UCI Helps Rescue 165 Refugees From Afghanistan

 So guess UCI is only not cool with authoritarian regimes if they are religious in nature. Turkmenistan must get a pass since the litany of human rights abuses and killings are done for secular reasons...

 @NorCalNomad: should the UCI solve world hunger and N. Korea too? perhaps cancer?

 @ryanandrewrogers: I feel like the criticism here is warranted, because of the too-close relationship the UCI has with Qatar and the UAE, both of which have horrendous human rights abuses.

 @hamncheez: its more like professional cycling has a too-close relationship with oil money dollars. this is an issue in all international professional sports, and the world at large.

 @ryanandrewrogers: maybe they shouldn't GIVE AWARDS to an authoritarian leader. Not asking them to solve anything, just don't award someone who is actively torturing their own people.

 @ryanandrewrogers: Ya, FIFA and the IOC are probably worse (than the UCI)

 I totally agree, but I'm still gonna chuckle about the "In the near future(after they have been re-neducated), it is hoped that they will be able to join the UCI" line.
Join the UCI!!!! Join us!!!! *in a zombie voice* B----R---A---I---N---S---!!!!!!!
Not throwing any hate towards the UCI I'm just in a dark place at the moment and intend on getting my chuckles where and when I can.

 @hamncheez: you forgot the FIA! lol

 @mmmitch: really? is your google broken? first time hearing of human rights abuses out of the Middle East? lmao

 @mmmitch: "I am pretty aware of what happens here"

"I am not baiting anyone"

"enlighten me"

so....are we playing 2 truths and a lie, or 2 lies and a truth? lmfao. Tighten up your troll game.

 @conoat: no trolling mate. It actually feels like I'm the anti-troll here. For sure people should be comfortable talking about the wrongs they see but my point is - I see so many wrongs, from Western, Eastern, and Middle-Eastern states that I'm curious as to why the Middle Eastern ones seem to get picked out.
If nobody wants to take the time to get beyond the hyperbole no worries, but here's the chance to have your specific grievances aired.

I'm no apologist for the Gulf States. But I have to say that if you are in the business of denouncing human rights abusers there's probably value in some clarity to your comments. You've come this far in the PB comments section - why not address the specifics?

 @mmmitch: I see you haven't made a comment on PB for over 16 months, before an hour ago on this thread.

You see how this doesn't seem like a genuine inquiry on your part, right?

 @conoat: maybe I'm bored today.
But yeah this sort of anti-Middle East sentiment has been hitting the cycling world a bit lately and I'm interested as to why the region is being picked out.
Because to me - it doesn't make much sense to be OK with China but not ok with the GCC. Or OK with a stage race through Ethiopia but not ok with the Qatar tour.
I am asking for a calibration check which I think is fair enough.

 Human rights should be questioned everywhere. It’s a very sad state of affairs to single out the Middle East. I guess this stems from the powers above and fear monger if through media outlets. I mean I would say Texas has just completely violated Human rights in terms of abortion Laws. But you see us Westerners are allowed what we call “opinions and freedom of speech” any body out with the western world that we decide not to like for the day is not allowed an opinion. @mmmitch:

 @nelsonewanmtb: for sure. And us westerners had to fight for the freedom of speech, in order for it to be granted. In quite a few countries around the world that fight is yet to happen.

I would just say that the welfare system that supports a Qatari or a Saudi should be the envy of most western nations. Good and not so good, all together in one. Unfortunately hard to capture in a throw-away tweet or newspaper byline.

 @mmmitch: what I am specifically referring to is the treatment of Pakistani and Philippine immigrants having their passports taken from them and being treated as slaves, and the actual slaves being trafficked from Africa

 @hamncheez: yeah that happens. And normally in companies run by westerners. Have known quite a few who are happy to justify it. It's illegal.

The scary thing is (slaves from Africa aside, unsure where that's coming from) - low income immigrants / guest workers actually choose to travel to the Gulf because they have better opportunities than in their own countries. And their own countries have excellent representation and relations with the Gulf Countries.

So, you know - maybe there's a bit of nuance there it could be worth teasing out.

I'd also point out that the US, UK, and Australia have significant leverage in the Gulf but don't seem to have pursued much of an agenda in this regard. But to ignore it surely is to condone it?

