tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88120432822729158002024-03-16T11:52:04.507-07:00Today in The Endless WarSuccessor to Today in IraqCervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.comBlogger3618125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-47093055556662385252021-05-16T05:51:00.001-07:002021-05-16T05:51:06.666-07:00Update on this blog<p>As the U.S. withdraws its combat forces from Afghanistan, I may post here from time to time to update the situation. I have deleted the previous post because due to my neglect, it had accumulated an avalanche of spam. I have also turned on comment moderation; if that proves too troublesome, I may eliminate commenting entirely. </p><p> </p><p>I stopped blogging here essentially because there was, unfortunately, so little interest in the U.S. in the lands the country invaded early in this century. That is regrettable. We have an obligation to be concerned about them, although not, certainly, any obligation to continue a military presence. I suspect, however, that the withdrawal from Afghanistan will leave behind some covert special forces and, of course, armed drones will likely continue to strike targets there. We may never hear about this, however. </p><p><br /></p><p>Today, a three day truce to mark Eid-al-Fitr ended, and<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/fighting-in-helmand-ends-three-days-of-eid-truce-in-afghanistan-1.1223724"> fighting between government and Taliban forces resumed in Helmand province</a>. However, <a href="https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/more-than-20-civilians-killed-in-violent-incidents-in-afghanistan-on-eid20210516171055/">attacks on civilians continued during the purported cease fire</a>, perhaps committed by other, unknown, militant groups.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.afghanistantimes.af/u-s-reiterates-steadfast-support-to-afghan-security-forces/">U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with president Ghani on the telephone</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p></p><blockquote><p>Secretary Blinken conveyed Eid greetings and expressed his deepest
condolences to the families of those lost in recent violence in
Afghanistan, including in the horrific attack on a girls’ school in
Kabul last week, the US Department of State said in a statement.</p>
<p>The Secretary conveyed America’s steadfast support for the
U.S.-Afghan partnership and for Afghanistan’s security forces, the
statement added.</p>
<p>The two leaders discussed the importance of national unity in
Afghanistan at this time as well as regional efforts to advance the
peace process, according to the statement.</p></blockquote><p>Not sure what any of that means concretely. <br /></p><p></p>Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-14989981465345344592020-01-24T10:25:00.002-08:002020-01-24T10:25:53.052-08:00News of the Day for Friday, January 24, 2020The U.S. president first announced that there were no casualties from the January 28 Iranian missile attack on U.S. facilities in Iraq. The Pentagon later said that 11 service members had suffered concussions. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/24/us-soldiers-iran-traumatic-brain-injury-pentagon">Now the Pentagon says that 34 soldiers have been diagnosed with concussion or Traumatic Brain Injuries</a>, including 7 who have been transported to the U.S. The president had previously said "I heard that they had headaches. And a couple of other things. But I would say, and I can report, it is not very serious.”<br />
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This report is somewhat unclear. We don't know how many had mild concussions from which they have presumably recovered, and how many actually had TBIs and how severe they are. However, a TBI can be extremely serious, resulting in profound life-long disability. Presumably we'll eventually learn more of the truth but the lies and minimization are profoundly insulting to members of the armed forces and their families.<br />
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<a href="https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2020/01/24/thousands-of-iraqis-hold-rally-seeking-us-troops-withdrawal">There are varying reports of the number of Iraqis who participated in a demonstration in Baghdad demanding the removal of U.S. forces from the country</a>. <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/01/24/Millions-rally-in-Iraq-to-demand-removal-of-US-military-forces/7411579868399/?sl=1&ur3=1">UPI puts the number at "millions" but the more common estimate is 200,000</a>. The event was organized by Muqtada al-Sadr, who has also criticized excessive Iranian influence in Iraq but who held this demonstration to focus solely on the presence of U.S. and allied forces. While Sadr's own militia is independent of Iran, the rally was joined by Iran-backed Hashed al-Shaabi. The event ended peacefully.<br />
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It happened against the backdrop of continuing demonstrations against government incompetence and corruption. <a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/iraq-security-forces-kill-least-12-protesters-renewed-crackdown">In protests in Basra and Iraq, a reported 12 people were killed by security forces earlier this week</a>. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-protests-casualties/two-iraqi-protesters-killed-25-wounded-in-clashes-with-police-sources-idUSKBN1ZN22K?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29&&rpc=401">Two more were reported killed today in Baghdad</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/01/24/Four-workers-of-French-Christian-NGO-including-Iraqi-member-missing-in-Baghdad.html">Four employees of a French Christian NGO are missing in Baghdad</a>.Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-82987674578625265292020-01-13T08:23:00.001-08:002020-01-13T08:23:33.759-08:00News of the Day for Monday, January 12, 2020<br /><a href="https://www.cfr.org/article/there-nothing-left-americans-do-iraq?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cfr_main+%28CFR.org+-+Main+Site+Feed%29">Steven Cook, writing for Foreign Policy, says there is nothing left for the U.S. to do in Iraq.</a> It's worth reading the whole thing but here's a good pull quote.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Iraq is not a state in the sense that it has a monopoly over violence or
can enforce property rights. The system of political and economic
spoils set up after the 2003 invasion has led to rapacious thievery and
corruption, robbing Iraq of its natural wealth and impoverishing its
people. As a result, Iraqis have lost faith in virtually every
institution and have poured onto the streets across much of the country
to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/10/iraqs-protests-havent-yet-changed-system-theyre-transforming-iraqis-belief-themselves/" target="_blank" title="demand a new political order">demand a new political order</a>. They
have been met with violence at the hands of people allied to and
supported by the now-dead Suleimani, whose mission was to ensure that
post-invasion Iraq remained so weak and unstable it could never threaten
Iran again. This was an entirely predictable result, but the George W.
