There are things that you want to talk about and things that you probably need to talk to about…
We are still playing catch-up from our several weeks away (also a day late with one) and we are going to cover A LOT of ground in Today’s Daily Dump. Originally, I planned on a quick introduction centered around The Urban Warfare Project’s podcast: Inside the Battle of Shusha, the Urban Fight that Decided Last Year’s Nagorno-Karabakh War because we have discussed it several times in the past. For a supporting role, Popular Mechanics looks at the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict from a different aspect in: How Combat Drones Ended a Decades-Long War in 44 Days. If you are at all interested in drones, Popular Mechanics has couple other articles that you should check out. In case you thought the Nagorno-Karabakh war was over, the conflict is still making headlines in Reuters: Armenian PM accuses Azeri forces of breaching border, sacks defence minister.
I was then planning on centering this post around Kashmir and the Foreign Policy article: What’s Behind the Latest Violence in Kashmir?, but it is pay-walled and I am a bit uncomfortable citing too much from them. The article would fit nicely with the DW article: India hastens to build strategic Ladakh tunnel amid China conflict. There are so many ways you could interpret the importance of that tunnel; its roll in GPC, combating terrorism, as a supporting element in the regional Pakistan-India conflict or simply how it could improve daily life, just to name a few. I really wanted to end this post there but the more I thought about it, I really needed to go back to Afghanistan. There are tons of stories covering different angles to the aftermath of the Taliban takeover and, based on nothing other than a feeling, I don’t think we are finished there.
First, the Long War Journal reports: Top Haqqani Network leader named Taliban governor of Logar. At this point, the power of the Haqqani Network should not be in dispute and if you need further evidence, look no further that the War on the Rocks: The Haqqani Network: The New Kingmakers in Kabul. Kingmaker or governor, there will be challenges. As the seasons change, the United States Institute of Peace asks: Winter is coming in Afghanistan. Are the Taliban ready?. The humanitarian crisis could be catastrophic. To wrap things up, the Modern War Institute takes a look at our strategy there in: Not the 1990s Again: Rethinking US Strategy for Afghanistan Under the Taliban. Here is the conclusion:
Ultimately, US strategy must accept the realities of a post-withdrawal Afghanistan. The Taliban are back in power, but the conditions are changed, and it is certainly not the 1990s again. Frustrating as it might have been to watch the group enter Kabul in August, advancing US interests in the country and the broader region now requires the United States to recognize that the Taliban have their hands on the levers of power, that that power is contested, and positive strategic outcomes will depend on how that contest plays out.
All of this a so much more in Today’s Daily Dump.
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November 15, 2021
Podcast: Inside the Battle of Shusha, the Urban Fight that Decided Last Year’s Nagorno-Karabakh War – Urban Warfare Project
Victims and Bullies: Understanding the Optics of Coercion in a New Era of US Foreign Policy – Modern War Institute
Not the 1990s Again: Rethinking US Strategy for Afghanistan Under the Taliban – Modern War Institute
Podcast: Mosul Gets Hot, Part 2 – The Spear
Discordance in the Iran Threat Network in Iraq: Militia Competition and Rivalry – Combatting Terrorism Center as West Point
Are Almonds the National Security Threat of the Moment? – Georgetown Security Studies Review
Iraq’s 2021 Parliamentary Elections: A Glimmer of Hope for the End of Sectarianism – Georgetown Security Studies Review
Podcast: LEADERSHIP 2040: A PATHWAY TO THE FUTURE EP 3 – A Better Peace
From Debacle to Triumph: India’s Civil-Military Relations at War 1962-1971 – The Strategy Bridge
Past as Prelude? Envisioning the Future of Special Operations – The Strategy Bridge
The “Strategic Counterinsurgency” Model: Escaping a One-Dimensional Strategic Worldview – The Strategy Bridge
Mind the Gap: How the U.S. Coast Guard Can Navigate the Window of Vulnerability in the Indo-Pacific – The Strategy Bridge
Podcast: Episode 1: War in Space? That’s So Mainstream – War in Space Podcasts
Can Southeast Asia Meet its Environmental Pledges? – Royal United Services Institute
A New Imperative for Ocean Observation – Royal United Services Institute
Speaker Series: The Challenges of Multipolar Deterrence: Theory and Evidence – NSI
Taiwan Is Safe Until at Least 2027, but with One Big Caveat – RAND
Taliban appoints Kabul Attack Network commander as provincial governor – Long War Journal
Top Haqqani Network leader named Taliban governor of Logar – Long War Journal
Podcast: How Technology Changes Arms Control – Horns of Dilemma