 @mmmitch: this is called "whataboutism". Don't worry there's plenty to go around; all of these places can have human rights abuses and "not be OK"

 @mmmitch: Hey, I agree, Western governments and corporations (LIKE THE UCI) are often complicit in the human rights violations going on in the Gulf States.

 @plyawn: yep no doubt. So why pick out some states?
I personally find genocide (China, Turkey,...) somewhat more concerning. UCI has a strong relationship with (and Tour events in) both these countries.

All for calling out bad corporate behaviour. But also feel a more balanced discussion could be had, rather than just selecting some villains.

I mean, cycling is supposed to be our sport, right?

 @mmmitch: The UCI has Tour events in China?

 @hamncheez: yeah. Tour of Guangxi at World Tour level and Tour of China at Conti level.

 @hamncheez: what about the right of the female who was raped? If you don't see the correlation between abortion and human rights I suggest you go and re-think. White privileged middle class men should not be allowed to make a decision on a females body. You as the man are not growing that child, it does not affect your health. Now you could debate in what circumstances abortion should be permitted? But this is a right that should lay with the pregnant woman and doctor under confidentiality.

 @nelsonewanmtb: I am neither white nor privileged nor middle class. But the "status" of a person presenting an argument has nothing to do with the validity of the argument. My race, health, or financial success in life has nothing to do with whether a human fetus should be afforded protection under law.

My ultimate point is that killing a human is the best way to define homicide, and that medically & biologically, a fetus is a human. It should be afforded the same protections under the law, since medically it is not possible to tell the difference between an in utero fetus and a prematurely born child other than their position within a woman's uterus. If my legal status is dependent on my position or dependency on another for life, then do the medically impaired (like those on life support) lose legal protections? Do young children dependent on their parents lose legal protections? Does somehow your state of dependency on others reduce your capacity for pain, stimuli response, cognition, and potential? Because we all were fetuses at one point, and a newborn (afforded legal protections) does not have a measurable difference from a 3rd trimester fetus (not afforded legal protections) in pain, stimuli response, cognition, and potential.

I get that this isn't 100% black and white. If I run over someone with my car and kill them, that is homicide in this definition, but not homicide in the criminal definition. Giving the government power to go peek into everyones personal life and medical history might not be the best idea, or worth it from a moral perspective. It is a good argument that the government isn't a moral actor at all and shouldn't try to prevent anything, and we should strive to live in a voluntarist society. However, this doesn't mean that the specific Texas law is somehow infringing on women's human rights, as more females are victims of abortion than males.

 @hamncheez: if anyone can read this and put their own preconcieved notions aside, and still not see that killing a human in any context needs to be justified(via immenent threat), then I pity that person.

very well said, sir.

 @hamncheez: Worst part is that most abortions are due to people not taking responsibility for their own actions, not because of rape.
If you get an abortion because you were too lazy to use a condom, then that is pretty much pure evil.
Abortion after rape is okay in my book, but not 3rd trimester, why would anyone wait that long?
Pretty much the only valid reason for such a late abortion would be if there was uncovered some really severe defects that would make a fulfilling life impossible for the child.

 @Losvar: roughly 1/1,000 abortions are related to rape.

The uncomfortable reason why many women wait until late in their pregnancy to abort their child is because they are being pressured into it. Many, many young mothers are pressured by their "partners" (I use the word partners loosely, and "scum" would probably be more accurate) to get abortions so they can avoid raising a child or paying child support. After months of pressure and manipulation they get an abortion.

Another reason why is because its easy to hide a pregnancy early on, but harder to hide once you're showing. We in society have stigmatized motherhood, so once a vulnerable young woman actually starts showing they feel that pressure even more.

I get the world sucks, and typically its not a matter of good vs evil, but rather the best choice among bad choices. I just don't see why its controversial to say human life has value.

 @hamncheez: it's only controversial do say human life has value when it runs contridictory to female hypergamy.

 Well said. The process is questionable, but at least the people are safe.

