Af/Pak & Other News (8/4/2021)

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The U.S. Won Afghanistan Before Losing It

https://www.wsj.com/articles/afghanistan-withdrawal-cia-bin-laden-al-qaeda-bush-biden-northern-alliance-11628005301



Blast in Afghan capital as Taliban claim attack on minister's compound

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/blast-afghan-capital-taliban-battle-government-forces-south-west-2021-08-04/



How do Afghanistan forces and Taliban compare?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/4/how-do-afghanistan-forces-and-taliban-compare



Afghanistan's elite special forces pushed to the brink

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210804-afghanistan-s-elite-special-forces-pushed-to-the-brink



Taliban Commander Who Led Attack on Afghan City Was Released From Prison Last Year, Officials Say

https://www.wsj.com/articles/taliban-commander-who-led-attack-on-afghan-city-was-released-from-prison-last-year-officials-say-11628010527



The Taliban Say They've Changed. Experts Aren't Buying It And Fear For Afghanistan

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/04/1023426247/the-taliban-say-theyve-changed-experts-arent-buying-it-and-fear-for-afghanistan



Taliban going door to door to hunt down Afghan interpreters

https://www.yahoo.com/news/taliban-going-door-door-hunt-181437495.html



Afghan Free Media Was Touted by the US as a Success Story. Its Journalists Are Now Under Threat

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/08/04/afghan-free-media-was-touted-us-success-story-its-journalists-are-now-under-threat.html



Why B-52 Bombers Went to War in Afghanistan (Again)

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/why-b-52-bombers-went-to-war-in-afghanistan-again/



Osama bin Laden told his children 'I advise you not to work with Al Qaeda,' new book reveals

https://www.businessinsider.com/osama-bin-laden-told-children-not-work-with-al-qaeda-2021-8



Why Turkey wants to be in charge of securing Kabul airport

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/8/2/why-is-turkey-eager-to-remain-in-afghanistan-after-the-us-exit



As Taliban Takes More Territory, Pakistan Army Completes 90% Fencing along Afghan Border

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30156/As_Taliban_Takes_More_Territory__Pakistan_Army_Completes_90__Fencing_along_Afghan_Border#.YQqkpUBlBaQ



Broke Pakistan puts up Prime Minister Imran Khan's official residence for rent

https://zeenews.india.com/world/broke-pakistan-puts-up-prime-minister-imran-khans-official-residence-for-rent-2381567.html









Indian Navy begins the sea trials of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant

https://navalpost.com/vikrant-begins-the-sea-trials/



India moving forward with project to arm Heron drones

http://alert5.com/2021/08/04/india-moving-forward-with-project-to-arm-heron-drones/



Why Russia is offering India old submarines

https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-russia-is-offering-india-old-submarines-1836560-2021-08-04



India deploys warships in South China Sea as part of 'Act East' policy

https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-deploys-warships-south-china-sea-part-act-east-policy-2021-08-04/



Al Jazeera says India building naval base with airstrip on Mauritian island

http://alert5.com/2021/08/04/al-jazeera-says-india-building-naval-base-with-airstrip-on-mauritian-island/



A Tale of 2 Navies: India and China’s Current Carrier and Escort Procurement

https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/a-tale-of-2-navies-india-and-chinas-current-carrier-and-escort-procurement/









Iran's Revolutionary Guard drone commander behind ship attack

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/iran-revolutionary-guard-drone-commander-behind-ship-attack-675823



Analysis: Iran strikes hard-line pose ahead of new president

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-iran-coronavirus-pandemic-b3224bf9b9b2ab5b542e5c71b5c11d35



Gantz: Iran is 10 weeks from breakout to a nuclear weapon

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-to-unsc-halt-irans-brazen-ship-attacks-675793



An Iran Armed with Nuclear Weapons: Impossible to Stop Now?

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/an-iran-armed-with-nuclear-weapons-impossible-to-stop-now/









Three decades on, Saddam's 'human shields' want answers

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210804-three-decades-on-saddam-s-human-shields-want-answers









Puzzling Hijacking Of Commercial Vessel In Gulf Of Oman Comes To An End

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41832/puzzling-hijacking-of-commercial-vessel-in-gulf-of-oman-comes-to-an-end



'5-6 armed Iranians' responsible for tanker hijack off UAE coast - report

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/britain-warns-of-non-piracy-incident-underway-off-uae-coast-675737



UK 'Urgently Investigating' Incident on Ship Between UAE, Iran Amid 'Hijacking' Report

https://www.newsweek.com/uk-urgently-investigating-incident-ship-between-uae-iran-amid-hijack-report-1615820



Israel-linked ship hit in drone attack docks in UAE

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-linked-ship-hit-in-drone-attack-docks-in-uae/





Saudi Arabia says sees an emboldened Iran around Middle East

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-sees-emboldened-iran-around-middle-east-2021-08-03/









Al Qaeda group claims bus bombing in Damascus

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/al-qaeda-group-claims-bus-bombing-in-damascus.php