Bush administration, <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2002/h455" target="_blank" title="296 members of the House of Representatives">296 members of the House of Representatives</a>, <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2002/s237" target="_blank" title="77 Senators">77 Senators</a>,
and legions of pundits chose to believe fantasies about weapons of mass
destruction and democracy delivered at the end of an M1A1 tank.</blockquote>
<a href="https://en.abna24.com/news//muqtada-al-sadr-joins-meeting-of-iraqi-popular-forces-leaders-on-expulsion-of-us-troops_1002048.html">Muqtada al-Sadr meets with representatives of Iran-backed militias to discuss expelling U.S. forces from Iraq</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/rocket-attack-iraq-base">Katyusha attack on Balad air base injures four Iraqi soldiers</a>. (Katyushas are inaccurate, clearly the attack was meant to target the U.S. presence.)<br />
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<a href="https://asianlite.com/news/asia-diaspora-news/jordan-king-warns-of-isis-regrouping/">King Abdullah of Jordan warns that IS is regrouping</a>, in southeast Syria and western Iraq, and that many fighters have made their way to Libya.<br />
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<a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200113-over-50-injured-in-iraq-protests/">Some fifty protesters are injured in clashes with security forces in Wasit</a>. The protesters are demanding removal of the police chief.<br />
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<a href="http://www.afghanistantimes.af/pentagon-identifies-2-soldiers-killed-in-kandahar/">U.S. identifies soldiers killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan</a> as Staff
Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin, 29, of Newport News, Va., and Pfc. Miguel A. Villalon,
21, of Joliet, Ill. Both were assigned to 307th Brigade Engineer
Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-31733630200793044832020-01-11T05:54:00.001-08:002020-01-11T06:49:58.303-08:00News of the Day for Saturday, January 11, 2020<a href="https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/herat-airstrike-causes-high-casualties-officials">U.S. drone attack targeting a Taliban faction in Herat also kills and injures many civilians</a>. Although the attack happened on Wednesday details are still disputed. <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/01/10/us-drone-strike-kills-taliban-commander-and-over-60-innocent-afghan-civilians/">This report say 60 civilians were killed or injured</a> but does not distinguish. <a href="https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/herat-airstrike-causes-high-casualties-officials">According to TOLO, local officials say the attack was undertaken in error.</a><br />
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<b>Update: </b><a href="https://www.khaama.com/herats-residents-demand-an-immediate-investigation-into-shindan-9879866/">Tribal elders say that the faction that was attacked was in fact allied with the government</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/us-military-vehicle-ied-afghanistan-kandahar-airfield-1481629?piano_t=1">A U.S. military vehicle hits an IED in Kandahar</a>. As of now, we do not know if there were casualties. <a href="https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202001111078007284-mine-explosion-hits-vehicle-with-romanian-troops-in-southern-afghanistan-source/">However this Russian source reports that a Romanian military vehicle was struck</a>. It is unclear whether these are different versions of the same incident, or different incidents.<br />
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<b>Update:</b> <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/11/politics/us-service-members-killed-afghanistan/index.html">The U.S. military in Afghanistan now says that two U.S. service members were killed and two injured in the incident.</a> More details when they become available. <br />
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<b>In the Middle East</b>, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash/iran-says-its-military-shot-down-ukrainian-plane-in-disastrous-mistake-idUSKCN1ZA04Y?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29&&rpc=401">Iranian government says it downed Ukranian civilian jetliner in error</a>. Many <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ps752-flight-iran-missile-1.5422912?cmp=rss">question why Tehran airport remained open at a time when air defenses were on high alert.</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200111-iraq-officially-asks-us-to-initiate-troop-withdrawal/">Iraqi government formally asks U.S. to present a plan to withdraw its troops from the country</a> <a href="https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/11/trump-refuses-to-pull-troops-from-iraq/">but the U.S. refuses. </a>The U.S. military presence in Iraq is, ipso facto, an illegal occupation.<br />
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<a href="https://ariananews.af/us-imposes-new-sanctions-at-irans-economy-senior-leaders/">The U.S. imposes new sanctions on Iran.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/573419?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=985ded7797a52ac9413f9a51007d2646c51baa9d-1578750485-0-AQqbMzJwxIA3B1KpM8lLZAibmfWY5Q3EYvgyXiigH0FDsVzklfh9p_JFl5d03fCuehcwmntni_-tSJpBjp6SBOwdbY464YEgO8wBZW8z4713HdfKc-Zmv0n0qMOFb1FbTACh5-aqM6xXJRoDXRhXb3wJFjuvHTQ5JmJpWCv51M3NuBPoQTQRzy8ZLDXBW9u5ogC0K2c8lAyYsPp6_KREbg55ARDZoyb5FFFjy7cUI1tCZxi7YMn6V5rtFAOjZn3StUkvAoUH1Ks_DgI2AnDIpXOazbufl_sAgjTLj-hXnFZd7SusyQbR42tKIfMSleLZlA">Caretaker Iraqi PM <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Adil Abdul Mahdi travels to Erbil to meet with Kurdistan PM </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Masrour Barzan.</span></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/573389">A TV reporter and camera operator are murdered in Basra</a> by unidentified assailants.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/war-iraqis-revive-protests-iran-tension-200110201417699.html">Mass protests in Iraq resume against corruption, failure of government to provide services, and foreign interference</a> from both the U.S. and its coalition partners, and Iran. </span></span><br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-61528651017725414092020-01-08T06:46:00.000-08:002020-01-08T07:07:32.866-08:00News of the Day for Wednesday, January 8, 2020In what appears to have been essentially a symbolic action, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/irans-supreme-leader-missile-attacks-slap-face-us/story?id=68138516">Iran fires some dozen ballistic missiles from its own territory toward bases in Iraq where U.S. troops are housed</a>.<br />
<br />
There were no reported casualties, and these weapons are sufficiently accurate that <a href="https://us.cnn.com/2020/01/08/politics/trump-iran-retaliation-missile-attacks/index.html">it is likely the avoidance of casualties was intentional.</a> Iraqi acting PM Abdul-Mahdi<a href="https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/iran-informed-us-before-striking-us-bases-says-iraq-3509148"> says he received advance notice of the action</a>. <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/477284-us-had-advance-warning-of-iranian-missile-assault-report">Furthermore, as the Iranians no doubt anticipated, Abdul-Mahdi tipped off the U.S. to the expected attack</a>.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless the tension has prompted <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/philippines-orders-evacuation-of-filipinos-from-iraq-and-iran">the Philippines to evacuate its citizens from Iraq and Iran</a>, <a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/poland-evacuates-its-ambassador-from-iraq/1696661">Poland has evacuated its ambassador and Slovenia is relocating its forces to an undisclosed safer location</a>. <a href="https://www.lbcnews.co.uk/uk-news/240763895c4c4b61859c87e33b695fdb/">Many airlines are re-routing flights from the region,</a> <a href="https://belsat.eu/en/news/belarus-belavia-suspends-flying-over-iran/">including these additional carriers.</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.masslive.com/politics/2020/01/federal-aviation-administration-bars-us-civil-flights-over-iran-iraq-amid-rising-middle-east-tensions.html">The FAA has barred all U.S. civilian flights over the entire region</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://news.am/eng/news/553305.html">India and Pakistan advise their citizens not to travel to Iraq</a>.<br />
<br />
Amid anxiety among the Gulf states, <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/50/1203/359129/AlAhram-Weekly/World/Arab-Gulf-still-anticipates-Iranian-attacks-as-the.aspx">both Kuwait and Qatar deny that the drone that killed Qassem Suleimani originated from their territory</a>. However, news reports from Iraq say it did originate in Kuwait.<br />
