacationers to Thailand’s Sandbox visitor-cocoon program do not have to quarantine, at home or in a hotel, on their return to UK. This is because they must have been fully vaccinated in UK before the Thai embassy in London issued the all-important certificate of entry authorization. On returning to UK, they need only pre and post flight Covid tests and a passenger locator form for address confirmation. But all non-Sandbox travellers to UK, Brits or Thais, are required to self-quarantine for 10 days on arrival in UK if they are unvaccinated or if their jabs were done in Thailand. This is because the UK health authorities only recognize vaccinations physically performed in the UK, the European Union or the United States. The British Department of Transport says that vaccination programs performed outside the designated countries “are not yet approved.” Thailand’s current grading in the UK’s traffic lights system is amber or medium risk. But the United States has already moved Thailand to the highest level of concern and strongly urged Americans not to visit the Land of Smiles because of the significant Covid risks. The next revision of the UK’s traffic lights is scheduled for August 25 although changes can be announced suddenly, as happened recently in the case of Mexico. If Thailand is given the red signal by UK authorities, compulsory quarantine in a state-recognized hotel for 10 days will be required of all arrivals in UK whether vaccinated or not and irrespective of nationality. The cost would be a whopping 2,285 pounds. Another problem could be suddenly invalid insurance policies as vacationers had been visiting countries “against the government’s advice”. UK travel agents say the likelihood of Thailand becoming red increases every time the daily infection totals increase – which is currently the unfortunate trend. The Tourist Authority of Thailand has reacted to the growing international pressure by stressing that only selected parts of Thailand, particularly Phuket and certain other islands, are open for foreign tourism and that the Sandbox record in keeping overseas visitors safe is unblemished. British nationals have been the leading European champions of the Sandbox program and a sudden withdrawal would leave a serious gap in recruitment. https://www.pattayamail.com/news/confusion-abounds-for-travellers-from-thailand-arriving-in-uk-367762

From The Globe and Mail Canada to send special forces to Afghanistan to evacuate Kabul embassy amid Taliban advance, joining U.S., U.K. deployments Canadian special forces will deploy to Afghanistan where Canadian embassy staff in Kabul will be evacuated before closing, a source familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. The official, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how many special forces would be sent. The moves highlight the stunning speed of a Taliban takeover of much of the country, including their capture on Thursday of Kandahar, the second-largest city and the birthplace of the Taliban movement. Britain also said Thursday that it will send around 600 troops to Afghanistan to help U.K. nationals leave the country amid growing concerns about the security situation. And Danish lawmakers have agreed to evacuate 45 Afghan citizens who worked for Denmark’s government in Afghanistan and to offer them residency in the European country for two years. Some 40,000 Canadian troops were deployed in Afghanistan over 13 years as part of the NATO mission before pulling out in 2014. The first planeload of Afghan refugees who supported the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan arrived in Canada earlier this month. The Canadian government last month announced a special program to urgently resettle Afghans deemed to have been “integral” to the Canadian Armed Forces’ mission, including interpreters, cooks, drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards and embassy staff, as well as members of their families. Ciara Trudeau, a spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada, said that Canada is monitoring the evolving situation in Afghanistan on a continuous basis but for security reasons can’t comment on specific operational matters of its missions abroad. “Minister (Marc) Garneau is in close co-ordination with our allies and with our ambassador to Afghanistan,” she said in an e-mail late Thursday. “Canada continues to work with our international partners on contingency planning, including for the ongoing work on the implementation of the Special Immigration Measures program. “The security of the Canadian Embassy and the safety of our personnel in Kabul is our top priority.” The U.S. State Department said in a release that U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke separately Thursday with Garneau, the German foreign minister and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg to discuss the United States’ plans to reduce its civilian footprint in Kabul in light of the evolving security situation. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-canada-to-send-special-forces-to-afghanistan-to-assist-in-evacuation/

