Af/Pak & Other News (9/23/2021)

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In Afghanistan's 'moment of reckoning,' the Taliban lead a harsher-than-promised crackdown

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/afghanistan-s-moment-reckoning-taliban-lead-harsher-promised-crackdown-n1279862



Taliban official: Strict punishment, executions will return

https://apnews.com/article/religion-afghanistan-kabul-taliban-22f5107f1dbd19c8605b5b5435a9de54



How deep are divisions among the Taliban?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/23/how-deep-are-divisions-among-the-taliban



Islamic State uses Taliban's own tactics to attack Afghanistan's new rulers

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/islamic-state-uses-talibans-own-tactics-attack-afghanistans-new-rulers-2021-09-23/



Fox News rides with Taliban on patrols against ISIS-K

https://video.foxnews.com/v/6273759232001#sp=show-clips



A Botched Drone Strike in Kabul Started With the Wrong Car

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/21/us/politics/drone-strike-kabul.html



Committee to Decide if Taliban Can Address World Leaders at United Nations

https://www.newsweek.com/committee-decide-if-taliban-can-address-world-leaders-united-nations-1631743



Lawmakers storm out of classified Afghanistan briefing after questions go unanswered

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/22/politics/lawmakers-storm-out-afghanistan-briefing/index.html



The AP Interview: Top Pakistan diplomat details Taliban plan

https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-afghanistan-united-nations-taliban-shah-mehmood-qureshi-258c17303271aa440cf60f5a9444e143



Echoes, uncertainty as Afghan pilots await U.S. help in Tajikistan

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/exclusive-echoes-uncertainty-afghan-pilots-await-us-help-tajikistan-2021-09-22/









IRGC unveils UGVs

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/land-forces/latest/irgc-unveils-ugvs









Stryker brigade takes over base support and force protection ops in Iraq, sans Strykers

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2021/09/22/stryker-brigade-takes-over-base-support-and-force-protection-ops-in-iraq-sans-strykers/









Yemen's Houthis near Marib city, eyeing Yemen gas and oil fields

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-near-marib-city-eyeing-yemen-gas-oil-fields-2021-09-23/









IDF quadcopter falls in Syria due to malfunction

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/idf-quadcopter-falls-in-syria-due-to-malfunction-680058









Libya: Haftar stands down from military role before polls

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/22/libya-haftar-suspends-military-role-ahead-of-polls




Algeria closes airspace to Morocco over 'provocations and hostile' actions

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210922-algeria-closes-airspace-to-moroccan-aviation




Nigeria: Naming, Shaming, Convicting

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/nigeria/articles/20210923.aspx









Ukraine left puzzled after assassination attempt on president's top aide

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/shots-fired-car-carrying-ukraine-presidents-aide-driver-wounded-2021-09-22/



A Russian Impossible Dream

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20210923.aspx



Russia’s PAK DA stealth bomber is a big, powerful paper plane

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/russias-pak-da-stealth-bomber-is-a-big-stealthy-paper-plane/



Russian navy practises striking Black Sea targets as Ukraine, U.S. hold drills

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-navy-practises-striking-black-sea-targets-ukraine-us-hold-drills-2021-09-23/



Upgraded Sukhoi Su-30SME

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/upgraded-sukhoi-su-30sme



Panel: Russia Conflicted by America’s Afghanistan Withdrawal

https://news.usni.org/2021/09/22/panel-russia-conflicted-by-americas-afghanistan-withdrawal





Belarus has found spies working for West in state factories, president says

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-has-found-spies-working-west-state-factories-president-says-2021-09-23/




International Militaries Reach For The Stars

https://aviationweek.com/shows-events/afa-air-space-cyber-conference/international-militaries-reach-stars




France to bill Australia over submarine deal, as Britain’s Johnson tells Macron: ‘Donnez-moi un break’

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/09/23/submarine-france-australia-boris-johnson/




UK cuts steel for first Type 31 frigate ‘Venturer’

https://defbrief.com/2021/09/23/uk-cuts-steel-for-first-type-31-frigate-venturer/









China's Newest Drone Looks and Swims like a Manta Ray

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a37530309/chinas-newest-drone-looks-and-swims-like-a-manta-ray/



China Braces for Social Unrest After Evergrande Collapse: Report

https://www.newsweek.com/china-braces-social-unrest-after-evergrande-collapse-report-developer-debt-bankruptcy-1631952



China sends 24 fighter jets toward Taiwan in show of force

https://apnews.com/article/china-beijing-taiwan-87dea2310add5beefdee0530cf0bd740



Wuhan Lab Wanted to Genetically Enhance Bat Viruses to Study Human Risks, Documents Show

https://www.newsweek.com/wuhan-lab-wanted-genetically-enhance-bat-viruses-study-human-risks-documents-show-1631784





Myanmar faces 'alarming' risk of civil war, UN says

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210923-myanmar-faces-alarming-risk-of-civil-war-un-says





Australia Needs A Northern Base For Its New Nuclear Submarines

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/09/23/australia-needs-a-northern-base-for-its-new-nuclear-submarines/



Australia disputes French version of submarine letter

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-disputes-french-version-submarine-letter-2021-09-23/



Australia’s Nuclear Submarine Deal: Could More Nations Go SSN?