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<a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200108-iraqs-kurds-weigh-fall-out-from-us-iran-conflict/">Kurdish leaders call for continued support from the U.S.-led coalition</a>, as Kurdish MPs boycotted the vote calling on U.S. forces to leave Iraq.<br />
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<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/01/pompeo-lying-iran-soleimani-strike.html">William Saletan runs down U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo's lies about the killing of Soleimani.</a> They are multifarious and preposterous.<br />
<br />
In a bizarre incident, the U.S. commander in Iraq, Marine Brigadier General William H. Seely III, <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/01/us-accidentally-releases-draft-letter-calling-for-withdrawal-of-troops-from-iraq.html">sent a letter to Abdul-Mahdi, in both English and Arabic</a>, saying "Sir, in due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as
requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR will
be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to
prepare for onward movement. We respect
your sovereign decision to order our departure.”However, after first saying that the letter was a fake perpetrated by Iranian intelligence, the Pentagon said it was a "mistake." Okay, these people know what they're doing.<br />
<br />
In what so far appears to be a bizarre, tragic coincidence,<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/investing/boeing-made-737-crashes-near-tehran-ukraine-airlines-says-all-176-passengers-killed-embassy-cites-engine-failure"> a Ukraine International Airlines flight crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran, killing all aboard</a>. The Ukrainian embassy says the cause was engine failure, although the plane was a fairly new Boeing 737 which had recently undergone scheduled maintenance. T<a href="https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-emergencies/2851607-iran-not-to-give-black-boxes-from-uia-plane-to-boeing-media.html">he conflict between Iran and the U.S. does hamper the investigation, as Iran will not cooperate with Boeing</a>.<br />
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<b>In Afghanistan, </b><a href="https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/2-killed-afghanistan-helicopter-crash">two Afghan military died in a helicopter crash in Farah</a>. Officials attribute the crash to mechanical failure.<br />
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<a href="https://www.forces.net/news/defence-minister-apologises-unacceptable-actions-uk-forces-iraq-and-afghanistan">A UK official apologizes for "unacceptable" actions by British forces in Afghanistan following an investigation by the Sunday Times and BBC</a>. The accusations include a cover-up of the murder of four civilians by a British soldier.<br />
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<a href="https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/01/07/22300-people-killed-injured-afghanistan-last-year">In 2019, more than 12,500 Afghans were killed in and 9,800 injured in the conflict</a>. This report breaks casualties down by mechanism of violence and location.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-64328988549032854072020-01-05T07:37:00.000-08:002020-01-05T07:37:12.122-08:00Update for Sunday, January 5, 2020So events have mandated that I restart this blog. As you will notice, I also had to change the title. It no longer makes sense to label the U.S.'s endless war by specific countries.<br />
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As predicted, <a href="https://www.axios.com/iraq-parliament-us-troops-iran-soleimani-39f46292-b6b5-4070-bacd-92cfae1f586c.html">the Iraqi Parliament has voted to expel U.S. troops from the country</a>. In fact the resolution calls for the entire U.S. led coalition to exit the country. PM Mahdi has indicated that he will sign the measure. [I should note that it does not seem feasible for U.S. troops to remain in Syria if they do not have support bases in Iraq. The U.S. has no other access to Syrian territory. -- C] Mahdi also says that Soleimani was in Baghdad at his invitation, as he was mediating a dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia. <br />
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Accordingly, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/anti-isis-coalition-suspends-operations-as-iraqi-mps-vote-to-expel-us-troops">the coalition has suspended operations against IS to focus on force protection:</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A statement on Sunday from Operation Inherent Resolvesaid the US-led
coalition was “fully committed” to protecting its bases in the light of
“repeated rocket attacks” from pro-Iranian militias over the past two
months. “This
has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to
support their operations against Daesh [Isis], and we have therefore
paused these activities, subject to continuous review,” the coalition
said.</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.afghanistantimes.af/iraq-escalations-could-hamper-afghan-peace-quest-eu/">The UN special envoy for Afghanistan says that events in Iraq will hinder peace negotiations in Afghanistan</a>.<br />
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Keep in mind that <a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/67917/united-states-killed-iraqi-military-official-and-iraqi-military-personnel-in-the-two-recent-attacks/">the militia leaders killed along with Soleimani were in fact Iraqi military officers</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://news.am/eng/news/552985.html">The European Union has invited the Iranian Foreign Minister </a><span class="article-body" itemprop="articleBody"><a href="https://news.am/eng/news/552985.html">Javad Zarif to Brussels to discuss the situation.</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-security-diplomacy/iraqi-foreign-ministry-summons-u-s-ambassador-over-air-strikes-statement-idUKKBN1Z40HL?rpc=401&">Iraq's Foreign Ministry has summoned the U.S. ambassador, </a>saying the drone attacks that killed General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muahndis, and other militia members, were "a flagrant breach of Iraq’s sovereignty and of all international laws
and norms that regulate relations between countries and prohibit the use
of their lands to carry out attacks on neighbouring countries."<br />
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<a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/358926/World/Region/Iran-says-to-finalise-new-retreat-from-nuclear-dea.aspx">Iran will shortly announce further renunciation of elements of the nuclear agreement.</a><br />
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<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/01/pentagon-officials-reportedly-stunned-trump-kill-soleimani.html">Pentagon officials were reportedly astonished by the decision to assassinate Soleimani</a>. They had not expected the president to take the option seriously.<br />
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I will provide another update soon, and will try to resume daily posting if events warrant. <br />
Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-35458508031489306282019-05-20T07:10:00.006-07:002019-05-20T07:10:59.744-07:00Update for Monday, May 20, 2019The <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-warns-iran-not-to-threaten-u-s-or-it-will-face-its-end">hostile and threatening rhetoric from the U.S. administration toward Iran</a> has escalated to a threat of national extermination from the president.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran,” Trump tweeted. “Never threaten the United States again!</blockquote>
He did not state what this is in response to, as Iran has not threatened the United States and in fact the Iranian regime <a href="http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/middle-east/521701">has stated clearly that it is not threatening the U.S. and does not want war</a>.<br />
<br />
It is possible that this was in response <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-security/as-u-s-iran-tension-simmers-rocket-fired-near-iraqs-u-s-embassy-idUKKCN1SP0NJ?rpc=401&">to a rocket exploding in the Green Zone about half a kilometer from the U.S. embassy</a>, which caused no damage or casualties. No-one has taken responsibility. In fact the Iranian-backed Hezbollah brigades <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/iraqi-leaders-condemn-katyusha-rocket-attack-on-baghdad-s-green-zone-1.863822">has denounced the attack</a>, as have other pro-Iranian factions. <br />
