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Weekend Catch-Up: The New Epicenter of Global Jihad, The Real Story of China in Africa, Submarine Contracts, Resistance in Afghanistan and More – September 18, 2021

Weekend Catch-Up: The New Epicenter of Global Jihad, The Real Story of China in Africa, Submarine Contracts, Resistance in Afghanistan and More – September 18, 2021

I started this post on Thursday but as sometimes happens, these take longer than expected, and given time, trends can shift and what appeared  a clear narrative got muddled over the last couple days. Today’s Daily Dump contains a variety of stories that probably better reflects the current foreign policy dilemmas that we face better than a singular narrative that revolves around China. This post demonstrates the competing foreign policy positions of the desire to move on and focus on the great power competition and the ongoing problem that just won’t go away, Jihadi terror. However, to illustrate how these stories converge, we only have to go to Africa where The Combating Terrorism Center has another deep dive: Twenty Years After 9/11: The Threat in Africa—The New Epicenter of Global Jihadi Terror. This report brings both of these together and succinctly illustrates that the future of great power competition will include the wider war on terror. For a much deeper analysis on China’s activities in Africa, watch the NSI Speaker Series What is the Real Story of China in Africa? China’s economic model in Africa is much deeper that what is commonly reported and the competition there is going to be harder than most think. For recent success there, you need to look no further than this recent story from the Long War Journal, France says drone strike killed leader of Islamic State in Sahara. This is a pretty big get. But all is not rosy in U.S. – French relations as  France says Biden acted like Trump to sink Australia defence deal from Reuters. Losing a huge submarine contract to an ally can create some friction. As an American that cares about the competition with China, there is a lot to like in those stories. Speaking of competition, how about these two stories as we go back to Afghanistan: In Panjshir, Few Signs of an Active Resistance, or Any Fight at All – The New York Times and Bomb kills at least 2 in eastern Afghanistan – DW. The resistance to the Taliban Rule doesn’t appear to be centered in Panjshir and that dispersion is probably the only real chance for success, contest the rural area and keep moving. These stories and so much more in Today’s Daily Dump.

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September 18, 2021

China’s (Africa) Public Image Crusade – Fast Company (2010)

Book Talk: Dr. Anthony King on Urban Warfare in the Twenty-First Century – Modern War Institute

Out of Africa: The Strategic Mistake of US Disengagement from Somalia – Modern War Institute

The Battle of Mosul: A Comprehensive Case Study – Modern War Institute

Twenty Years After 9/11: The Threat in Africa—The New Epicenter of Global Jihadi Terror – Combating Terrorism Center at West Point

WHAT WENT WRONG IN AFGHANISTAN: A PRIMER – WAR ROOM

FACE IN THE MIRROR: AN ETHICS CODE FOR THE ARMED FORCES – WAR ROOM

Strengthening European Unity: The Three Seas Initiative – Royal United Service Institute

Black Sea Energy Supply Risks Must be Countered by a Coordinated Regional Response – Royal United Service Institute

Podcast: Episode 64: Anant Mishra: Street Smart Warfare – Royal United Service Institute

Russia’s Economic Pivot to Asia in a Shifting Regional Environment – Royal United Service Institute

Speaker Series: What Just Happened in Afghanistan? – NSI

Speaker Series: What is the Real Story of China in Africa? – NSI

Podcast: Episode 56 — The Resurrection of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan – Long War Journal

U.S. Treasury sanctions al Qaeda facilitators in Turkey – Long War Journal

France says drone strike killed leader of Islamic State in Sahara – Long War Journal

Taliban lionizes Haqqani commander who celebrated ties to Al Qaeda, held American hostage – Long War Journal

Podcast: Defending Democracy – Inside the Senate Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election – Horns of Dilemma

Podcast: A Tale of Two Biden Doctrines – Net Assessment

Biological Deterrence for the Shadow War – War on the Rocks

Could Multinational Peacekeepers Prevent Worst-Case Outcomes in Afghanistan? – War on the Rocks

Working with the Devil? The Potential for U.S.-Taliban Cooperation Against the Islamic State in Afghanistan – War on the Rocks

Misaligned in Mesopotamia: Conflicting Ambitions in NATO Mission Iraq – War on the Rocks

PIPE DREAMS: The Taliban and Drugs from the 1990s into Its New Regime – Small Wars Journal