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/09/australias-nuclear-submarine-deal-could-more-nations-go-ssn/



AUKUS Lesson: Don’t Make Big New Weapons Buys From State-Owned Companies

https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2021/09/23/aukus-lesson-dont-make-big-new-weapons-buys-from-state-owned-companies/










The Space Force Doesn’t Talk About UFOs, But New Legislation May Force It To

https://thedebrief.org/the-space-force-doesnt-talk-about-ufos-but-new-legislation-may-force-it-to/



The US Navy backed the hunt for Titanic in part because the explorer who found it argued it would 'drive the Soviets crazy,' book reveals

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-explorer-got-us-navy-to-back-hunt-for-titanic-2021-9



Why US Secret Service and FBI are still buying DJI drones

https://dronedj.com/2021/09/23/why-us-government-fbi-secret-service-buy-dji-drones/



As intelligence probe of ‘Havana syndrome’ gains momentum, fear grows of escalating attacks

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article254450128.html



The Biden administration is looking for contractors and guards for a migrant detention facility in Guantanamo Bay — stirring outrage in lawmakers and advocates

https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-admin-may-open-migrant-facility-haitians-in-gitmo-bay-2021-9



Trump’s Red, White & Blue Air Force One Paint Job is Not Final, General Says

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/09/trumps-red-white-blue-air-force-one-paint-job-not-final-general-says/185517/



Navy Launching Mission in Attempt to Recover Crashed MH-60 Helo, Lost Sailors

https://news.usni.org/2021/09/22/navy-launching-mission-in-attempt-to-recover-crashed-mh-60-helo-lost-sailors



Lawmakers consider linking Iron Dome with Palestinian aid in continuing resolution

https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2021/09/22/lawmakers-consider-linking-iron-dome-with-palestinian-aid-in-continuing-resolution/



Aerospace & Defense Roundup: September 22

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/z/aerospace-defense-roundup-september-22



Watchdog expects delays to Space Force’s next missile warning satellites

https://www.c4isrnet.com/digital-show-dailies/air-force-association/2021/09/22/watchdog-expects-delays-to-space-forces-next-missile-warning-satellites/



Army bomb techs field test new aerial drone

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/09/22/army-bomb-techs-field-test-new-aerial-drone/



A farewell to the M9: Why Marines will miss the Beretta

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/a-farewell-to-the-m9-why-marines-will-miss-the-beretta/



Report to Congress on Air Force B-21 Raider Long Range Strike Bomber

https://news.usni.org/2021/09/23/report-to-congress-on-air-force-b-21-raider-long-range-strike-bomber-2



Retired F-117s Fly As ‘Cruise Missiles’ For Training

https://aviationweek.com/shows-events/afa-air-space-cyber-conference/retired-f-117s-fly-cruise-missiles-training



RC-135 Now Flying With Donor KC-135 Engine Cover After Frightening Crosswind Landing Mishap

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42490/rc-135-seen-with-borrowed-kc-135-engine-cover-after-frightening-crosswind-landing-mishap



Top Air Force officer’s plan to ‘accelerate change or lose’ is picking up speed, one year in

https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-air-force/2021/09/21/top-air-force-officers-plan-to-accelerate-change-or-lose-is-picking-up-speed-one-year-in/



General Wants 'Manhattan Project'-Like Commitment to Next-Gen Fighter

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/9/22/general-wants-manhattan-project-like-commitment-to-next-gen-fighter



Raytheon has a new lightweight AESA for trainers, helicopters and UAVs

http://alert5.com/2021/09/23/raytheon-has-a-new-lightweight-aesa-for-trainers-helicopters-and-uavs/



Air Force Focused on First NGAD as ‘Digital Century Series’ Costs More to Design

https://www.airforcemag.com/air-force-focused-on-1st-ngad-as-digital-century-series-costs-more-to-design/



USAF Plans Live Test Of Palletized Munitions In December

https://aviationweek.com/shows-events/afa-air-space-cyber-conference/usaf-plans-live-test-palletized-munitions-december



Augmented Reality Dogfight Training For Fighter Pilots Has Made A Major Leap In Capability

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42481/pilots-can-now-work-with-a-virtual-wingman-to-fight-synthetic-enemy-aircraft-in-augmented-reality



US Navy to test first upgraded former Swiss Air Force F-5N+ at NAS Patuxent River

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/us-navy-to-test-first-upgraded-former-swiss-air-force-f-5n-at-nas-patuxent-river/



Concerned about the Navy retiring ships early, senators consider higher standards

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/09/22/concerned-about-the-navy-retiring-ships-early-senators-consider-higher-standards/



U.S. Agencies Working to Recapitalize Strategic Sealift Capabilities

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/9/23/us-agencies-working-to-recapitalize-strategic-sealift-capabilities