U.N. Forces Plead for Calm as Israel Strikes Continue on Lebanon After Rocket Attacks

https://www.newsweek.com/un-forces-plead-calm-israel-strikes-continue-lebanon-after-rocket-attacks-1616122









Israel: Swarming For Targets

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htecm/articles/20210804.aspx









Mali: The Saudi Factor

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/mali/articles/20210804.aspx









How Russia’s Yasen-M Submarine Compares To The U.S. Navy’s Block-V Virginia

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/08/how-russias-yasen-m-submarine-compares-to-the-u-s-navys-block-v-virginia/



Bad News: Russia Is Developing a New Long-Range Hypersonic Missile

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/bad-news-russia-is-developing-a-new-long-range-hypersonic-missile/



Russian nuclear submarine lost propulsion in Danish waters, sails submerged outside Norway now

https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2021/08/russian-nuclear-submarine-lost-propulsion-danish-waters-sails-outside-norway-now



Russia’s New PAK DA Stealth Bomber Will Have Hypersonic Weapons

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/russias-new-pak-da-stealth-bomber-will-have-hypersonic-weapons/



With Eyes on Afghanistan, Russian Military Exercises in Central Asia

https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/with-eyes-on-afghanistan-russian-military-exercises-in-central-asia/



Bionic arms and blue-eyed bots: How Russia aims to nurture a tech hub in its Far East

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2021/russia-technology-far-east-vladivostok/





Turkmenistan’s President flew in the M-346FA

http://alert5.com/2021/08/04/turkmenistans-president-flew-in-the-m-346fa/




NATO Is Desperate For Front-Line Air-Defenses. Romania’s Old Gepards Are The Best It’s Got.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/08/03/nato-is-desperate-for-front-line-air-defenses-romanias-old-gun-vehicles-are-the-best-its-got/




UK seeks zero emissions training aircraft

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/august/7506-uk-seeks-zero-emissions-training-aircraft.html



Tempest: Everything we know about the UK’s 6th-gen fighter

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/tempest-everything-we-know-about-the-uks-6th-gen-fighter/









Assassination Mastermind May Still Be at Large, Haiti’s Caretaker Leader Says

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/04/world/americas/haiti-assassination-prime-minister-ariel-henry.html









China and India agree to withdraw soldiers near site of deadly border clash

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/diplomacy/article/3143711/china-and-india-agree-withdraw-soldiers-near-site-deadly-border



Liaoning & Shandong provide know-how for more capable and powerful aircraft carriers

https://navalpost.com/liaoning-shandong/



New Missile Silos May Be China’s Answer to Rivals With a Lot More Nukes

https://sofrep.com/news/new-missile-silos-may-be-chinas-answer-to-rivals-with-a-lot-more-nukes/



Report to Congress on Chinese Naval Modernization

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/04/report-to-congress-on-chinese-naval-modernization-10



Why Elite Chinese Type-96 Tanks Are Headed to Russia for a Special Wargame

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/why-elite-chinese-type-96-tanks-are-headed-to-russia-for-a-special-wargame/



China launches Pakistan’s third Type 054A/P frigate

https://defbrief.com/2021/08/03/china-launches-pakistans-third-type-054a-p-frigate/





Top U.S. intel analyst sees North Korea clinging to its nukes

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/3/north-korea-cling-nuclear-weapons-top-us-intellige/





Japan to Deploy Island Missile Defenses to Counter China Military Blockade

https://www.newsweek.com/japan-deploy-island-missile-defenses-counter-china-military-blockade-1615659



Japan likely to scrap plans to procure U.S.-made anti-ship missiles

https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0007644458





Australia: Building a New Maritime Surveillance Network Across the Indian Ocean

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/08/04/building_a_new_maritime_surveillance_network_across_the_indian_ocean_788493.html









Canada’s Arctic Problem

https://mwi.usma.edu/canadas-arctic-problem/










Harry Reid urges Congress to press for more public disclosure of UFO sightings after landmark report

https://www.salon.com/2021/08/04/harry-reid-urges-congress-to-press-for-more-public-disclosure-of-ufo-sightings-after-landmark-report_partner/



New Documents Shed Light on NASA's Secretive 'Project Moon Dust'

https://www.vice.com/en/article/wx5bay/the-most-important-ufo-crash-happened-in-pennsylvania-not-roswell



Pentagon Police Officer Dead, Several Other People Injured, After Attack at Metro Entrance

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/08/several-casualties-pentagon-shooting-after-attack-police-officer/184261/



Drone Striking World Trade Center Is A Wake-Up Call

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/08/03/drone-striking-world-trade-center-is-a-wake-up-call/



Hackers target Kubernetes to steal data and processing power. Now the NSA has tips to protect yourself

https://www.zdnet.com/article/hacker-target-kubernetes-to-steal-data-and-processing-power-now-the-nsa-has-tips-to-protect-yourself/



Retired Marine C-9B Jet Transport Is Getting Second Life As An Air Force Sensor Testbed

