Af/Pak & Other News (4/10/2021)

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Afghan President in ‘Desperate Situation’ as His Power Is Undermined

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/10/world/asia/afghanistan-ashraf-ghani.html



A ramped-up push for peace is splintering Afghanistan’s already fragile government

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/10/afghanistan-peace-talks-taliban/



Afghan Cities Become Key Battlegrounds

https://warontherocks.com/2021/04/afghan-cities-become-key-battlegrounds/



Taliban attack on US secret base raises fear of pullout deadline violence

https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-attack-us-secret-raises-131020930.html



Watch the Afghan National Army spit hot fire in this rap-recruiting video

https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/watch-the-afghan-national-army-spit-hot-fire-in-this-rap-recruiting-video/



Whether America Stays or Goes, the Taliban Will Control Afghanistan

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/skeptics/whether-america-stays-or-goes-taliban-will-control-afghanistan-182165



With Afghanistan Withdrawal Looming, What About al-Qaeda?

https://sofrep.com/news/with-afghanistan-withdrawal-deadline-looming-what-about-al-qaeda/









How ‘Imperfect Laws Of Sea’ Have Put QUAD Allies India & US On A Collision Course

https://eurasiantimes.com/how-closest-allies-india-us-now-on-collision-course-due-to-imperfect-laws-of-sea/









Iran touts 133 national nuclear achievements on National Nuclear Technology Day

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/04/10/Iran-National-Nuclear-Technology-Day-unveils-new/1491618069861/



On its ‘National Nuclear Technology Day,’ Iran starts up advanced centrifuges

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-starts-up-advanced-centrifuges-in-new-nuclear-deal-breach/



Iran Has No Master Plan, Including on Nuclear Weapons

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/paul-pillar/iran-has-no-master-plan-including-nuclear-weapons-182028









Remembering the Iraqi Air Force fighter jets found buried in the desert by American Forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/remembering-the-iraqi-air-force-fighter-jets-found-buried-in-the-desert-by-american-forces-during-operation-iraqi-freedom/









Saudi Arabia executes three soldiers sentenced for 'high treason'

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-security/saudi-arabia-executes-three-soldiers-sentenced-for-high-treason-idUSKBN2BX07P



53 dead in 24 hours in escalated clashes for Yemen's Marib

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/53-dead-in-24-hours-in-escalated-clashes-for-yemens-marib




Turkish Cops Now Have Their Own Attack Helicopters

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40122/turkish-cops-now-have-their-own-attack-helicopters



Turkish security forces unearth tunnel at Syrian border in Hatay

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkish-security-forces-unearth-tunnel-at-syrian-border-in-hatay/news



Turkey Confirms U.S. Destroyers Are Headed For The Black Sea Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40118/turkey-confirms-u-s-destroyers-are-headed-for-the-black-sea-amid-russia-ukraine-crisis









Fighting The Tide: The Islamic State’s Desperate Attempts to Combat Coalition Airpower

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/09/the-islamic-states-desperate-attempts.html









A Closer Look at Israel’s New High-Tech Barrier

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/04/10/a_closer_look_at_israels_new_high-tech_barrier_772195.html



Iron Dome developers set the record straight on its evolution

https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/iron-dome-developers-set-the-record-straight-on-its-evolution-664542



Elbit’s video shows airborne laser weapon on Hermes 900 with canards

http://alert5.com/2021/04/10/elbits-video-shows-airborne-laser-weapon-on-hermes-900-with-canards/









Egypt, Sudan reject Ethiopian proposal for data sharing on Renaissance dam

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-dam-egypt-sudan/egypt-sudan-reject-ethiopian-proposal-for-data-sharing-on-renaissance-dam-idUSKBN2BX0KV




After the Islamic State: Social Media and Armed Groups

https://warontherocks.com/2021/04/after-the-islamic-state-social-media-and-armed-groups/




How a growing fight against a little-known ISIS affiliate pulled in US Green Berets and foreign mercenaries

https://www.businessinsider.com/fight-against-isis-affiliate-in-mozambique-draws-us-green-berets-2021-4









Ukraine says it will not back down to Russian pressure

https://thehill.com/policy/international/europe/547541-ukraine-says-it-will-not-back-down-to-russian-pressure



Ukraine says it could be provoked by Russian 'aggression' in conflict area

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-minister/ukraine-says-it-could-be-provoked-by-russian-aggression-in-conflict-area-idUSKBN2BX072



Ukraine rules out offensive against Russia-backed separatists

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/9/ukraine-rules-out-offensive-against-russia-backed-separatists



Is Russia Preparing to Go to War in Ukraine?