 I should have known the UCI couldn't do something good or morale. What's the point of a humanitarian operation if you can't corrupt it and makes some money from it.

cyclingtips.com/2022/02/cyclingtips-podcast-the-violence-and-silence-behind-the-ucis-pr-moment

f*ck the UCI

 This isn't bike related, but I doubt I'm the only person on here that feels super compelled to do whatever they can to help Afghan refugees resettle.

If you're in the United States and feel the same way, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (I'm not Lutheran, but they do super-solid work) will let you sign up, either to directly volunteer to help with Afghan refugee resettlement if you're in an area where they're already working, or on their "General Standby" if you want to offer to help if refugees come to your area in the future.

Info here: lirsconnect.org/get_involved/action_center/siv

 @dualsuspensiondave: how is supporting brandon, being a trump supporter?

 @conoat: Its an assumption for sure, but not a major leap. Usually the people saying "F**k Joe Biden" take a deep breath then shout "Trump 2024!"

 @rallyimprezive: nah dude f*ck joe biden. the trump admin is responsible for brokering a shit-ass deal with the taliban, but its been apparent pretty much since the peace deal that the taliban intended to retake the country from the afghan gov. the biden admin is absolutely reckless for not having an effective exit strategy, instead we left thousands of afghan contributors for dead. literally running people over on our way out. disgraceful. f*ck bush and obama too, there was never an exit plan for afghanistan.

 @ryanandrewrogers: Ok. I dont know where all that came from but thanks for putting your thoughts out there. I was just talking about the correlation that typically those who hate Biden are pro Trump. Usually, not always.

Truth be told, it sounds like you and I feel similar. Im pissed at all of them.

 @rallyimprezive: anger mostly. sick of this cycle of people blaming the previous administration because they're too stupid to critique the side they voted for. biden supporters do it to trump now, trump supporters did it to obama, obama supporters did it to bush. it takes the responsibility off the shoulders of the current administration when we should all collectively be putting pressure on them to do better.

 @ryanandrewrogers: really agree with you. Well said

 @rallyimprezive: naw. f*ck Joe Bidden!....*deep breath*.....Disbandment of the Republic 2024!

 @ryanandrewrogers: there wasn't an exit plan with Bush or Obama, because that was the plan! to never leave. Then Trump took a f*cking crowbar and wedged the door open and forced us out. Then, Biden(Or whoever pulls the strings and wipes his ass these days) made that exit as terrible as possible on purpose.

 @quesoquesoqueso: When you spell 50% of the words in your comment incorrectly. Comment gold.

 @notthatfast: good one

 @blowmyfuse: what’s it like being an NPC?

 @SterlingArcher: @SterlingArcher: Back to harrrassing me again? Go away. Stop stalking me across the comments. Haven't you been banned enough for this crap.

Just stop.

 @blowmyfuse: I can’t hear you over the whir of my ebike motor

 Realistically, displaced people in the Middle East aren’t able to build new lives in other Arab states. Labor opportunities are scarce and refugees aren’t legally allowed to work, lots of women end up in forced prostitution, and most people end up in hellish UN funded refugee camps with no rescue in sight. The infrastructure of European nations, although strained, is much better able to support displaced people.

 Because religion.
Or despite of it, I should say.

Ironically sad how many Muslim refugees the only non-Muslim country in the region takes in. So many poor refugees fleeing Sudan/Darfur/Eritrea seeking asylum in the only country in the region where they would not be killed/enslaved or sometimes worse. They run away from Egyptian soldiers, their "muslim brothers", into the hands of Israeli ones, knowing the Israeli soldiers will give them treatment instead of bullets. The hatred and bloodshed within different sects of Islam runs very, very deep.

 @Mntneer: in other words: their neighbors have lots of money and no will to help anyone that isn't part of their family (talking about the rulers, not the populace per se). And then they complain about the 'Imperialist, non-believers in the West'...

 @Mac1987: Not accurate- most of their neighboring countries are far from wealthy. It is often tied to different populace - many of those nations/factions/sects truly hate each other, for various historical/religious reasons...

 @foxinsocks: its almost as if western powers drew borders in the middle east that did not account for the deep divides between the sects of islam and ancient tribes that have literally been warring most of their history. throw in the most valuable commodity of earth, oil, and we wonder why the region isn't stable.

 @ryanandrewrogers: borders make no difference. “The west” is also one of the reasons why there isn’t more fighting throughout the region.