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In the midst of this war of words, <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/iraq-slams-evacuation-of-exxon-mobil-foreign-staff-as-political-move/a-48795798">Exxon-Mobil has withdrawn foreign staff from an oil field in southern Iraq</a>, angering the Iraqi oil minister who denounces the move as "political" and unrelated to real security concerns. "For us, this withdrawal is unacceptable and unjustified because other
international companies are working freely and safely in developing oil
fields," Ghadhban added.<br />
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<a href="http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/522093">Iraqi Shiite political leader Muqtada al-Sadr warns that Iraq could not surive a war between the U.S. and Iran</a> and urges Iraqis to unite against such a possibility.<br />
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<a href="https://nucleardiner.wordpress.com/2019/05/19/questions-to-ask-before-going-to-war/">Cheryl Rofer asks what could be the objectives of a U.S. war against Iran</a>. The U.S. administration has not articulated any.<br />
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<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraqi-president-barham-salih-doesnt-want-country-to-become-battleground-for-proxy-us-iran-fight/">Iraq's president makes it clear that he is talking with Iranian and U.S. officials and making it clear that Iraq wants no part of a war between the two</a>, while U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190520-pompeo-to-iraq-stand-with-us-against-iran-or-move-aside/">warned Iraqi leaders that if they are not going to stand with the US against Iran, then they should stand aside</a>.<br />
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<i>I will just note that as disastrous as the 2003 invasion of Iraq was for Iraqis <b>and</b> for the United States, Iran has more than twice the population of Iraq (81 million vs. 38 million), a vastly more capable military, and a more unified populace. The U.S. would have no real allies in such a conflict -- Israel and the Saudis would cheerlead but that's about all. And of course the idea that Iran is somehow a threat to the United States is completely preposterous. John Bolton, for reasons he has never really articulated, has wanted to go to war with Iran for more than a decade. As far as I can tell, that it is the basic reason for what is going on now. --- C</i><br />
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Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-41535017781618316422019-05-15T06:21:00.001-07:002019-05-15T06:21:08.528-07:00Update for Wednesday, May 15, 2019I really hope I don't need to add another country to the title of this blog and take up daily posting again. It is not at all clear what is going on with all this saber rattling by the U.S. regarding Iran, but I probably should have taken it up here a week ago.<br />
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<a href="https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/allies-fear-us-iran-tensions-could-spark-accidental-conflict/2003227761">The U.S. has ordered non-essential diplomatic personnel to leave Iraq</a>, including not only the embassy in Baghdad but also the consulate in Erbil, claiming intelligence showing a threat of attacks on U.S. officials or forces by Iranian-backed militias.<br />
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However, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-threat-us-middle-east-coalition-pentagon-statement-a8914756.html">British general Chris Ghika, who is deputy commander of Operation Inherent Resolve</a>, denies that there is any threat.<br />
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<a href="http://en.abna24.com/news//iraqi-pm-things-will-end-well-between-us-iran_941610.html">Iraqi PM Mahdi says he expects that "things will end well"</a> between the U.S. and Iran while Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Kahmenei rules out any war between the U.S. and Iran.<br />
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<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/military-probes-oil-tanker-sabotage-attacks-uae-coast-190514105033539.html">The mysterious reports that four oil tankers were attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates</a> are adding to the confusion and concern. <a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/world/indications-there-was-no-sabotage-on-the-saudi-oil-tankers">Spokespeople for the U.S. administration initially tried to cast blame on Iran</a>, but the UAE has not made any attribution of responsibility. These incidents are in any case very strange. Despite initial reports of severe damage and fires, there were in fact no fires, the damage appears to be minor if indeed this happened at all, and it is unclear what motive anyone would have for this action.<br />
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<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7026535/White-House-plans-deploy-120-000-troops-Middle-East-Iran-attacks-American-forces.html">The U.S. president has denied reports that the Pentagon presented him with a plan to deploy 120,000 troops to the region</a>, while saying he would send "a hell of a lot more than that" if it came to war with Iran. (The U.S. has also said it is dispatching an aircraft carrier task force to the region in response to the purported renewed threat from Iran, but in fact the deployment was planned months ago and is part of the routine rotation of carrier groups.)<br />
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We'll see what all of this means, if anything, but I will keep this site current for the next few days at at least.<br />
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Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-82894716025872262962019-04-20T05:46:00.001-07:002019-04-20T05:46:38.002-07:00Update for Saturday, April 20, 2019Today I'm going to focus on Iraq. As I did last week for Afghanistan, I want to establish the context.<br />
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<a href="https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1687301/iraq-parliament-hosts-regional-countries-conference">The Iraqi parliament is hosting a meeting of regional nations</a> including rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. It remains to be seen where this will go, but it is noteworthy that Iraq is an important Arab nation that has close relations with Iran and is also trying to establish good relations with the Gulf states. Perhaps it can play a role in moderating regional tensions. <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-bring-iran-saudi-together-1401869?piano_t=1">Newsweek's Tom O'Connor discusses this possibility and briefly reviews some relevant history.</a><br />
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A <a href="https://ifpnews.com/exclusive/iraq-seriously-trying-to-mediate-between-iran-saudi-mp/">senior Iraqi MP says Iraq is indeed trying to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia</a>.<br />
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Indeed, <a href="http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/f7daf76c-5071-4c39-bb68-773833fadeca">Iraq and Saudi Arabia have executed a security agreement</a>. <br />
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The Institute for the Study of War is a hawkish think tank closely allied with the U.S. military, which I mention because otherwise somebody might likely point it out. <a href="http://iswresearch.blogspot.com/2019/04/isis-resurgence-update-april-16-2019.html">Nevertheless their assessment of the status of IS is credible</a> and includes some helpful recent history. For some reason there hasn't been a lot of attention paid to this by U.S. media or politicians, but with the conquest of the last territory held by IS the Syrian Democratic Forces accepted the surrender of some 55,000 women and children, many or most of whom remain loyal to IS, and transferred them to a camp near the Iraq border. Nobody seems to have a good idea of what to do about this situation. ISW is reporting that meanwhile, IS is rebuilding its guerilla networks in Iraq and producing numerous bomb attacks. Iraqi forces continue a campaign against IS in northern Diyala province. So no, this is not over.<br />
