Forecasting the weather was sorcery to Taliban

Toronto Sun ^ | February 20, 2004 | CP Staff

[Squawk 8888]

KABUL -- Afghanistan's weather office is still strewn with rubble from the day in 1996 when Taliban supporters sacked it and put an end to weather forecasting, a science they considered sorcery. The main floor of the Afghanistan Meteorological Authority is filled with smashed equipment and charred sheets of paper, the remains of 100 years of weather records.

Abdul Qadeer, head of the country's weather forecasting agency, explains that he is still reeling from the Taliban decree that he could deliver today's weather, but not the forecast for tomorrow.

"They were allergic to the word 'prediction,' " Qadeer said of the Taliban's extreme interpretation of Islam.

Two years after the Taliban were ousted in a U.S.-led effort, the Afghan weather centre has a long way to go. Qadeer was able to collect new copies of Afghanistan's 100-year-old weather records, which were stored by the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva.

But Qadeer said he has no money for cleanup, equipment or forecasters. So for now, more sophisticated information is collected by Canadian forecasters at Camp Julien.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

This is too funny! Well, I guess Mark Eubanks is a sorcerer now.

[Consort]

Is Willard Scott the antichrist?

[andy58-in-nh]

Sort of the way Democrats view Economics.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And science in general.

[tbpiper]

And all the islamists are pining for the Taliban Afghanistan, considering it the model islamic state. Same kind of 'progressive' civilization they want for us. Islam isn't a relgion, it's a brain disease.

[thinktwice]

Sort of the way Democrats view Economics

You have that right.

[BenLurkin]

[JennysCool]

He must be! Hasn't he been on the air for about 300 years???

[Blood of Tyrants]

Remember it was Bush the Elder that decried Reagan's economic policy (that proved to be right on) as "voodoo economics".

[Savage Beast]

"Taliban supporters sacked it and put an end to weather forecasting, a science they considered sorcery."

This is not nearly as bizarre as some of the things "Liberals" come up with.

"They were allergic to the word 'prediction.'"

This is yet one more similarity between "Liberals" and the Taliban. ("Liberals" would love the Taliban if they could set the rules.) "Liberals" are also allergic to the word "prediction".

"Liberals" hate it when you predict that their schemes won't work or will make matters worse etc., even though the prediction is as obvious as predicting that the leaves will fall in the autumn. "Liberals" love to insist that "maybe this time--just maybe--the leaves will stay green all winter long--so let's try once again--for the children." And anyone who refuses to contribute to their idiocy, they brand a heartless fascist--or worse--and set about finding a way to force him to contribute. (They love laws with teeth in 'em!)

It never occurs to these people that many have far better eyesight--and brains--and predictive powers--and more compassion--and bigger hearts--than they do.

To "Liberals" intention and appearances are all that matters--that and getting even with the enemy--which means everyone who doesn't agree with them--and has better powers of prediction.

[Future Snake Eater]

Yes.

[WL-law]

This is entirely consistent with Bin Laden's conversation style as captured on the infamous tape where Bin Laden and friends 'joke' about 9/11 at a dinner.

On that tape Bin Laden and his accolytes describe their dreams and visions as 'real', and the dreams are discussed as prefiguring events, etc. -- in other words, the entire mentality of his group was as if they were living in the middle ages, in some pre-scientific epoch.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The Mark Eubanks that I mean is a local weatherman out of Salt Lake, LOL.

[Getsmart64]

Must run in the family...

[BenLurkin]

I thought Reagan had it right.

Cutting taxes, IMHO IS good for economic growth and will increase tax revenues.

But maybe I'M superstitious.

[BenLurkin]

[xsrdx]

put an end to weather forecasting, a science they considered sorcery.

I suppose that's ok, as long as you're happy living in a dirt shack wearing old tires for shoes, herding camels for entertainment.

A guy's gotta have standards.

[Constitution Day]

Greg Fishel, INFIDEL

[TADSLOS]

Makes me wonder if our PSYOPS boys are transmitting the Weather Channel to the Taliban 24/7. They would really freak when viewing the combining efffects of sorcery with "improperly attired" weather chicks in control of the crystal ball.