 @ryanandrewrogers: Please, stop with the incessant self blaming. Western power games played a role, for sure, but the underlying religious/tribal hatred was there before and will be there after. You're giving religion an easy pass- many places in the world are just as ethnically diverse and randomly divided, perhaps even more, and can work their differences out most of the time. Its as possible to draw such geographical lines as it herding cats. Those are called borders, and they mean little in this region.
Jihady mentality has nothing to do with retaliation over past atrocities. It is not a defense mechanism, but a god mandated/commanded quest killing/converting whoever one defines as Infidel. Those martyrs who practice it say it plain and simple, and its about time you guys listen.
It doesn't mean nations should exploit others, but seriously- if you think you guys (or past French/Dutch/Belgian/Spanish/British rule) is the root cause here, you're giving yourself too much credit

 @Mntneer: ah a classic "borders make no difference" and western saviorism. we should open our borders then, im sure you agree. tell me how former western colonies are better off, it seems like Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia are real centers of prosperity. meanwhile uncolonized foreign countries such as China and Japan are sooo much worse off.

 @foxinsocks: I'm not saying that Western powers are entirely responsible, plenty of arab dictators took advantage of what the west left. also I'm not white, I'm lucky enough to be East Asian and Polynesian. Jihad mentality is merely leveraged by warlords, terrorists, and dictators but its a concept that exists in most religions. It's the Islamic version of Crusaderism.

 @ryanandrewrogers: you definitely have no clue what you’re talking about. With regards to the Middle East, nation states do nothing to change the tribalism that exists. I’ve lived as a civilian in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan and have a much better understanding of the intricacies that exist between these groups. There could be literally no borders and there would still be warring states.

Thanks for your shit eating western savior comment

 @foxinsocks: you're right about their direct neighbors. But Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar are closer in literal and cultural distance and have low population density. Still they take nearly no refugees that don't have the exact same (version of their) religion and/or provide direct benefits to their country.

 @Mac1987: precisely because those countries you mentioned are as religiously fanatic as they come.

 @ryanandrewrogers: you are still missing my point im afraid. Yes, it is a form of crusaderism- but that mentality ended nearly 700 years ago. I'd like to think humanity can set a higher moral standard nowadays.
Regarding your ethnicity-glad you're proud of it, but its completely irrelevant to the points I've made.

 @foxinsocks: Well I'm not self-blaming cause I'm not ethnically european. I'm normal blaming lol. Perhaps if the middle east hadn't been developmentally stunted by colonialism and a century of dictators immediately after they would have the educational standards to prevent islamic fundamentalism & jihadism. Colonialism was simply crusaderism pt. 2 since it was justified by Christian v. uncivilized world ideals. Most date the end of colonialism to roughly WW1 so I'd say "that mentality" is barely a century old in Western culture.

 @Mntneer: I'm not shit eating, I'm not even an ethnic European, I don't feel responsible in the slightest. You said the West is why there isn't more fighting in the region, which I would consider a thought from the school of western saviorism. How would we know? We can't know what would've happened without 20th-21st century western interventionism in the middle east because anytime shit went down there America and its allies intervened on the behalf of their precious oil supply. Tribalism is an issue Islam has overcome several times in its history through several caliphates as I'm sure you know from living in the middle east. Suggesting Arab people can't overcome tribalism the same way Europeans and other culture groups have is kinda racy.

 @ryanandrewrogers: again, some valid points but still i think you're you're missing the root cause.
If only there was a test case for country in the region characterized by its ethnical/racial/religious diversity which still msnages to thrive as a democracy with basic personal rights and freedoms dedpite being occupied by empires for millenia and then chaotically left to its own devices.... Oh, wait...
Its possible, but currently (and that's a key word here) many of the surrounding countries are incapable or unwilling to go that direction. Mostly due to religious reasons (heck, my own country is often stepping backwards due to this same reason). Its not "racy" by @Mntneer to acknowledge that. What will happen a century or more down the road is anyone's guess, but point is- you go to place at least some accountability for the situation on those nations themselves. Imho, more than you do, anyway. So dont easily dismiss the opinions of people who live/lived in the region. Trust me, I've lived in Europe/States as well- its borderline impossible to form the actual facts or guage the middle eastern mentality from there.