Podcast: Richard Haass Is Here! – Net Assessment
Salami Tactics: Faits Accomplis and International Expansion in the Shadow of Major War – Texas National Security Review
To Tackle Instability and Conflict, It’s Time to Elevate Hunger as a National Security Priority – War on the Rocks
The Haqqani Network: The New Kingmakers in Kabul – War on the Rocks
Mexican Cartels Are Embracing Aerial Drones and They’re Spreading – War on the Rocks
Soldiers Breaking Windows – The Forge
Global Competition For Africa – Small Wars Journal
SWJ El Centro Book Review – Downtown Juárez: Underworlds of Violence & Abuse – Small Wars Journal
The Triple Border, a criminal haven – Small Wars Journal
11/14/2021 National Security and Korean News and Commentar – Small Wars Journal
Gen Butler and a Statue and a Library: Lessons on protecting cultural heritage during the Civil War – The Civil Affairs Association
Climate Dispatch – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Europe’s High-End Military Challenges: The Future of European Capabilities and Missions – Center for Strategic and International Studies
ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021: The Road Ahead after the Biden-Moon Summit – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Nervous Energy: China Targets New Indonesian, Malaysian Drilling – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Event – November 17: Bold action needed for a turnaround in The Horn’s prospects – Institute for Security Studies
China’s Search for Allies: Is Beijing Building a Rival Alliance System? – Foreign Affairs
The Inevitable Rivalry: America, China, and the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics – Foreign Affairs
The Poison Frog Strategy – Center for a New American Security
Armenian PM accuses Azeri forces of breaching border, sacks defence minister – Reuters
NATO warns Russia over Ukraine military build-up – Reuters
Blast in Afghan capital wounds two – Reuters
‘You can’t even cry loudly: Counting Ethiopia’s war dead – AP
Kurds, others converge in French camp, seeking to reach UK – AP
Gadhafi’s son announces candidacy for president of Libya – AP
Belarus crisis: Poland says migrants marching to border – DW
Cuba 15N protests to go on despite ‘intimidation tactics’ – DW
India hastens to build strategic Ladakh tunnel amid China conflict – DW
How Ankara-Abu Dhabi detente could affect Libya – Al Monitor
Intel: Qatar to represent US diplomatic interests in Afghanistan – Al Monitor
Xi’s new Communist Manifesto – Asia Times
Afghans as starving pawns in big power games – Asia Times
Cuba Crushes Dissent Ahead of Protest – The New York Times
Squeezed On Both Sides: Kyrgyz Truckers Protest New Rules To Restart Trade With China – Radio Free Europe
‘Destroying Our Memory’: Russia’s Embattled Civil Society Rallies To Oppose Memorial Shutdown – Radio Free Europe
Misinformation, propaganda carry the day in Tigrayan, Oromo conflicts – Africa News
What’s Behind the Latest Violence in Kashmir? – Foreign Policy
Taliban Splintered by Internal Divisions, External Spoilers – Foreign Policy
The military keeps finding it did nothing wrong when it investigates itself – Task and Purpose
The Army is testing drones that can deliver life-saving blood to the battlefield – Task and Purpose
China’s Communist authorities reinvent state capitalism – The Economist
Xi Jinping’s Terrifying New China – The Atlantic
Canadian Foreign Intelligence and the Future of Canada-U.S. Relations – Lawfare
Counterterrorism Successes Against Foreign Fighters – Lawfare
The David Kilcullen Interview: An Afghan and Iraq War Retrospective – Grounded Curiosity
Australia’s Principles of War: A Review – Grounded Curiosity
Multi Domains Operations and India (Part 1) – Wavell Room
Multi Domain Operations and India Part 2 – Wavell Room
Assessing Airborne Status in U.S. Army Special Operations Forces – Divergent Options
Assessing the Impact of U.S. Forces on Pearl Harbor Heeding Multiple Warnings on December 7, 1941 – Divergent Options
Closure for Colombia, New Scrutiny for Venezuela: ICC Investigations in Latin America – Just Security
Is Nicaragua’s Descent into Dictatorship Irreversible? – United States Institute of Peace
Winter is coming in Afghanistan. Are the Taliban ready? – United States Institute of Peace
Israel Aerospace Industries Says This Is The Next Leap In Exportable Electronic Warfare Systems – The Drive
Russian Anti-Satellite Test Produces Dangerous Debris Cloud In Orbit (Updated) – The Drive
Why These Badass Balloons Are the Pentagon’s New Secret Weapon – Popular Mechanics
How Combat Drones Ended a Decades-Long War in 44 Days – Popular Mechanics
For the First Time, a Drone Attack Has Targeted the U.S. Electrical Grid – Popular Mechanics
Securing your digital life, part three: How smartphones make us vulnerable – Ars Technica
A routine Starlink launch turned into something otherworldly this weekend – Ars Technica
Podcast: S2E4 – 10th Special Forces Team – what’s working and what’s not – SOFCAST
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