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Alan W. Dowd is a Senior Fellow with the American Security Council Foundation, where he writes on the full range of topics relating to national defense, foreign policy and international security. Dowd’s commentaries and essays have appeared in Policy Review, Parameters, Military Officer, The American Legion Magazine, The Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations, The Claremont Review of Books, World Politics Review, The Wall Street Journal Europe, The Jerusalem Post, The Financial Times Deutschland, The Washington Times, The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Examiner, The Detroit News, The Sacramento Bee, The Vancouver Sun, The National Post, The Landing Zone, Current, The World & I, The American Enterprise, Fraser Forum, American Outlook, The American and the online editions of Weekly Standard, National Review and American Interest. Beyond his work in opinion journalism, Dowd has served as an adjunct professor and university lecturer; congressional aide; and administrator, researcher and writer at leading think tanks, including the Hudson Institute, Sagamore Institute and Fraser Institute. An award-winning writer, Dowd has been interviewed by Fox News Channel, Cox News Service, The Washington Times, The National Post, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and numerous radio programs across North America. In addition, his work has been quoted by and/or reprinted in The Guardian, CBS News, BBC News and the Council on Foreign Relations. Dowd holds degrees from Butler University and Indiana University. Follow him at twitter.com/alanwdowd.

ASCF News

Scott Tilley is a Senior Fellow at the American Security Council Foundation, where he writes the “Technical Power” column, focusing on the societal and national security implications of advanced technology in cybersecurity, space, and foreign relations.

He is an emeritus professor at the Florida Institute of Technology. Previously, he was with the University of California, Riverside, Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute, and IBM. His research and teaching were in the areas of computer science, software & systems engineering, educational technology, the design of communication, and business information systems.

He is president and founder of the Center for Technology & Society, president and co-founder of Big Data Florida, past president of INCOSE Space Coast, and a Space Coast Writers’ Guild Fellow.

He has authored over 150 academic papers and has published 28 books (technical and non-technical), most recently Systems Analysis & Design (Cengage, 2020), SPACE (Anthology Alliance, 2019), and Technical Justice (CTS Press, 2019). He wrote the “Technology Today” column for FLORIDA TODAY from 2010 to 2018.

He is a popular public speaker, having delivered numerous keynote presentations and “Tech Talks” for a general audience. Recent examples include the role of big data in the space program, a four-part series on machine learning, and a four-part series on fake news.

He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Victoria (1995).

Contact him at stilley@cts.today.

Taliban Terrorists Ordered to Ditch Assault Weapons, Guns, Uniforms, and RPGs on Carnival Visits

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Categories: ASCF News Terrorism

Comments: 0

Source: https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2022/02/02/taliban-terrorists-ordered-to-leave-assault-weapons-guns-uniforms-and-rpgs-behind-on-carnival-visits/

WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty

Taliban terrorist fighters were firmly told Wednesday they can no longer carry weapons on visits to carnivals in Afghanistan, nor can they arrive in military grade transport or wear uniforms.

The group’s spokesman issued the order to disarm in what appeared to be another effort by the country’s new rulers to soften their image as they seek foreign funds while also guaranteeing the safety of parents with children enjoying local attractions.

The Taliban’s militia fighters flocked to amusement parks in Afghan cities in towns after they took over in August as they celebrated their victory in the wake of the retreat by U.S. forces and their allies.

They took rides and were seen to fire their weapons – AK-47 and M4 assault rifles – in delight at victory and the chance to enjoy what they regarded as the spoils of war – carnival rides without lines and free entry for all.

“Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are not allowed to enter amusement parks with weapons, military uniforms and vehicles,” the main Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said on Twitter as he delivered the news to disarm.

“(They) are obliged to abide by all the rules and regulations of amusement parks.”

Of particular attraction for Taliban fighters was one of Kabul’s largest amusement parks and a waterside park at the Qargha reservoir, in the city’s western outskirts, Reuters reports.

Fighters clutching automatic rifles queued for carousel and swinging pirate ship rides – with regular visitors looking on nervously.

On the shores of the picturesque reservoir, other Taliban members hopped into swan-shaped pedalos to enjoy the watery escape, as Breitbart News reported.

Still brandishing their weapons, they set off in pairs across the water in the pink, blue, green, yellow and blue boats, laughing as the vessels bump together.

They later posed with their assault rifles as friends took pictures on the pebbly shore, still dressed in camouflaged military uniforms and traditional Afghan clothes.

Most of the fighters Reuters spoke to then had never been to Kabul until the Taliban took control of the capital on Aug. 15, and some were eager to visit the amusement park before returning to duties around the country.

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