Red Cross Lends a Hand to the Taliban

Next time you want to donate money to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), think again. This week, the ICRC admitted providing first aid to Taliban terrorists.

Next time you want to donate money to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), think again. On 25 May, the ICRC publicly admitted that it provides first aid equipment and training to Taliban terrorists injured in fighting with NATO, US and Afghan forces.

The ICRC prides itself on being an 'impartial organisation' and its spokesman has said in response to criticism of the above report: "our aim is to treat people...irrespective of what side they are on."

Perhaps it is worth reminding the ICRC that the Taliban is universally recognized as a terrorist organization responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in the world. Of course the ICRC does not admit that the Taliban are terrorists. Rather, in line with their policy of 'not taking sides', they are merely "members of the armed opposition". Sadly, such moral equivalence is today only too common amongst many of the leading NGOs.

There is no question that the ICRC makes some enormous contributions around the world for which it should be praised and supported. But it is preposterous that they would be providing aid of any kind to the Taliban - at a time when they are responsible for slaughtering hundreds of innocent Afghani civilians and Coalition forces by the day as well as being a key driver in the spread of Islamic jihadism.

The US Government is the ICRC's single largest donor, with $240 million donated in 2008 alone. Is this how you want your taxes spent?