From Reuters Thailand projects doubling of daily coronavirus infections next month BANGKOK, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Thailand could see coronavirus cases double to 45,000 per day by early next month, even with current lockdown measures in place, its COVID-19 taskforce said on Friday, as authorities urged people to stay home to reduce infection risks. Thailand has been struggling with its worst outbreak so far, with a daily average of 20,000 new infections and 180 deaths in the past week, compared to 70 new cases and single-digit daily fatalities less than five months ago. Current travel restrictions and containment measures in place over the past month have yet to make an impact, the taskforce said. "The lockdown has been 20% effective but the infections continue to rise, projected to reach about 45,000 cases per day by the start of or mid September," spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin told a news conference. Citing health ministry projections, he said that if the lockdown could be 5% more effective and target groups vaccinated faster, there might still be 20,000 cases per day in two months. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-reports-second-day-record-coronavirus-cases-2021-08-13/

Just a point of clarification, the photograph above of locals being evacuated from Saigon on April 29, 1975, is not the US embassy. It is, as PeterRS accurately noted, one of the most iconic taken on that day as Vietcong and North Vietnam regulars entered the city. UPI photographer Hugh van Es took the shot of the roof of 22 Gia Long Street, an apartment complex in Saigon that housed the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Please note that Peter does not misidentify the building. He references the rescue operations taking place at the embassy not far away. Many news outlets, however, are misidentifying it as the US embassy. Here's a file photo of the US embassy where simultaneous evacuations were being conducted. Here's a more recent photo of 22 Gia Long Street. To read more information about this location, go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/22_Gia_Long_Street

From Pattaya Mail The Pattaya City Council disbanded after half its members resigned in apparent protest over a 200-million-baht contract for closed-circuit TV cameras. Council Chairman Anan Ankanawisan announced the panel’s dissolution on Aug. 11 following the resignations of Wasan Naowniew, Chakorn Kanjawattana, Saksit Yaemsri and Choluek Chotekamjorn who comprised half of the eight remaining members of the council, which originally had 12 members appointed by the previous junta in 2016. With fewer than the six required members, the council was automatically dissolved. Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome said he will send a letter to Chonburi’s governor asking for either new members to be appointed or a special election called. None of the city council members running Pattaya for the past five years ever stood for a public vote. The four who resigned didn’t give a reason for stepping down, but they quit a day after a furious city council debate over spending another 200 million baht on more CCTV cameras. The city council project was proposed after the Royal Thai Police last year said it would pay for the installation of 9,000 more cameras after Pattaya City Hall spent hundreds of millions of baht over the past decade to buy cameras and practically nothing to maintain them, leaving most CCTV units in Pattaya inoperable. Police officials said last year that the 9,000 cameras would cost 30 million baht. But the contact put before the council was for an undisclosed number of cameras. Half of the council protested, claiming they believed the city was wasting money and that they needed more information before voting. The matter finally was put to a secret ballot, with the vote split 4-4. Anan then tabled the measure and held it over for more discussion at a scheduled Aug. 13 council meeting. That meeting now will not happen. The city council was appointed by an Interior Ministry committee chaired by then-Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai on June 30, 2016, to replace the elected 24-member panel, which was disbanded when their members’ terms expired two weeks before. Under the junta, which seized power in May 2014, no new local or national elections were allowed until 2019, and the National Council for Peace and Order steadily replaced elected governments throughout the country with their own people. Continues at https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-city-council-disbands-after-fight-over-pricey-cctv-cameras-367583

From The Nation The plant-based vaccine project is a collaboration between Chulalongkorn University and Baiya Phytopharm Ltd. It uses a subunit protein extracted from tobacco leaves to mimic Covid-19 and trigger an immune response in recipients. The project launched in February 2020 and has since produced successful results in rats and monkeys. “The Public Health Ministry and National Vaccine Institute have handed a budget of 160 million baht to Chula and Baiya to establish a pilot plant to produce plant-based vaccines and biologics by transforming the 11th floor of Chulaphat 14 building [at Chula] into a 1,200 square metre manufacturing facility,” said Anutin. “The Food and Drug Administration also helped in improving the vaccine manufacturing process. We expect phase one of human trials to start next month on 100 volunteers.” Anutin said that if the trial is successful, the plant could start manufacturing Covid-19 vaccine in the third quarter of 2022 at up to 5 million doses per month, or 60 million doses per year. “The advantage of plant-based vaccine is that it can be modified and improved to tackle new variants of the virus,” he added. “Currently we have researched up to 10 variants of Covid-19. In the future we could improve the formula in the same way as influenza vaccine, to protect against various strains with just one dose.” https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004626

