In a recent opinion editorial for RedState, Jennifer Oliver O'Connell sheds light on what she describes as the Biden-Harris administration's reckless handling of taxpayer funds, particularly in Afghanistan.
According to O'Connell, a report by the Washington Free Beacon has revealed that the administration allocated $15 million to distribute "oral contraceptives and condoms" in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This decision, she argues, exemplifies the administration's "abject waste" of American resources, especially in a region where the withdrawal of U.S. troops was mishandled, resulting in the deaths of 13 servicemembers and leaving many Americans and Afghan allies stranded.
The funding, as reported by the Free Beacon, was quietly awarded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) last July and transferred to Afghanistan in August. The program, part of a $100 million package, aimed to support "basic rights and freedoms" and empower "women and girls" under Taliban rule. However, O'Connell criticizes this initiative, questioning the logic behind expecting Taliban men to utilize contraceptives and highlighting the oppressive conditions women face under Taliban governance.
O'Connell praises President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 90-day moratorium on foreign aid, suggesting that such measures are necessary to reassess and potentially dismantle ineffective programs like those managed by USAID. She points out that U.S. law prohibits taxpayer funds from benefiting terrorist organizations, and the Taliban is classified as such. The USAID funding notice, as cited by the Free Beacon, acknowledges the need for "some coordination" with the Taliban but insists on maintaining compliance with sanctions and restrictions.
The editorial also criticizes the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) for objecting to the aid package not due to its perceived wastefulness but because it failed to address "gender-based violence." O'Connell argues that the focus should instead be on the impracticality of the aid and the broader implications of funding distribution in Taliban-controlled areas.
In the wake of these revelations, O'Connell notes that the legacy media and Democrats have expressed more concern over Trump's decision to cut funding than over the alleged mismanagement of resources. She emphasizes the importance of not abandoning Afghan allies who fought alongside American forces, a point that has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the aid package.
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