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As for the U.S. presence, <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/08/20/us-to-remain-in-iraq-as-long-as-needed-command-says/">the DoD does not state publicly how many U.S. forces are in Iraq and Syria</a>. Since I'm a U.S. taxpayer and voter, I tend to resent that. However, there are 5,200 U.S. troops known to be in Iraq, probably not counting some special forces and mercenaries. The U.S. has said they will stay there "as long as needed," with the stated need being to combat IS. However it is not clear that U.S. troops have an important or necessary role in that campaign, and many Iraqi politicians have called for U.S. forces to leave. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/04/world/middleeast/trump-iraq-iran-reaction.html">President Trump stated publicly that the rationale for U.S. forces to remain in Iraq was to "watch Iran,"</a> a proposition universally rejected in Iraq. <br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-14337217525973381282019-04-13T05:45:00.001-07:002019-04-13T05:45:19.347-07:00Update for Saturday, April 13, 2019This is the first of planned regular weekly posts. I want to begin by recommending this <a href="https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-war-afghanistan">year by year timeline of the U.S. war in Afghanistan</a> from the Council on Foreign Relations. Among the highlights are Donald Rumsfeld declaring an end to "major combat" in May, 2003, when there were only 8,000 U.S. troops in the country; followed immediately by the expansion of the NATO mission to a total of 65,000 troops from 42 countries. In May 2005 U.S. president Bush and Aghan president Karzai signed an agreement to:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
strengthen U.S.-Afghan ties and help ensure Afghanistan's long-term
security, democracy, and prosperity." Moreover, the agreement calls for
Washington to "help organize, train, equip, and sustain Afghan security
forces as Afghanistan develops the capacity to undertake this
responsibility," and to continue to rebuild the country's economy and
political democracy.</blockquote>
By July 2006 violence was surging around the country:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"As with most insurgencies, the critical precondition [to the Afghan
insurgency] is the collapse of governance," says Afghanistan expert Seth
G. Jones. Jones and other experts point to the many Afghans who lack
basic services, the government's difficultly setting up its police
forces, and the lack of international forces to assist with security.</blockquote>
By November of that year U.S. secretary of defense Robert Gates was criticizing NATO for not sending more troops. In 2008 U.S. air strikes killed large numbers of civilians, alienating the population. In 2009, president Obama recommitted to Afghanistan and sent 17,000 more troops, at the same time promising to withdraw by 2011. In March, Obama sent 4,000 additional troops and pledged to bring about an end to Pakistani support for the insurgency. In July, U.S. marines launched a major offensive in Helmand province. By August there were more than 65,000 U.S. troops in the country. In December, Obama announced another major escalation.<br />
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In November 2010 NATO agreed to hand over full responsibility for security to the Afghan government by 2014, beginning in stages in 2011. The 100,000 U.S. forces then in the country were to hand over responsibility first in relatively stable places. Obama announced that withdrawal of troops would begin and that 33,000 would be removed by the summer of 2012. By that time, after a decade of war, the U.S. had spent $444 billion and lost 1,800 troops. In 2012 secretary of defense Leon Panetta announced that the U.S. combat role would end in 2013.<br />
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Afghanistan officially took responsibility for security in June 2013, and Obama announced that only 9,800 forces would remain in a purely training and advisory role, although special forces would confront al Qaeda. But in 2017, with the insurgency continuing to erode government control, president Trump announced he would be sending several thousand additional troops. In 2017 he pledged an open-ended commitment. But by 2018 the Taliban were carrying out bold attacks in the capital and elsewhere around the country. Currently the U.S. and Taliban are engaged in peace talks, so far futile, and it is unclear whether U.S. troop withdrawals will be contingent on an agreement.<br />
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Although there hasn't been an official announcement, it is obvious that U.S. troops are engaged in combat against the Taliban. However, here's some of what happened in just the past few days.<br />
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<a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/taliban-launch-assaults-in-afghanistan">Taliban attack a police convoy in Ghor, killing 7, including the head of security operations for the province</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://en.abna24.com/news//taliban-announces-spring-offensive-amid-afghan-peace-talks_936708.html">Taliban announce a spring offensive</a> with the aim of "eradicating occupation" and "cleansing our Muslim
homeland from invasion and corruption," the Taliban said in a statement.<br />
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<a href="https://www.agerpres.ro/english/2019/04/13/four-romanian-servicemen-injured-in-afghanistan-they-were-hospitalised-health-status-stable--291812">Four Romanian troops are injured in an attack in Kandahar</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/clashes-ongoing-near-kunduz-city-officials">Taliban attack Kunduz from four directions, so far are repelled</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.catchnews.com/international-news/27-taliban-terrorist-killed-in-encounter-with-security-forces-in-afghanistan-s-nangarhar-province-156642.html">Government claims 27 Taliban killed in a battle in Nangarhar</a>, with 2 government forces dead. [These very lopsided reported casualty totals are common, it's unclear whether they are reliable. They are not confirmed by independent journalists.]<br />
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<a href="https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-repulse-taliban-attack-in-faryab-leaving-11-militants-dead-03701/">Government says it repulsed an attack in Faryab killing 11 militants</a>.<br />
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So here's the question. With the support of tens of thousands of highly trained, heavily armed and well equipped North American and European forces; hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid including an air force and armored vehicles; air support from the U.S. including drones, fighter jets, and gunships -- why is the Afghan government losing to an insurgency that has no recognition or declared financial or military support from a single country. Yes, they get safe haven in Pakistan and probably get access to weapons and some other help from Pakistan, but that's it. There have been reports of arms from Iraq given to Taliban forces near the Iranian border. That's somewhat dubious due to their ideological differences, but Iran might want to have influence in that region.<br />
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Otherwise, the asymmetry of the situation is astounding. The Taliban don't need foreign trainers, or advisers, or money. They have no air support whatever. They have little or no artillery and only a few armored vehicles that they have managed to capture by overrunning government military bases -- something they do quite frequently. And they are winning. <br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-11804215592656841372019-04-09T06:19:00.003-07:002019-04-09T06:19:46.831-07:00Update for Tuesday, April 9, 2019I suspended posting here because the U.S. presence in Iraq and Afghanistan continues, with no real end or purpose in sight; and because Americans have largely forgotten about both of those countries. I felt that I was just yelling at the clouds, and my time was better spent on other projects.<br />
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<a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/suicide-bombing-kills-3-american-soldiers-1-us-contractor-in-afghanistan">The occasion of four more U.S. combat deaths in Afghanistan</a>, while obviously a small event compared to the suffering of Afghanistan's people, brings me back to make a formal administrative statement. I don't know if anyone is reading, but I would like to set up a regular schedule to post here to follow longer-term developments, such as they are.<br />
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With the elimination of IS-held territory in Iraq and Syria, the situation in Iraq has settled into what seems a stagnant situation of corrupt and incompetent government, low-level guerrilla war by Islamist extremists, and little progress toward reconstruction or refugee resettlement. We have been given no rationale for the continued U.S. military presence there.<br />
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In Afghanistan, what looked like stalemate now looks like gradual erosion of territorial control by the Kabul government, and deteriorating security in spite of the massive ongoing investment in the government by the U.S. and allies. The U.S. is essentially trying to negotiate terms of surrender in order to withdraw its remaining forces (reminiscent of Vietnam), but that may yet turn out to be politically unpalatable in Washington.<br />