From Japan Times A Myanmar national soccer goalkeeper who refused to return home after protesting against the February military coup in his country has been granted refugee status in Japan, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday. The government approved Pyae Lyan Aung's application for refugee status because he could face persecution if he returns home, according to the person. He will be formally notified by authorities of his new status on Aug. 20. Pyae Lyan Aung expressed joy at hearing the "good news" and said he had relayed it to his family in Myanmar, adding he misses his country but cannot return home. Refugee status will now allow Pyae Lyan Aung, who joined a J. League third division team in Yokohama as a trainee in late July, to stay in Japan as a long-term resident. The substitute goalie flashed a three-finger salute in protest at the military junta at a match between Japan and Myanmar in late May. He entered Japan earlier the same month month as a member of the national soccer team on a short-term visa allowing a stay of up to 90 days. When the team was about to leave Japan on June 16 after playing two more World Cup qualifiers, Pyae Lyan Aung told immigration authorities at Kansai Airport in Osaka Prefecture, he wanted to remain in the country. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/08/13/national/myanmar-soccer-refugee/

Among America's mistake was pursuing the absurd notion that it could bring about a permanent change in Afghan culture, particularly as it pertains to the rule of law and the role of women that has existed for millennia. It was not lack of good intentions, it was lack of having a clearly defined exit policy (in crude terms, a "you come, I go" understanding. Instead it became party a save face, partly a political football in a game that never ends well. If you distill all the above comments, there's one common theme that repeats itself. The biggest error was boots-on-the-ground 20 years ago that emerged after the attacks of 9/11 on American soil. We all have to ask--regardless of where we come from--how we think our government should have responded to such an event? Few countries, I believe, would have allowed it to go unchallenged. Emotions and national pride considerations were just too high. A group of neo-cons had the ear of the president and the rest is history. In retrospect, it proved unfair to the long-suffering women of Afghanistan to lead them to believe that their role in society was to abruptly change forever. Just about everyone knew--but remained reluctant to admit--that the tenure of that change would cease when allied forced withdrew and local customs would be restored. That's how it has always been in recorded history. There was also no good reason to believe that Afghans could govern themselves based on a western system of nation-wide elections. But western leaders found it politically unacceptable to let go of the idea. Warlords had run most of the land and Islam was the method of settling criminal and civil disputes. The official national government existed at the collective will of those warlords. Last night I watched a an interview with the author of a new book, "The American War in Afghanistan," who was for many years in a unique position to observe the situation from the ground. Carter Malkasian earned a doctorate in military history from the University of Oxford. After completing his studies, he became a teacher at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He then worked at the Center for Naval Analyses before spending time in Iraq conducting research in 2004 and 2006. In 2007, he worked with a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kunar Province in Afghanistan. He returned to Afghanistan in 2009 and spent two years in Garmsir District in Helmand Province as a State Department representative to the district. In Garsmir, he was known for his ability to speak Pashto and his rejection of typical personal security precautions. From May 2013 to August 2014, he worked as a political adviser to General Joseph Dunford, the commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. What impressed me about the interview was his precise yet dispassionate analysis of those years. It wasn't that the issues that confront us today were unknown, it seems that leaders--military and political (foreign and local) couldn't give up the ideal solutions they cultivated over time. The risk of doing to was too great because it could involve loss of face. They listened carefully to what he said but then defaulted to the original goals in a style so acceptable to diplomats. So here's that interview. Take from it what you will. Hopefully it will help all of us put this in a context that allows us to move beyond blame and instead to a greater understanding and appreciation of the world we all inhabit today. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-did-the-us-lose-in-afghanistan-a-new-book-explores-decades-of-mistakes