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/09/russia-troops-border-donbass-war-putin-zelensky-ukraine/



Russia deploys Iskander systems with extended-range missiles to Ukrainian border

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/russia-deploys-iskander-systems-with-extended-range-missiles-to-ukrainian-border.html



Tracking the Russian military buildup near Ukraine

https://medium.com/dfrlab/tracking-the-russian-military-buildup-near-ukraine-d8ab03e853ff



A Standoff: Why Russia and Ukraine Each Do Not Want to Strike First

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/standoff-why-russia-and-ukraine-each-do-not-want-strike-first-182512



Russia Developing Next-Gen ICBM To Replace ‘Yars’ Missile System?

https://eurasiantimes.com/is-russia-developing-a-new-generation-icbm-to-replace-yars-missile-system/



Russia scrambles fighter jet against RC-135W Rivet Joint spy plane

https://defence-blog.com/news/russian-air-force-fighter-aircraft-scramble-to-rc-135w-rivet-joint-spy-plane.html



Russian army takes delivery of new batch of 20 Uran-9 tracked armed UGVs

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2021_global_security_army_industry/russian_army_takes_delivery_of_new_batch_of_20_uran-9_tracked_armed_ugvs.html



Russia Has a Massive Amount of Tactical Nuclear Weapons. Why?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-has-massive-amount-tactical-nuclear-weapons-why-182433



Russia, China Team Up to Peddle Insane U.S. COVID Lab Theory

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-china-team-up-to-peddle-insane-us-covid-lab-theory/ar-BB1furaO



Russia May Have Found a New Way to Censor the Internet

https://www.wired.com/story/russia-may-have-found-new-way-to-censor-internet/



Russia Seen Advancing SE Asian Ambitions Through Myanmar Generals

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/russia-seen-advancing-se-asian-ambitions-through-myanmar-generals



‘You Can’t Trust Anyone’: Russia’s Hidden Covid Toll Is an Open Secret

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/you-cant-trust-anyone-russias-hidden-covid-toll-is-an-open-secret/ar-BB1fvubF



Russian space programme facing existential crisis as Elon Musk helps US relaunch Nasa ambitions

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-space-programme-facing-existential-092158181.html



Watchdog Calls On Russia To End Information 'Black Hole' In Nagorno-Karabakh

https://www.rferl.org/a/watchdog-calls-on-russia-to-end-information-black-hole-in-nagorno-karabakh/31195628.html




Serbian Pantsir S1 missile system overturns on highway near Belgrade

https://defbrief.com/2021/04/10/serbian-pantsir-s1-missile-system-overturns-on-highway-near-belgrade/




The Swiss Army is testing helicopter hoisting ops with horses

https://defbrief.com/2021/04/09/the-swiss-army-is-testing-helicopter-hoisting-ops-with-horses/




Leonardo prepares for production, training and support of the AW609

https://verticalmag.com/news/leonardo-prepares-for-production-training-and-support-of-the-aw609/




U.K. Coroner Rules Exiled Russian Critic Of Putin Was Strangled

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-glushkov-strangled-london-coroner-putin-critic-berezovsky/31196776.html



Work starts on huge solar farm for British Army

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/work-starts-on-huge-solar-farm-for-britain-army/









Another Narco-Submarine Found In Colombian Jungle

http://www.hisutton.com/Narco-Submarine-April-10-2021.html









Chinese Navy conducts firing test of new YJ-9 anti-ship missile from Z-9D naval helicopter

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/focus-analysis/naval-technology/9960-chinese-navy-conducts-firring-test-of-new-yj-9-anti-ship-missile-from-z-9d-naval-helicopter.html



Bombers, boats, dredgers: China's relentless pressure is wearing down regional competitors

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bombers-boats-dredgers-chinas-relentless-pressure-is-wearing-down-regional-competitors/ar-BB1fvbfe



China to Surpass U.S. Economy, Reclaim Global Power Role by 2040, Intel Report Says

https://www.newsweek.com/china-surpass-us-economy-reclaim-global-power-role-2040-1582511



China Leads US In 3 Of 6 AI Areas: Bob Work

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/china-leads-us-in-3-of-6-ai-areas-bob-work/



China’s Techno-Authoritarianism Has Gone Global

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2021-04-08/chinas-techno-authoritarianism-has-gone-global



The growing threat of China's lawfare

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/546811-the-growing-threat-of-chinas-lawfare



China Issues New Threats to Taiwan: ‘The Island’s Military Won’t Stand a Chance’

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-04-09/china-issues-new-threats-to-taiwan-the-islands-military-wont-stand-a-chance






U.S. And Chinese Carrier Groups Mass In The South China Sea

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40131/u-s-and-chinese-carrier-groups-mass-in-the-south-china-sea



Taiwan to stage live-fire drills as fears of possible PLA attack grow

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3129027/taiwan-stage-live-fire-drills-fears-possible-pla-attack-grow



Taiwan to take delivery of advanced Block 1B Phalanx gun system

https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202104080014





Sinpho South Shipyard: Probable Modifications to the Submersible Missile Test Barge

https://www.38north.org/2021/04/sinpho-south-shipyard-probable-modifications-to-the-submersible-missile-test-barge/