9/17/2021 National Security and Korean News and Commentary – Small Wars Journal

9/15/2021 National Security and Korean News and Commentary – Small Wars Journal

Five Opportunities for the U.S.-Australia Alliance to Lead – Center for Strategic and International Studies

Podcast: Era of Strategic Competition: Measuring Chinese and U.S. Engagement with African Security Chiefs – The Truth of the Matter

U.S. Policy on Remittances to Cuba: What Are Some Viable Options? – Center for Strategic and International Studies

Quick reaction forces to the rescue in eastern DRC – Institute for Security Studies

South Africa’s growth depends on fixing its deeply broken food system – Institute for Security Studies

Event: Rethinking the African Union’s approach in the Sahel – Institute for Security Studies

American Power After Afghanistan: How to Rightsize the Country’s Global Role – Foreign Affairs

The Center Cannot Hold: Will a Divided World Survive Common Threats? – Foreign Affairs

How China Exports Authoritarianism: Beijing’s Money and Technology Is Fueling Repression Worldwide – Foreign Affairs

‘We Never Got It. Not Even Close’: Afghanistan Veterans Reflect on 20 Years of War – Politico

U.S. says Kabul drone strike killed 10 civilians, including children, in ‘tragic mistake’ – Reuters

Malaysia warns new Indo-Pacific pact may trigger nuclear arms race – Reuters

Australia to build eight nuclear-powered submarines under new Indo-Pacific pact – Reuters

China fumes over Australia’s nuclear sub pact with U.S., Britain – Reuters

France says Biden acted like Trump to sink Australia defence deal – Reuters

Taiwan plans $9 bln boost in arms spending, warns of ‘severe threat’ – Reuters

France recalls envoy protesting Australia-US submarine deal – AP

Yemen’s Houthis execute 9 over senior official’s killing – AP

Photos show North Korea expanding uranium enrichment plant – AP

Assertive Mexico seeks leadership role in Latin America – AP

Chinese astronauts return after 90 days aboard space station – AP

Friction among Taliban pragmatists, hard-liners intensifies – AP

The Latest: China attending virtual meeting on Afghanistan – AP

France calls killing of Islamic State leader big victory – AP

Documentary ‘Sabaya’ shows rescue of ‘IS’ sex slaves – DW

Bomb kills at least 2 in eastern Afghanistan – DW

Rwanda: The mysterious deaths of political opponents – DW

SpaceX blasts off for world’s first tourist trip into orbit – DW

Turkey faces gathering storm in Syria – Al Monitor

The Takeaway: Business As Usual: US-Egypt alliance finds its center – Al Monitor

Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups merge under new banner – Al Monitor

US-Australia submarine deal rocks NATO alliance – Asia Times

Is China losing South Korea? – Asia Times

Missiles on a train – Asia Times

Hannibal’s fate awaits a second Punic-communist war – Asia Times

The Scientist and the A.I.-Assisted, Remote-Control Killer Robot – The New York Times

In Panjshir, Few Signs of an Active Resistance, or Any Fight at All – The New York Times

Death of Jihadist Behind Attack on U.S. Soldiers Is Latest Blow for Militants – The New York Times

Russia to Open New Frontier in Space, Shooting First Full-Length Movie – The New York Times

This Is Life in Rural Afghanistan After the Taliban Takeover – The New York Times

Why Australia Bet the House on Lasting American Power in Asia – The New York Times

The Son Rises In Turkmenistan – Radio Free Europe

Armenia Challenges Azerbaijan At International Court Of Justice – Radio Free Europe

Outsmarting The Kremlin? How Navalny’s ‘Smart Voting’ Works – Radio Free Europe

Nile dam dispute: UN urges countries to resume talks – Africa News

Sub Snub Has Paris in a Tizzy Over AUKUS – Foreign Policy

India Welcomes AUKUS Pact as China Deterrent – Foreign Policy

America’s Hollow Africa Policy – Foreign Policy

The Biden Doctrine has yet to emerge. Beware those who claim otherwise – The Economist

China and Russia Urge Taliban to Keep Security Promises – The Moscow Times

Reassessing Counter Terrorism Financing in a Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan – Just Security

Australia To Buy Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, Will Get At Least Eight Nuclear Submarines – The Drive

A new app helps Iranians hide messages in plain sight – Ars Technica

SpaceX’s Starlink will come out of beta next month, Elon Musk says – Ars Technica

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