 I think that would be a cool series of articles. What people are riding around the world and how they are keeping old parts and bikes still running. I find it fascinating. Stories of riders even improving on old designs by hand machining new parts.

 @KavuRider: Agreed! That would be awesome. A couple years back I bought an old chromoly Hardrock. Spent a few bucks on some upgrades, pulled some better parts out of my parts bin. Today it's hands down my favorite bike to cruise on.

 @KavuRider: I volunteer to tour the globe, ask questions, post my findings. Rick Steves' US address isn't far from me, I should ask for some advice.

 @sngltrkmnd: sweet! How cool a project would that be?

Even get some footage of locals shredding whatever they have. Bikes around the world!

 I would think those sorts of fragmentations wern't on the top of his list of things to worry about?

 Don't forget the selective weather patterns that are currently hurting some airlines. Let's go Brandon!

 zinger right across the bow

 Sleepy Joe!

 Creepy Joe

 The US pulled more than 115,000 people out.

 Highest number of people rescued within a 2 day period in history. Must be on that Faux news.

 @LeDuke: your mom has had more than that pull out....

 The US may have failed to rescue (yet another) nation, but your shit is leaking out the mouth.

 @dualsuspensiondave: yet theres still Americans there. pleading to get out.

 @owlie: If only they'd taken the many hints to GTFO. At what point does "personal responsibility" come into play?

 @LeDuke: You mean with an Uber? Get out how. And what "hints"?

 @owlie: The original deal signed by Trump, and by extension the US, in February 2020 in Doha, Qatar. The Biden administration kicked the can down the road a bit, but the US government's plan, across two very different administrations, has been to leave Afghanistan and Afghans to their own devices. And, they'd get out the same way they got in, before the very clearly stated, publicized withdrawal date: on an aircraft.

 @LeDuke: Biden canceled or withdrew 90-95% of everything Trump signed or agreed to during his term.. Except this? And its not the withdrawal, Its how it was handled. Completely backwards. Even against the advice of his advisors. We left behind 75,000 vehicles, more than 200 helicopters and planes, as well as more than 600,000 small arms and light weapons. Seems right...

 @owlie: Left behind? That was always the plan: to give them our old shit. We started giving those to them in the Bush administration. That was done during the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations. Wait. Let me guess: you’ve never been to Afghanistan.

 @LeDuke: The Taliban or the Afghan Government? thats what I thought. We left this stuff for our enemy, not the afghan Government. Let me guess, you have? makes you an expert I see.

 This is exactly what happens in Europe

 if you won't fight for your own country, how can you expect other's to fight for your country?

shameful when western countries enable this shit...

 @blacktea: i know!!!, i lived there for a couple of years, what bothers me is when ladies are immigrated to Europe from Islamic countries, it only means they are already taken.

Story time...there was this beautiful islamic lady in my commute, i was young and inexperienced, i decided to talk to her, she was nice and she needed a German Tandempartner, so we spoke on our commute on a daily basis, i started planning asking her out and trying something serious with her, i didnt care about the Hijab...she was pretty and had nice attitude towards life, with time i started to notice she was already married, it felt bad for a time, but the moment it really broke my heart is when i met the husband, a fat bearded guy in his mid forties, didnt speak a single word or English or German, didnt have a job, spat whenever he spoke.

Pff... i wonder how this family is now, most of my islamic friends from back in the day, seem to be stuck in life, so most likely is the same case.

 @Narro2: There is a lot of talk about integration but in the end there is a border that always returns ... who was born here and who is an immigrant, regardless of where they come from. The world has fallen into the trap of globalization, still many will praise the world without borders, we are all the same, etc ... but the truth is that we are different with different cultures (thank goodness).

 I think the latest numbers showed 8 million unemployed and 11 million job openings in the US. Looks more like there is a "I DOn'T WaNNA WoRK" mentality nowadays as opposed to the "TOOK Er JOBS" mentality.

 @InstantBreakfast: those are rookie numbers. We could do far better!

 @InstantBreakfast: More of a “I don’t want to work for low wages and have to deal with Trump supporters” problem.