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41800/retired-marine-c-9b-jet-transport-has-gotten-a-second-life-as-an-air-force-sensor-testbed



Microwave Arms Race Is Heating Up

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/08/04/microwave-arms-race-is-heating-up/



Army to court-martial soldier charged over mysterious firefight in Syria

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-court-martial-soldier-firefight-syria/



The U.S. Is Losing The Legal War Against China

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jillgoldenziel/2021/08/03/the-us-is-losing-the-legal-war-against-china/



Senate nears pivotal 60-vote threshold for scrapping Iraq war authorizations

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/04/iraq-war-authorization-repeal-502303



Congress Rips Into OMB Over Coast Guard Budget And Unfunded Priorities List

https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2021/08/04/congress-rips-into-omb-over-coast-guard-budget-and-unfunded-priorities-list/



A Millennial’s Retort: ICBMs are Essential

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/08/04/a_millennials_retort_icbms_are_essential_788509.html



Boeing Unveils New Hypersonic Cruise Missile Concept

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sea-air-space-2021/2021/08/sea-air-space-2021-boeing-unveils-new-hypersonic-cruise-missile-concept/



First Flight Test Of Hypersonic AGM-183A ARRW (Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon) Fails, Again.

https://theaviationist.com/2021/08/04/arrw-test-fails-again/



US Army Developing System to Enable Soldier-Robot Dialogue

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/08/04/us-army-soldier-robot-dialogue/



BAE Systems stretches APKWS range 30% using new trajectory

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/bae-systems-stretches-apkws-range-30-using-new-trajectory/144907.article



Lockheed Martin to build JAGM air-to-ground missile with multimode seeker for Army UAVs and helicopters

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14208019/airtoground-missile-multimode-seeker



U.S. Army National Guard fields new compact sniper system

https://defence-blog.com/u-s-army-national-guard-fields-new-compact-sniper-system/



U.S. Air Force Predicts Force Fields And Death Rays By 2060

https://www.forbes.com/sites/vikrammittal/2021/08/03/us-air-force-predicts-force-fields-and-death-rays-by-2060/



Lasers Destined For Fighter Jets Are Now Being Tested In The Air Force’s Wind Tunnels

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41814/lasers-destined-for-fighter-jets-are-now-being-tested-in-the-air-forces-wind-tunnels



Air Force to delay production of Grey Wolf helicopter

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/08/03/air-force-to-delay-full-rate-production-of-grey-wolf-helicopter/



Here’s why the Air Force’s workhorse C-17 is called ‘the Moose’

https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/air-force-c-17-moose-jet/



Navy Questions Future Viability of Super Hornets; Recommends Against New Buy

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/03/navy-questions-future-viability-of-super-hornets-recommends-against-new-buy



BAE Cuts Operating Costs Of F-35 EW System By 50 Percent

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/bae-cuts-operating-costs-of-f-35-ew-system-by-50-percent/



The F-35A Lightning II is playing the role of Aggressor at Red Flag for the First Time

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-f-35a-lightning-ii-is-playing-the-role-of-aggressor-at-red-flag-for-the-first-time/



The Truth About The Air Force's Biggest Changes To Pilot Training Since The Dawn Of The Jet Age

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41789/the-truth-about-the-air-forces-biggest-changes-to-pilot-training-since-the-dawn-of-the-jet-age



Navy's New Triton Drone Getting Close to Taking Over for Older Patrol Aircraft

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/08/03/navys-new-triton-drone-getting-close-taking-over-older-patrol-aircraft.html



E-2D Advanced Hawkeye plays ‘tanker king’ role by controlling MQ-25 in simulation

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/e-2d-advanced-hawkeye-plays-tanker-king-role-by-controlling-mq-25-in-simulation/144908.article



Navy Plans Upgrades to Fly E-2Ds into the 2040s

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/03/navy-plans-upgrades-to-fly-e-2ds-into-the-2040s



The Navy Says It Can’t Afford To Fully Modernize. So What Should It Give Up?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2021/08/03/the-navy-says-it-cant-afford-to-fully-modernize-so-what-should-it-give-up/



The US Navy Is Reversing Its Fighter-Jet Design Philosophy

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/08/us-navy-reversing-its-fighter-jet-design-philosophy/184269/



Critical Fix Will Take Years To Reach All Navy Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ships

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41816/critical-fix-will-take-years-to-reach-all-navy-freedom-class-littoral-combat-ships



Up to 40% Female Crew on US SSN

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/08/up-to-40-female-crew-on-us-ssn.html



All Three Of The U.S. Navy’s Most Powerful Submarines Were Under Way At The Same Time, In The Same Place

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/08/04/all-three-of-the-us-navys-most-powerful-submarines-were-underway-at-the-same-time-in-the-same-place/



Navy: Large USV Will Require Small Crews for the Next Several Years

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/03/navy-large-usv-will-require-small-crews-for-the-next-several-years



Navy Says Constellation Hull Change Won’t Affect Internal Design

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/navy-says-constellation-hull-change-wont-affect-internal-design/