I can’t really explain why the situation in Afghanistan has bothered me so much. I only served in Iraq, but this has felt worse than I remember the rise of ISIS. Maybe it’s the quickness of it all? Anyway, as the evacuation pace has picked up my mind has turned from despair to hope as the embers of resistance begin to flicker to life. Radio Free Europe with, Afghanistan’s Anti-Taliban Stronghold Gears Up For New Fight Against Militants and the Asia Times, Political recovery is already visible in Afghanistan, have that for you. You can find the latest on the evacuation process in the New York Times, here or DW here. But I think the most fascinating story, given the push in the U.S. Military for Integrated Operations, is How the Taliban did it: Inside the ‘operational art’ of its military victory from the Atlantic Council. If those don’t do it for you, perhaps Ars Technica has something for with After a dozen flights, NASA’s chopper has yet to come a cropper: Kitty Hawk a century ago. Mars today. Where 100 years from now?. All of this and much more in Today’s Daily Dump.
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August 18, 2021
Afghanistan’s Anti-Taliban Stronghold Gears Up For New Fight Against Militants – Radio Free Europe
Political recovery is already visible in Afghanistan – Asia Times
The Ides of August – Sarah Chayes
Opinion: Shifting the blame: How the Pentagon lost Afghanistan – Sean McFate at The Hill
The Hearts-and-Minds Myth – Foreign Affairs
Why the Taliban Won – Foreign Affairs
How the Taliban did it: Inside the ‘operational art’ of its military victory – Atlantic Council
Podcast: Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn #UNBOUND: the complete, forty-minute interview, Monday, August 16, 2021. – The John Batchelor Show
Podcast: #KabulDiary: Telling the politicians and generals what they wanted to hear. @BillRoggio @ThomasJoscelyn @LongWarJournal – The John Batchelor Show
Podcast: #KabulDiary: Al Qaeda never left Afghanistan. @BillRoggio @ThomasJoscelyn @LongWarJournal – The John Batchelor Show
Podcast: #KabulDiary: The long fall of Kabul. @BillRoggio @ThomasJoscelyn @LongWarJournal – The John Batchelor Show
#Reviewing The Forgotten Front – The Strategy Bridge
Collapse in Afghanistan: Early Insights from RAND Researchers – RAND
From Desert Storm to Inherent Resolve: The Evolution of Airpower – War on the Rocks
Twitter Doesn’t Have to be the End of the Conversation – War on the Rocks
8/17/2021 National Security and Korean News and Commentary – Small Wars Journal
Afghanistan. Urgent: What you can do. – Spirit of America – Small Wars Journal
Event: Picking Up the Pieces in Afghanistan. What Now? – Wednesday, August 18, 2021 9:00 am – 10:00 am – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Podcast: China’s Involvement in Afghanistan: A Conversation with Laurel Miller – China Power
The Taliban Takeover: Plan Now for the Next Crisis in Afghanistan – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Will Afghanistan Become a Terrorist Safe Haven Again? – Foreign Affairs
Does West Africa Need a Single Currency? – Foreign Affairs
Afghans scramble to delete digital history, evade biometrics – Reuters
Evacuations from Afghanistan gather momentum as Taliban promise peace – Reuters
Afghans evacuated to Germany describe terrifying scenes at Kabul airport – Reuters
Rare doctors’ outcry highlights Cuba’s COVID crisis, growing dissent – Reuters
Leading Cuban dissident ordered to serve four year prison sentence – Reuters
Haiti quake survivors cry for help as death toll nears 2,000 – Reuters
Taliban destroy statue of foe, stoking fear over their rule – AP
Taliban encounter Afghan cities remade in their absence – AP
In Taliban’s 7-day march to power, a stunning string of wins – AP
Uzbekistan not keen to admit Afghan refugees fleeing Taliban – AP
Polish army deployed to Belarus border amid migrant surge – AP
Why the Afghan army folded to the Taliban – DW
Afghanistan: Kabul airlift continues as world takes stock of Taliban takeover — live updates – DW
The conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia – DW
Japan, South Korea wary of China’s post-US clout in Afghanistan – DW
Afghanistan: Taliban to reap $1 trillion mineral wealth – DW
German spies saw Kabul fall as “rather unlikely”: report – DW
Gulf states call for calm in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover – Al Monitor
What happens in Kabul doesn’t stay in Kabul – Asia Times
Undaunted by China, Europe reaching to Taiwan – Asia Times
Afghanistan Live Updates: Taliban Violently Crush First Public Protest – The New York Times
To China, Afghan Fall Proves U.S. Hubris. It Also Brings New Dangers. – The New York Times
Biden Rattles U.K. With His Afghanistan Policy – The New York Times
Beijing’s Spat With Lithuania Sets The Stage For Shaky New Era of Europe-China Ties – Radio Free Europe
Beneath The Gloating, Taliban Takeover Brings Unwelcome New Uncertainty For Moscow – Radio Free Europe
Fear and Uncertainty Grip Kabul – Foreign Policy
China Won’t Repeat America’s Mistakes in Afghanistan – Foreign Policy
Sound, Fury, A Few Dead Taliban. What Did This 2009 Battle Achieve? – Forbes
Mercenaries, Mass and Morality: Private Industry as a Force Multiplier – Wavell Room
‘It Was All for Nothing’: Russia Marks August Coup With Regret, Indifference – The Moscow Times
Expert Backgrounder: Recognition and the Taliban – Just Security
Artificial Intelligence in the Intelligence Community: Culture is Critical – Just Security
The Complicated Logistics Behind the Kabul Airport Evacuation, Explained – Popular Mechanics
After a dozen flights, NASA’s chopper has yet to come a cropper: Kitty Hawk a century ago. Mars today. Where 100 years from now? – Ars Technica
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