A weekend catch-up following the white screen of death as the site was down for a day and half…Afghanistan is still front and center and today we have one of the best takes on the situation I have read yet. The Small Wars Journal has a short piece, Passing the Baby , that is powerful. Here is a sample, “No image better depicts what our Nation and our Uniforms means to others than this photo. An Afghan mother, in desperation, passes her baby to a US Uniform.” Read the whole thing; chills, goosebumps and maybe a tear or two. War Room concludes their, IRREGULAR WARFARE IS GREAT POWER COMPETITION – PART 2 and it is definitely worth your time. This will be the future. And speaking of future, how about wrapping things up with 6 Fascinating Facts About the Tardigrade, the Only Animal That Can Survive in Space from Popular Mechanics! I will be listening to both podcasts: Afghanistan Debacle from Net Assessment and Diplomacy Shaken Not Stirred from Horns of Dilemma during this week’s commute.
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August 21, 2021
What We Owe Them: Fulfilling Our Obligation to Our Afghan Partners – Modern Warfare Institute
IRREGULAR WARFARE IS GREAT POWER COMPETITION – PART 2 – WAR ROOM
Russia’s Su-57 Heavy Fighter Bomber: Is It Really a Fifth-Generation Aircraft? – RAND
Pakistani Taliban’s emir renews allegiance to Afghan Taliban – Long War Journal
Anti-Taliban resistance makes modest gains outside Panjshir – Long War Journal
Podcast: Afghanistan Debacle – Net Assessment
Podcast: Diplomacy Shaken Not Stirred – Horns of Dilemma
Authoritarianism and Resistance in Myanmar – War on the Rocks
From Forever Wars to Great-Power Wars: Lessons Learned From Operation Inherent Resolve – War on the Rocks
Passing the Baby – Small Wars Journal
State Weakness and Transnational Power: Explaining the Crisis in Venezuela – Small Wars Journal
Flawed assumptions led to tragic outcomes in Afghanistan – Small Wars Journal
8/21/2021 National Security and Korean News and Commentary – Small Wars Journal
GALLERY: Remarkable photos show U.S. military helping Afghan evacuation – Small Wars Journal
SOF CA: The Things We Think But Do Not Say – The Civil Affairs Association
Afghanistan Aftershocks – Center for Strategic and International Studies
New Imagery Shows No Crowds inside Kabul’s Airport – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Failure in Afghanistan Won’t Weaken America’s Alliances – Foreign Affairs
China’s Power Grab in the South China Sea: How to Build a Coalition to Confront Beijing – Foreign Affairs
U.S., Germany advise against travel to Kabul airport amid evacuation chaos – Reuters
UK says Russia, China needed for ‘moderating influence’ over Taliban – Reuters
Chad to halve its troops fighting Sahel militants, spokesperson says – Reuters
Putin, Erdogan agree to strengthen coordination on Afghan issues -Kremlin – Reuters
Gunmen kidnap more than 75 people in northwest Nigeria – Reuters
Gunmen kill at least 16 in latest Niger village attack – Reuters
IS threat forces US changes to evacuations at Kabul airport – AP
The Latest: US considers having airlines help with refugees – AP
China allows couples third child amid demographic crisis – AP
US, Germany advise citizens against Kabul airport travel — as it happened – DW
Afghans narrate Taliban takeover on social media: fear, solidarity and resistance – DW
Turkish airstrike kills members of US-backed Kurdish force in Syria – Al Monitor
Podcast: Iran has been getting closer to the Taliban for some time, says Shelly Kittleson – On the Middle East
Under Afghan fire, Biden assures East Asian allies – Asia Times
Korea, Japan show no signs of US withdrawal anxiety – Asia Times
Desperation as Afghans Seek to Flee a Country Retaken by the Taliban – The New York Times
Resistance fighters drive Taliban from 3 districts in the mountains north of Kabul. – The New York Times
He Guarded Haiti’s Slain President. And He Was a Suspect in a Drug Inquiry. – The New York Times
Thirty Years After Independence From Moscow, Ukraine Struggles To Throw Off Oligarch Yoke – Radio Free Europe
Afghanistan – Live Updates – Radio Free Europe
Watch: The Antlers Of Altai: Siberia’s Controversial Harvest – Radio Free Europe
DRC: At least 18 dead in fighting between the army and ADF rebels in the east – Africa News
Nigeria: Faced by rising insecurity, citizens organize to ensure their safety – Africa News
Afghanistan Hasn’t Damaged U.S. Credibility – Foreign Policy
Two Talibans Are Competing for Afghanistan – Foreign Policy
This is what we live for’ — Air Force C-17 crews jump at the chance to help others in Afghan airlift – Task and Purpose
My family fought alongside the Taliban. But I’m afraid for my friends – The Economist
What I Learned While Eavesdropping on the Taliban – The Atlantic
How Will China Seek to Profit From the Taliban’s Takeover in Afghanistan? – Lawfare
Russian Police Detain Journalists Protesting ‘Foreign Agent’ Crackdown – The Moscow Times
Former Chair of U.S. National Intelligence Council: Learning the Right Lessons from Afghanistan – Just Security
How the Region is Reacting to the Taliban Takeover – United States Institute of Peace
In Myanmar, the State the Generals Seized Is Coming Apart – The United States Institute of Peace
Here’s All The Intel You Need On The Ongoing Evacuation Operation In Kabul – The Drive
6 Fascinating Facts About the Tardigrade, the Only Animal That Can Survive in Space – Popular Mechanics
The Taliban Has Captured a Hoard of American-Made Weapons. Now What? – Popular Mechanics
Point-to-point Wi-Fi bridging between buildings—the cheap and easy way – Ars Technica
Don’t forget to drop a comment below indicating which article you read and why you chose it or thought it was interesting. As always if you have an additional source for information or another article that you think we should be discussing please let us know so we can link to it to further the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe! It’s free and our articles can be emailed directly to you so you don’t miss a thing!