Af/Pak & Other News (8/17/2021)

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Afghanistan Falls

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/ep-55-afghanistan-falls.php



Situation At Kabul Airport "Would Have Been Difficult For Anyone To Predict" Says Pentagon Spokesman

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42019/situation-at-kabul-airport-would-have-been-difficult-for-anyone-to-predict-says-pentagon-spokesman



‘Greater Stability’ After Chaos At Kabul Airport as U.S. and Coalition Forces Continue Evacuation From Afghanistan

https://theaviationist.com/2021/08/17/kabul-situation/



Satellite photos show chaos in Afghanistan exit

https://www.c4isrnet.com/intel-geoint/2021/08/16/satellite-photos-show-chaos-in-afghanistan-exit/



Foreign Governments Scramble To Leave Afghanistan Amid Violence and Chaos

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/08/nations-scramble-exit-afghanistan-amid-violence-and-chaos/184559/



U.S. Troops Kill Two Armed Afghans At Unsecured Kabul Airport, Thousands More Being Sent

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42010/u-s-troops-kill-two-armed-afghans-at-unsecure-kabul-airport-thousands-more-being-sent



Terrorist traded to Taliban by Obama for US POW planned Afghanistan takeover

https://warisboring.com/terrorist-traded-to-taliban-by-obama-for-us-pow-planned-afghanistan-takeover/



A Taliban commander who helped seize the Afghan presidential palace spent nearly 6 years at Guantanamo, where he told a guard 'we will get you on the outside'

https://www.businessinsider.com/taliban-commander-gholam-ruhani-once-threatened-guantanamo-guard-2021-8



The Taliban leaders in line to become de facto rulers of Afghanistan

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/17/the-taliban-leaders-in-line-to-become-de-facto-rulers-of-afghanistan



The Russian Embassy In Kabul Is Now Under Protection Of The Taliban

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/16/1028198482/the-russian-consulate-in-kabul-is-now-under-protection-of-the-taliban



An Afghan man who helped US Army Special Forces describes life in hiding in Kabul

https://www.businessinsider.com/afghan-man-who-helped-us-army-describes-life-hiding-kabul-2021-8



Taliban encounter Afghan cities remade in their absence

https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-then-and-now-82594865156f9fdae9db4ce1c34d8d43



Afghans are racing to wipe their online histories as the Taliban seize power

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/afghans-are-racing-to-wipe-their-online-histories-as-the-taliban-seize-power/ar-AANq2gD



How Afghanistan's Army was pulled apart by corruption and backroom deals

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/16/afghan-armys-collapse-was-years-in-the-making-say-experts/



Afghan army didn't want to fight and die for their own government: WaPo reporter

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/afghan-army-didn-t-want-to-fight-and-die-for-their-own-government-wapo-reporter/vi-AANq7G2



'Nobody should be surprised': Why Afghan security forces crumbled so quickly to the Taliban

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/nobody-should-be-surprised-why-afghan-security-forces-crumbled-so-quickly-to-the-taliban/ar-AANoc9V



Billions spent on Afghan army ultimately benefited Taliban

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-army-taliban-995b069a9008690582cb34f4cacd8515



Mike Pompeo Outlines How Trump Admin Planned to Handle Afghanistan, Taliban

https://www.newsweek.com/mike-pompeo-trump-admin-afghanistan-taliban-biden-1619968



Taliban declare 'amnesty' for anyone, say women will be allowed to join gov't

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/08/17/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-women/4051629198344/



Targeted killings, abuse of women reported after Taliban takeover – UN officials

https://www.timesofisrael.com/targeted-killings-abuse-of-women-reported-after-taliban-takeover-un-officials/



Predictably Poor Prospects

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/turkey/articles/20210817.aspx



Vets on What Americans Don’t Understand About the ‘Poorly Executed’ U.S. Exit

https://www.thedailybeast.com/afghan-war-veterans-on-what-americans-dont-understand-about-the-poorly-executed-us-exit



‘Was it worth it?’: veterans of Afghan conflict reel at Taliban takeover

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/17/was-it-worth-it-veterans-of-afghan-conflict-reel-at-taliban-takeover



US Veterans View Afghan Collapse With Anguish, Rage and Relief

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-veterans-view-afghan-collapse-120324908.html



I fought in Afghanistan. Those who served there always feared it would fall apart

https://taskandpurpose.com/opinion/afghanistan-fall-apart-marine-veteran/



From Saigon to Kabul, the tragically ironic tale of the “little Sea Knight that could”

https://warisboring.com/from-saigon-to-kabul-the-tragically-ironic-tale-of-the-little-sea-knight-that-could/



#Uzbekistan has confirmed that 22 Afghan military planes and 24 helicopters have crossed the border of the country with a totally of 585 armed soldiers on board. Uzbek MIG-29 and Afghan Embraer-314 have run into each other in the air. Pilots used catapults and parachutes.

https://twitter.com/nikmccaren/status/1427304140246601731



Afghan Super Tucano and Uzbek Fulcrum collide

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/afghan-super-tucano-and-uzbek-fulcrum-collide



Afghan Forces Flee, Fly, to Central Asia

https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/afghan-forces-flee-fly-to-central-asia/



Hundreds of Afghan soldiers have fled over the border to Uzbekistan with dozens of military aircraft and helicopters

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hundreds-afghan-soldiers-fled-over-171621567.html



Biden: ‘I Stand Squarely Behind My Decision’ on Afghanistan

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/08/biden-i-stand-squarely-behind-my-decision-afghanistan/184568/



Pollster: Biden receives F grade from independents for Afghanistan speech

https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-f-grade-independents-afghanistan-speech-lee-carter



Former CIA analyst contradicts MSNBC hosts to slam 'bold-faced lie' in Biden's Afghanistan speech

https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-cia-analyst-contradicts-msnbc-152600876.html