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Under the circumstances it seems to me that weekly posting might make sense here. My mission will be to provide an informational resource for people who are interested in the two countries, from the perspective of a U.S. citizen who has always dissented from both interventions. I principally care about the people of the two countries, but I also care about the welfare of the U.S. troops and civilians who serve there, who do not make policy choices. If anybody is interested, I will be here again, mostly on Saturdays.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-46742482852412610152019-01-29T07:09:00.000-08:002019-01-29T07:09:04.737-08:00Update for Tuesday, January 29, 2019<a href="http://news.trust.org/item/20190128232819-l93u2">U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad says the U.S. and Taliban have agreed on the "draft of a framework" for a peace accord</a>. While there has been a lot of excitement about this, I would have to say, don't hold your breath. For one thing, the Afghan government has had no part of this. For another, there is a pretty fundamental disagreement, which is that the Taliban are conditioning a ceasefire on a full withdrawal of U.S. troops, which obviously the U.S. will not agree to.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/women-concerned%C2%A0over-their-rights%C2%A0post%C2%A0peace-deal">Afghan women are concerned about the preservation of gains women have made should the Taliban gain power in a peace deal</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-youth/afghanistans-post-9-11-generation-wary-of-any-future-with-the-taliban-idINKCN1PN1FC?rpc=401&">Young, urban Afghans in general are concerned about reverses of social liberalization</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.khaama.com/we-continue-to-stay-with-the-united-states-in-afghanistan-nato-sg-03202/">NATO pledges to remain with the U.S. in Afghanistan</a>. <a href="https://ariananews.af/we-wont-stay-longer-than-necessary-in-afghanistan-nato-chief/">Secretary General Stoltenberg also says that while NATO will not remain "longer than necessary," </a>it will not allow Afghanistan to become a haven for international terrorists, which he describes as NATO's main objective in the country.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/politics/item/36681-president-ghani%E2%80%99s-video-conference-to-nation-about-ongoing-peace-talks.html">In an address to the nation, president Ghani asserts that the Afghan government must control the peace process</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/us/politics/us-withdrawal-afghanistan-taliban.html">New York Times reporters discuss the prospects for a peace agreement with various experts</a>, who have concerns about the eventual outcome:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
While current and former American diplomats and military officials
voiced cautious optimism about the negotiations, they questioned whether
the Taliban and the administration in Kabul would ever agree to a
power-sharing arrangement, given that the Taliban still refuse even to
speak to the government of President Ashraf Ghani. Some fear that the
Taliban will seek to overthrow the government once the Americans are
gone.</blockquote>
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Do yuh think?<br />
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<a href="https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-western-intervention-in-afghanistan-is-a-failure/a-47269820">Many observers, including this one, see these developments as a concession of failure by the U.S.</a> [Sooner or later you have to own up to it. -- C]<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-90305046868792377242019-01-24T06:14:00.001-08:002019-01-24T06:14:32.972-08:00Update for Thursday, January 24, 2019<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/green-beret-killed-afghanistan-1302119?piano_t=1">DoD identifies U.S. service member killed in action in Afghanistan on Tuesday</a> as Army Green Beret Sgt. First Class Joshua Beale of Carollton, VA. He was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was killed by small arms fire in Uruzgan province, "while on an operation to counter Taliban efforts." Note that we have been told publicly that U.S. forces are not engaged in combat operations against the Taliban, but only against IS and Al Qaeda, and that the U.S. has only an advise and assist mission against the Taliban. Evidently this is not true.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trtworld.com/asia/air-strike-kills-16-civilians-afghan-official-23576">An air strike in Helmand province is said to kill 16 civilians</a>, most of them women and children. It is not clear whether the operation was by Afghan or coalition forces, but one observer attributes it to the U.S.<br />
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<a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-afghanistan/extended-us-taliban-peace-talks-raise-afghan-hopes-idUKKCN1PI1GS?rpc=401&">Talks between U.S. and Taliban officials in Qatar entered a fourth day</a> raising hopes for agreement on a cease fire and negotiations between the Taliban and the government.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan/abdullah-says-us-has-reassured-govt-troop-pullout">Abdullah says the U.S. has reassured him that no final decision has been made on troop withdrawals</a> and that any withdrawal will not affect combat capacity.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-42220808333103896452019-01-18T11:10:00.000-08:002019-01-18T11:10:10.944-08:00Update for Friday, January 18, 2019<br />
<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-soldier-dies-wounds-suffered-afghanistan-combat/story?id=60466955">U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. Cameron A. Meddock, 26, of Spearman, Texas, died Thursday </a>at the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany,Germany, as a result of injuries sustained
from small arms fire during combat on Jan. 13, 2019, in Jawand District,
Badghis Province, Afghanistan.
Meddock was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.<br />
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The 75th Ranger battalion is engaged in counter-terrorism activity, unlike most U.S. forces in Afghanistan which are on a train and advise mission.<br />
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<a href="http://time.com/5506759/syria-americans-killed-identified/">Three of the four Americans killed in a suicide attack in Manjib, Syria on Wednesday have been identified</a>. They are Special Forces Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Farmer; Shannon Kent, a
sailor assigned to Cryptologic Warfare Activity 66; and Scott Wirtz, an
operations support specialist with the Defense Intelligence Agency. The fourth, a civilian contractor, has not been identified. Note that this shows that the usually publicized number of 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria is misleading. We now know that there are additional intelligence personnel and civilian contractors there. What is meant by a "contractor" in this case is unclear but the individual could be a mercenary.<br />
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The NY Times reports <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/world/middleeast/syria-bombing-manbij-attack.html">that Americans routinely visited a specific restaurant in Manjib</a>, allowing the attackers (IS has claimed responsibility) to predict their whereabouts and plan the attack. They were eating in the restaurant when the attack occurred. Some 19 civilian bystanders also died.<br />
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<a href="http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/495008">Violent protests again occur in Basra</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.stripes.com/news/army-releases-long-awaited-history-of-war-in-iraq-1.565009">U.S. Army War College issues a history of the engagement in Iraq</a>. Excerpt:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The study highlights numerous failures during the 8-year conflict,
including a lack of awareness among military leaders of the sectarian,
social and political dynamics in the country that would fuel much of the
violence. The critique, which is more than 1,000 pages long and
contains hundreds of declassified documents, also says efforts to train
Iraq’s military were insufficient and led to a force that was
over-reliant on the U.S.<br />
The decisions by commanders, often made in consensus, “seemed
reasonable at the time they were made, but nonetheless added up over
time to a failure to achieve our strategic objectives,” the study said.
