Meghann Myers, Military Times: Afghanistan probably never stood a chance, reports show
On July 29, the Pentagon’s independent inspector general for Afghanistan told a group of reporters that with 20 years in and trillions dollars spent, Afghan security forces were not confident enough to do basic route clearance or checkpoint management.
Two weeks later, the Taliban had taken nearly all of Afghanistan and was preparing to launch its campaign into Kabul, the capital.
Video would show Afghan forces laying down their weapons as the insurgents rolled into city after city, shocking many, but certainly not everyone.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 29, 2021
Blame Biden, Not the Military. The president can’t dodge responsibility for the botched Afghanistan withdrawal. -- Peter Campbell, City Journal
From hubris to humiliation: America’s warrior class contends with the abject failure of its Afghanistan project -- Greg Jaffe, Washington Post
What does the Taliban’s return mean for al-Qaida in Afghanistan? -- Jason Burke, The Guardian
China: Big spender or loan shark? -- Celia Hatton, BBC News
Why China Crushed Its Tech Giants -- Lavender Au, Wired
It’s China, Stupid: More voters across the West are caring more about China. In the next round of elections, politicians should, too. -- James Lamond and Jake Morris, Defense One
Did Australia Need Its Ugly Win in Sub Deal? -- Douglas Bulloch, 1945
Canada's 'two Michaels' released on bail for 'medical reasons', Chinese state media says, after return of Meng Wanzhou -- Erin Handley and Joyce Cheng, ABC News Australia
What Fumio Kishida's premiership means for Japan -- Martin Fritz, DW
Turkey and Russia Zero In on Idlib -- David Lepeska, The National
The Kremlin’s Strange Victory -- Fiona Hill, Foreign Affairs
What’s behind the latest dispute between Serbia and Kosovo? -- Al Jazeera
Venezuela's Endless Crisis -- Moisés Naím & Francisco Toro, Foreign Affairs
Here’s what cryptocurrencies will look like in 50 years according to experts -- Annie Nova, CNBC