Again, you fail to acknowledge that all of those other NATO partners also utilized interpreters. And it's not as if the US hasn't already extricated thousands of them and their families, as did some of their NATO allies. Should more have been removed earlier? By all means. But the picture you paint misleads readers into believing that none were withdrawn. Perhaps you function under the notion that if the allies remained for another year or maybe another decade things would turn out better. But that's sheer nonsense and you know it. Afghanistan is governed by an ancient culture. The Russians believed that they could turn it to their advantage but eventually learned that it was an exercise in futility. It was a mistake for the US to believe it could succeed and that error will forever be measured in blood and treasure. Lies may have indeed been told but you make a practice of telling half-lies.

There's worst things you can lose than face. And none is more important than hope.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse another anti-government protest in Bangkok on Wednesday. Bangkok Post photographers captured the scenes. (Photos by Nutthawat Wicheanbut, Arnun Chonmahatrakool, Wichan Charoenkiatpakul & Pornprom Satrabhaya) Additional photos at https://www.bangkokpost.com/photo/2163835/police-fire-tear-gas-rubber-bullets-at-victory-monument-protest

There's no escaping the fact that the Taliban's rapid advances are a disheartening backdrop to the exit for American military forces. But you've conveniently omitted an important fact: the US isn't the only nation whose forces have been exiting Afghanistan. The US may have had the lion's share of assets, but this was a NATO effort. Other countries that have pulled out include the UK, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, Netherlands, Romania, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Norway, Armenia and Mongolia. You can heap as much blame on the US as you wish but at least tell the whole story and not just the side that fits your purpose. The US may indeed be guilty of telling lies, but it certainly isn't alone in the deception. Perhaps you no longer see the necessity for maintaining The North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The all-or-one and one-for-all concept of mutual military support may be an outdated concept. But we'll have to wait for the future to find out.

From Coconuts Bangkok A scene from ‘School Town King.’ The makers of a film about rappers in Bangkok’s sprawling Khlong Toei slum are asking the public to help get their documentary onto streaming platform Netflix. Director Wattanapume Laisuwanchai and the folks behind production studio Eyedropper Fill are asking people to urge Netflix to add School Town King to its roster. The film, which took three years to create, follows young Khlong Toei rappers Thanayuth “Book” Na Ayutthaya, aka Eleven Finger, and Nontawat “Non” Toma, aka Crazy Kids, as they work to break into the music scene and out of poverty. Interspersed with studio shots and rap performances, the film also lays bare the reality of life in Bangkok’s notorious riverside community. School Town King premiered at at last year’s Busan International Film Festival alongside Come and See, a Thai documentary chronicling the controversial Buddhist sect Dhammakaya now available on Netflix. School Town King enjoyed a limited December release in theaters and was briefly available for on-demand viewing on Vimeo, where a portion of the proceeds were donated to the Duang Prateep Foundation. But Wattanapume and company feel it could have more of an impact. The film’s promo page last week called on followers “to help the film’s message reach an audience that may not have had the opportunity to watch it in theaters.” “Through the real-life story of Book and Non, the movie might expand your perspective and lead to social change,” it said. The two rappers share the same hope. Throughout the film, the two talk about the high bar they must clear just to get out of the slums, as well as some of the deeper issues plaguing Thailand, from deepening inequality to widespread injustices. But they add that they want their music to help erase negative perceptions about Klong Toey and someday change society for the better. Sometimes, their lyrics are imbued with anger, which would seem to undermine their message of hope. In a song called Slum Khlong Toei, which has notched over four million views on YouTube, teenager Crazy Kids expresses outrage over the discrimination he and his neighbors experience. Bars like “I’m a kid from the slum / the one you looked down on like scum” leave little room for interpretation. Continues with photos and videos https://coconuts.co/bangkok/lifestyle/filmmakers-recruit-public-to-bring-story-of-bangkoks-young-slum-rappers-to-netflix/