Joe Biden’s Afghanistan Speech Proves He Will Be President Chaos

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/joe-bidens-afghanistan-speech-proves-he-will-be-president-chaos/



More British troops to be sent to Afghanistan

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/more-british-troops-to-be-sent-to-afghanistan/



China, Pakistan and Russia set to increase Afghanistan influence

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/16/china-russia-pakistan-expect-increase-influence-afghanistan



China ready for 'friendly relations' with Taliban, welcomes Afghan development projects

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210816-china-ready-for-friendly-relations-with-taliban-welcomes-afghan-development-projects



The Taliban: China’s Deal With the Devil in Afghanistan

https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/the-taliban-chinas-deal-with-the-devil-in-afghanistan/



Pakistan glee over Taliban power grab obscures domestic threats

https://www.ft.com/content/fa2d08a3-6e5e-4d3d-b742-db4145809f8d



The Legacy Of Afghanistan Is A Future Of Drone Wars

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/08/17/the-legacy-of-afghanistan-is-a-future-of-drone-wars/









BDL, MBDA of UK to establish Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile facility in India

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/bdl-mbda-of-uk-to-establish-advanced-short-range-air-to-air-missile-facility-in-india/article35958845.ece



Space part of a grand strategy for India, China: Report warns of its growing militarisation

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/space-part-of-a-grand-strategy-for-india-china-report-warns-of-its-growing-militarisation-1841954-2021-08-17









IAEA: Iran producing uranium metal, which can be used in nuclear bomb

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iaea-iran-producing-uranium-metal-which-can-be-used-in-nuclear-bomb/









What’s the Buzz About Drones? Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary

https://mwi.usma.edu/whats-the-buzz-about-drones-evolutionary-not-revolutionary/









Successes and failures of Russian air power in Syria

https://hushkit.net/2021/08/17/successes-and-failures-of-russian-air-power-in-syria/









Israel Braces For Renewed Terrorism Coming From Taliban-Led Afghanistan

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/israel-braces-for-renewed-terrorism-coming-from-taliban-led-afghanistan/









Security Experts Warn Al-Shabab May Try to Emulate Taliban in Somalia

https://www.voanews.com/africa/security-experts-warn-al-shabab-may-try-emulate-taliban-somalia




Fresh Attack Leaves 37 Civilians Dead in Western Niger

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/08/17/civilians-dead-western-niger/









Afghanistan collapse sparks wave of alarm in Ukraine

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/afghanistan-collapse-sparks-wave-of-alarm-in-ukraine/



Russia’s Il-112V Military Jet Prototype Crashes Near Moscow

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30241/Russia___s_Il_112V_Military_Jet_Prototype_Crashes_Near_Moscow#.YRvLOd9lBaQ



Russian Navy’s Improved Kilo-II Class Submarine ‘Magadan’ Starts State Trials

https://navalpost.com/improved-kilo-class-magadan/





UK to Purchase Vehicle Airdrop Systems for A400M ‘Atlas’ Aircraft

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/08/17/uk-a400m-vehicle-airdrop-systems/









Great Detail About China's Type 093 SSN

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/08/great-detail-about-chinas-type-093-ssn.html



Chinese RoRo Marines

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htamph/articles/20210817.aspx



China holds live-fire exercises near Taiwan in response to ‘provocations’

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/17/china-holds-live-fire-exercises-near-taiwan-response-provocations



China Sends Warplanes Near Taiwan During Suspected Weapons Tests Around Island

https://www.newsweek.com/china-sends-warplanes-near-taiwan-during-suspected-weapons-tests-around-island-1620051



Chinese Media Threaten Taiwan after Kabul Debacle: ‘The Island’s Defense Will Collapse in Hours’

https://www.yahoo.com/news/chinese-media-threaten-taiwan-kabul-222927241.html





Watch Japan’s KC-46 carrying out its first aerial refueling

http://alert5.com/2021/08/17/watch-japans-kc-46-carrying-out-its-first-aerial-refueling/



Japan developing AI, satellite-based surveillance system to track foreign ships in its waters

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3145203/japan-developing-ai-satellite-based-surveillance-system-track










Researcher says a US terrorist watchlist was exposed online for three weeks

https://www.engadget.com/terrorist-screening-center-data-exposure-224352475.html



Report to Congress on Joint All-Domain Command and Control

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/17/report-to-congress-on-joint-all-domain-command-and-control-3



Red 6 lands contract to put augmented reality on a T-38 training jet

https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2021/08/16/red-6-lands-contract-to-put-augmented-reality-on-a-t-38-training-jet/



Air Force asking Northrop Grumman and CACI to develop enabling technologies for multispectral laser sensors

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14208736/multispectral-laser-sensors



Aerospace & Defense Roundup: August 16

https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/aerospace-defense-roundup-august-16



Anti-satellite weapons push military to rethink where it puts missile sentinels in space

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/08/10/digital-engineering-shows-promise-of-cheaper-more-flexible-missile-warning-constellations/



US Army endorses tactical drone contest to replace Shadow

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/08/16/us-army-endorses-tactical-drone-contest-to-replace-shadow/



General Atomics, Kratos win additional funds for Skyborg work

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/general-atomics-kratos-win-additional-funds-for-skyborg-work/145113.article



The new Air Force secretary wants to ‘scare China’

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/08/17/the-new-air-force-secretary-wants-to-scare-china/



Unmanned systems used to detect mines in U.S. Navy's Large Scale Exercise

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/08/16/Navy-unmanned-systems-detect-mines-large-scale-exercise/4841629137675/



Why the Navy’s Most Powerful Aircraft Carrier Has So Many Problems

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/why-the-navys-most-powerful-aircraft-carrier-has-so-many-problems/