Myanmar security forces with rifle grenades kill over 80 protesters - monitoring group

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics/myanmar-security-forces-with-rifle-grenades-kill-over-80-protesters-monitoring-group-idUSKBN2BX0D5



Myanmar post-coup crackdown: 'We're heading towards a civil war'

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210410-myanmar-post-coup-crackdown-we-re-heading-towards-a-civil-war










The possible UFOs spotted on both US coasts

https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/the-possible-ufos-spotted-on-both-us-coasts/



Pentagon Confirms Leaked UFO Images Are Authentic

https://thedebrief.org/pentagon-confirms-leaked-ufo-images-are-authentic/



U.S. military readiness has 'degraded' over last two decades, GAO report says

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/04/09/gao-readiness/4671617985712/



Pentagon Launches Post-Insurrection Extremism Review

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/04/pentagon-launches-post-insurrection-extremism-review/173264/



Illinois Man Edward Schimenti Gets 13 Years for Plan to Provide Cell Phone Detonators to ISIS

https://www.newsweek.com/illinois-man-edward-schimenti-gets-13-years-plan-provide-cell-phone-detonators-isis-1582566



US sanctions against Chinese supercomputer centres may have limited impact, observers say

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129001/us-sanctions-against-chinese-supercomputer-centres-may-have



Nearly 40% of Marines have so far declined to receive a vaccine to protect against the coronavirus

https://www.businessinsider.com/marines-rejecting-covid-19-vaccine-2021-4



Report: U.S. military must speed up AI development to maintain edge

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/04/09/AI-work-grown-pentagon/4741617998029/



Pentagon Endorses AI Commission’s Recommendations

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/4/9/joint-artificial-intelligence-center-endorses-ai-commissions-recommendations



The Air Force Is Making an App That Basically Does What a General Does

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/04/air-force-making-app-basically-does-what-general-does/173215/



DARPA Prepares for the Subterranean Challenge Final

https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/darpa-prepares-for-the-subterranean-challenge-final



Biden Will Keep Loosened Rules on Land Mines

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a36065328/biden-will-keep-loosened-us-land-mine-policy/



Beijing has pierced Washington’s deterrence bubble. How can the US recover?

https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2021/04/09/beijing-pierced-washingtons-deterrence-bubble/



No, A U.S. F-15E Pilot Did Not Wear A “Russian Patch”: It’s Only A 492nd Squadron’s “Red Air” Patch

https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/09/no-a-u-s-f-15e-pilot-did-not-wear-a-russian-patch-its-only-a-492nd-squadrons-red-air-patch/



Biden Proposes $715 Billion Pentagon Budget for 2022

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/4/9/breaking-biden-proposes-715-billion-pentagon-budget-for-2022



Navy Labs To Reopen The Once Taboo Case On Nuclear Cold Fusion

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40105/navy-labs-to-reopen-the-case-on-once-taboo-cold-fusion



General Atomics Wins DARPA’s Nuclear Thermal Rocket Development Contract

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29313/General_Atomics_Wins_DARPA___s_Nuclear_Thermal_Rocket_Development_Contract



The Ugly Truth about America’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/ugly-truth-about-america%E2%80%99s-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-system-182309



Army's Precision Grenadier Program Is About to Face Its First Real Test

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/04/09/armys-precision-grenadier-program-about-face-its-first-real-test.html



New PrSMs Variants Could be a Game Changer for the U.S. Marine Corps’ HiMARS

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/04/new-prsms-variants-could-be-a-game-changer-for-the-u-s-marine-corps-himars/



When No Signal Is Not An Option

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htiw/articles/20210410.aspx



USAF C-5 Galaxy to receive avionics upgrade

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/04/usaf-c5-galaxy-avionics-upgrade.html



US B-52s getting new wheels, carbon brakes

https://defbrief.com/2021/04/09/us-b-52s-getting-new-wheels-carbon-brakes/



Laser Guns on F-15 Fighters? The U.S. Air Force Has Big Plans.

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/laser-guns-on-f-15-fighters-the-u-s-air-force-has-big-plans/



Team effort brings first-of-its-kind P-8A decoy prototype to test

https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Team-effort-brings-first-its-kind-P-8A-decoy-prototype-test/Fri-04092021-1929



Coast Guard, Navy Begin High Seas Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) Patrol

https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/coast-guard-navy-begin-high-seas-oceania-maritime-security-initiative-omsi-patrol/



LCS Conducts Rolling Airframe Missile shoot during Live-Fire Exercise to increase Surface Force Readiness

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/393518/lcs-conducts-rolling-airframe-missile-shoot-during-live-fire-exercise-increase-surface-force-readiness



The Undersea Warfare Revolution

https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2021/04/07/undersea-kingdoms-2-n1437979