“Examining the reasoning behind these decisions and the systemic
failures that produced them should be the first task in analyzing the
Iraq War’s lessons.”</blockquote>
Of course, never going there in the first place would have been even better.<br />
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Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-5279242382145327562019-01-16T07:28:00.000-08:002019-01-16T07:44:25.577-08:00Update for Wednesday, January 16, 2019<a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/us-troops-killed-syria-explosion">Reports that 3 or 3 U.S. service members have been killed in a suicide attack</a> in Manjib, Syria. <a href="https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/explosion-in-syrias-manbij-kills-five-us-soldiers-3471981">This report gives the number of U.S. dead as 4 or 5</a>, with additional wounded. An unspecified number of civilians were also injured.<br />
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Meanwhile, the future of the Kurdish region of Syria remains uncertain amid conflicting signals from the U.S. about troop withdrawal and relevant policy. <a href="http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/a59b960c-e70b-48d1-a837-71ea1f0f9086">Syrian Democratic Forces offer to create a "safe zone" in northern Syria</a> if Turkey promises not to invade, <a href="https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/01/16/syrian-kurds-reject-us-backed-turkish-plan-for-security-zone/">rejecting a U.S. proposal for a safe zone under Turkish control</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://anfenglish.com/news/iran-we-will-continue-our-presence-in-syria-32176">Iranian revolutionary guard commander vows to remain in Syria</a>, while a <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190116-israel-may-need-to-invade-iran-concludes-tel-aviv-think-tank/">Tel Aviv University institute proposes that Israel may need to invade Iran</a> to dislodge Iranians from Syria.<br />
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<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/11/politics/syria-pullout-fallout/index.html">Here's an analysis from CNN of the regional reaction to the sudden prospect of U.S. withdrawal from Syria</a>. <br />
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<b>In Iraq, </b>t<a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190116-us-calls-on-iraq-to-disarm-shia-militias/">he U.S. has called for disarming the Shiite militias.</a> <a href="http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-01/16/c_137746652.htm">Oddly, however, PM Mahdi denies this report</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/01/16/685657005/veterans-claiming-illness-from-burn-pits-lose-court-fight">U.S. veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have lost a decade-long court battle</a> to win compensation for injuries caused by toxic exposure from burn pits.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-82237636401773964152018-12-31T07:08:00.000-08:002018-12-31T07:08:01.332-08:00Update for Monday, December 31, 2018<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/31/world/asia/cia-afghanistan-strike-force.html?login=email&auth=login-email">Mujib Mashal reports for the New York Times</a> that CIA-sponsored Afghan special forces in Khost and Nangarhar routinely commit atrocities including torture and murder. Do read. Here's an excerpt.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[T]he units have also operated
unconstrained by battlefield rules designed to protect civilians,
conducting night raids, torture and killings with near impunity, in a
covert campaign that some Afghan and American officials say is
undermining the wider American effort to strengthen Afghan institutions.<br />
Those
abuses are actively pushing people toward the Taliban, the officials
say. And with only a relatively small American troop contingent left —
and that perhaps <a class="css-1g7m0tk" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/us/politics/afghanistan-troop-withdrawal.html?module=inline" title="">set to drop further on President Trump’s orders</a> — the strike forces are increasingly the way that a large number of rural Afghans experience the American presence. <br />
Those fighting forces, also referred to as counterterrorism pursuit
teams, are recruited, trained and equipped by C.I.A. agents or
contractors who work closely with them on their bases, according to
several current and former senior Afghan security officials, and the
members are paid nearly three times as much as regular Afghan soldiers. . . .</blockquote>
<br />
<a href="https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/12/31/airstrike-kills-peace-negotiator-his-5-family-members">Air strike in Paktia kills a High Peace Committee member and five of his family</a>. Unclear if Afghan or foreign forces conducted the strike.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/retired-gen-stanley-mcchrystal-warns-troop-cuts-says-trump-immoral-untruthful/">Retired General McChrystal, former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan</a>, says U.S. president Trump is untruthful and immoral.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-afghanistan-taliban/iran-says-afghan-taliban-arrived-in-tehran-held-peace-talks-idUKKCN1OU0B6?rpc=401&">Taliban representatives met with Iranian officials in Tehran on Sunday</a> as Iran seeks to advance peace negotiations.<br />
<br />
<b>In Iraq</b>, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-syria/iraqi-warplanes-strike-islamic-state-leaders-in-syria-military-idUSKCN1OU0MP?rpc=401&">Iraqi aircraft attacked an IS site in Syria</a>, reportedly killing 30 IS leaders. Purportedly the Syrian government has given permission for such operations.<br />
<br />
<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-60862359002290709762018-12-27T05:55:00.000-08:002018-12-27T05:55:00.840-08:00Update for Thursday, December 27, 2018<a href="http://en.abna24.com/news//iraqi-officials-denounce-trump-visit-to-us-troops_922382.html">Iraqi politicians react with fury to U.S. president's clandestine visit</a> to a U.S. military base in Iraq. The visit was not pre-arranged with the Iraqi government and many members of parliament condemned it as a violation of diplomatic norms and Iraqi sovereignty. Some have called for a special session of parliament to vote on the expulsion of U.S. troops.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq group, expressed the Iraqis’ resolve to purge the country of American forces.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Iraqis
will respond with a parliamentary decision to oust your (US) military
forces. And if they do not leave, we have the experience and the ability
to remove them by other means that your forces are familiar with,” he
tweeted. <br /> <br />Sabah al-Saadi, the leader of the Islah parliamentary
bloc, also called for an emergency session of the parliament “to discuss
this blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and to stop these
aggressive actions by Trump who should know his limits: The US
occupation of Iraq is over.” <br /> <br />Similarly, the Bina parliamentary
bloc denounced Trump’s trip to Iraq, saying, it was “a flagrant and
clear violation of diplomatic norms and shows his disdain and hostility
in his dealings with the Iraqi government.” </blockquote>
<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1064001/Donald-Trump-US-air-base-Christmas-cover-SEAL-team-mission">Trump revealed the location of SEAL team 5 and showed the faces of its members</a> in a video he posted on-line. "[E]xperts noticed that details of this video could put the US SEAL team in danger amid concern that <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/latest/donald-trump">President Trump</a> revealed top-secret information. . . . Current and former Pentagon officials have since admitted that revealing
the location of a deployment of SEAL Team Five violates operational
security."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/422956-cnn-trump-signing-maga-hats-for-troops-may-have-violated-pentagon-rules">Trump apparently violated DoD rules by signing MAGA hats for troops</a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="p1">
"What commander allowed that to really happen?” [CNN correspondent]Barbara Starr asked Wednesday night. “This
is very much against military policy and regulation,” Starr said.