 They’re all stuck in the independent UK, without gasoline.

 @InstantBreakfast: do those jobs provide sufficient fulltime wages to provide for a family? Also, let me introduce you to the concept of job requirements. Not every person is realistically able to do every job at every location, especially low paid high risk (of job termination) jobs that require moving (and kids losing their friends and family and therefor life stability in the process) or jobs that require special qualifications. Not saying there aren't 'lazy' people that could've had a decent job but choose otherwise, but simply showing total supply and demand numbers shows a very limited picture of the situation.

 @InstantBreakfast: why would you work!? Brandon will just give you some of my money and then tell your landlord to suck it!

Let's go, Brandon!

 @Mac1987: You make way to much sense to be in the pinkbike comments!

 @Mac1987: if you can't find a job right now that provides for your already existent family, then what is going on is you dun f*cked up by having a family without the skills to hold a stable job that provides for said family.

motherf*ckers be out here puttin' the cart in front of the horse and then whining that the horse won't push.

 @conoat: does it occur to you that some people might have a stable job, started a family and then lost that job? Also, a single standard income could feed a family some decades ago but not anymore. Again not saying there aren't real profiting lazy people, but your view is a very oversimplified one.

 @Mac1987: I have lost a fair number of jobs. that isn't what's important. it's having and maintaining marketable skills. Doesn't matter what industry. Keep improving your skillset. It's still your fault if you get the cushy salary, never work on your skills, then in 2 decades as the world has moved forward, you find yourself on the chopping block with no fall back.

personal accountability.

 @giantwhip: he didn't do enough. I'm a liberal, FJB. FDT too, but he can't be blamed much for this one.

 @giantwhip: the story is the U.S. f*cked up a nation. It was so bad the governing body of cycling had to step up and save people instead. Our government and leadership ought to be held responsible.

 @giantwhip: Your narrowmindedness makes me embarrassed for you. This particular mess has been brewing since Bush. I'm not trying to blame all our issues on our current leader, but he's the only president who can make any difference right now. Blaming Trump now is equivalent to how Trump supporters spent the last half decade blaming Obama.

 You mean "Let's Go Brandon", right?

 @giantwhip: take your own advice lol..

 @giantwhip: comment currently rated at -20.....it's amazing how upset people get by simple facts.

 @ryanandrewrogers: to be fair, that country has been 'f*cked up' for a while. The only recent time where girls could attend school (besides Islam school...) and women were allowed outside and drive cars was during US occupation. Not a fan of the invasion itself, but blaming the current situation on the US is also a bit dishonest. We can argue about Iraq and we can definitely argue about Syria and Iran, but Afghanistan is one of the few countries that was somewhat better for especially children, women and non-orthodox people when the US was there.

 @giantwhip: and Biden is the mentally stable, coherant leader to guide us like Moses!?

put the maple syrup down, eh? you're wicked pissed!

 We tried arming the Afghans and we all know how that turned out.

 Ah yes, a country of 40,000,000 that was taken over by 100,000 dudes, and you think that arming a couple hundred people will make a difference.

 @LeDuke: my cousin came back from that war wounded,he was shot right side of his head by a taliban fighter..

 To fight, you need to have ideals and a goal. In Afghanistan, the ideals are as diverse as the goals. This is why the situation has not been resolved for 50 years.

 @Kenroth33: And? What does that have to do with my comment, or the comment that I responded to?

 badabing badaboom

 Who's your man than.

 @kawin20: Easy their Pilgrim, Im on your side of that fence. You misinterpret my drum roll to snare.

 You have no brain.

 @dualsuspensiondave: weird insult . but ok.

 Seems like the current and former president are both making quite a difference. Our nation is becoming more and more divided and angry.

 @rallyimprezive: Your nation really need to start turning off the television, and start thinking a bit for yourselves.
The divide you have, is not organic, look at google search trends and news headlines since OWS, this is very much manipulated to divide people.

 Make Kabul Great Again !

 Let's go Brandon!

 @DylanH93: Windmills cause cancer, use bleach to cure covid.

 @dualsuspensiondave: you come across as a POS person. Almost like you act like the people that you attack so much. Interesting…

 @dualsuspensiondave: So you tried it LMAO