“Troops are not supposed to be involved in political activities, the
U.S. military is not a political force.” . . .And CNN military analyst retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said that Trump <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/tv/ret-lt-general-and-cnn-military-analyst-trump-shouldnt-have-politicized-iraq-visit-with-troops/">put military personnel “in a very bad position”</a> with his comments to the troops, which were <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/422946-ex-obama-national-security-official-trump-confused-troop-visit-with-a">criticized</a> as being akin to a “campaign rally.” </div>
</blockquote>
<a href="https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/27/12/2018/US-embassy-in-Baghdad-targeted-no-casualties-reported">Two artillery shells land near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad</a>, no damage reported.<br />
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Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-91087720477683046272018-12-26T07:42:00.000-08:002018-12-26T07:42:25.245-08:00Update for Wednesday, December 26, 2018<a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/world-news-afghan-government-office-attack-toll-climbs-to-48/322361">Attack on a government office compound in Kabul kills 43</a>, injures 10. (The headline of this story appears to be wrong, but these are the numbers from the body of the report.) No claim of responsibility as yet, but Abdullah blames the Taliban. This comes as the announcement of a troop drawdown by the U.S president has rattled officials, although General Miller says he has yet to receive any orders to withdraw troops.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/dunford-trump-afghanistan-withdrawal/">JCS Chair Dunford says the reports of a U.S. withdrawal are "rumors,"</a> which seems an odd way of describing the Commander in Chief's Twitter feed. In any case he also says he has received no orders.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article223558590.html">Afghanistan's presidential election, originally scheduled for April, will be postponed for several months</a>, ostensibly to address technical problems that emerged in the recent parliamentary elections.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/afghan-govt-send-peace-delegation-jeddah-talks">The Afghan government says it will send a delegation to Jeddah</a> where the U.S. and Taliban representatives have been engaging in peace negotiations. However, the Taliban have so far refused to talk directly with the Kabul government.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/asia/iran-says-they-held-taliban-talks-as-afghan-peace-push-continues-1.806606">The Iranian government says it has been talking with the Taliban</a> as an Iranian representative visits Kabul. The subject matter of the discussions was not disclosed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-repulse-coordinated-taiban-attack-on-almar-district-03004/">The Afghan military says it has repulsed an attack in Faryab</a>. <a href="http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/26/c_137700374.htm">Two Afghan soldiers were killed in the fighting and two shops caught fire</a>, while 12 militants are said to have been killed.<br />
<br />
<b>In Iraq</b>, after the CinC announced the withdrawal from Syria, <a href="http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/489989">the U.S. has established two new bases in Anbar</a>. These are said to be intended to protect against incursion of IS forces from Syria.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/iraq-a-year-after-victory-stability-still-a-dream/4715827.html">A year after the reconquest of Mosul, rebuilding is slow</a> and militants remain in hiding.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
IS no longer holds any significant territories, but deadly attacks
continue throughout the country. Last month, a school bus rolled over an
explosive on a road south of Mosul, killing four children and wounding
seven. A car bomb killed three people at a restaurant in the city, and
security forces say they still conduct near-daily operations seeking
militants in hiding. . . .<br />
<br />
<br />
Aid workers estimate a year and a half after the IS defeat in Mosul,
roughly 1,500 bodies of militants and civilians are still buried under
the crushed buildings. Two million people remain displaced, many unable
to return to these destroyed homes. </blockquote>
<br />
<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/25/middleeast/iraq-car-bomb-isis-claim/index.html">IS claims responsibility for a deadly bombing in Tal Afar</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/9bfb17bd-9a10-4889-82a0-0fecb105543c">IS kidnaps 18 people in Kirkuk province</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.iraqinews.com/features/iraqi-police-disperse-fresh-protests-in-basra-over-employment-services/">Protests continue in Basra over poor services</a> and unemployment.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-37619304789192421952018-12-22T05:43:00.002-08:002018-12-22T05:43:57.721-08:00Update for Saturday, December 22, 2018(Cross-posted at <a href="http://healthvsmedicine.blogspot.com/">Stayin' Alive</a>)<br />
<br />
The sudden announcement by Individual 1 that the U.S. military will withdraw entirely from Syria, and troop strength in Afghanistan will be reduced by half, has created shock around the world. I have tried to be circumspect about my own opinions here, but I think it's clear I view the Afghanistan operation as a Sisyphean and pointless folly. I haven't referenced the U.S. presence in Syria much although it is obviously closely linked to the Iraqi operation. My general position is that the U.S. is far too inclined to try to solve problems militarily. However, since the U.S. created the catastrophe of IS, we did have an obligation to help solve it. Staying back and providing logistical and some air and artillery support to local troops was probably the best of bad choices. The question of when to go, and on what terms, is still critical. Here is <a href="http://healthvsmedicine.blogspot.com/">Adam Silverman on Syria</a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="main" tabindex="-1"></span><div
class=">So
what, exactly, are we actually doing in Syria? What is it that will
stop as a result of this withdrawal order? We are basically doing two
things in Syria. The first is a train, advise, and assist mission with
our local Syrian partners who are predominantly Kurdish, but some are
Arabs, who are fighting ISIS. This is a Special Forces mission supported
by a some Marine Corps artillery. The second thing we’re doing is, as
an extension of the train, advise, and assist mission, conducting
stability operations among the Syrian population where we are partnered
with and training our local Syrian partners. This is being done within a
“by, with, and through” strategy of partnering with vetted local
groups. If we pull out there will be four immediate effects.</span></blockquote>
So, this is not a combat operation. There have been at least a few commando operations in Syria that we know about, to apprehend specific individuals and gather intelligence, but none have been publicly known for quite a while. The immediate effects Silverman goes on to enumerate are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Increased instability and population displacement</li>
<li>A worsened humanitarian crisis</li>
<li>Abandonment of the Syrian Kurds, with concomitant damage to the nation's reputation</li>
<li>Resurgence of IS and movement of the Syrian army into the northeast</li>
</ul>
Extraction of the U.S. forces without producing catastrophe would require, at a minimum, guarantees from Turkey to refrain from attacking the Kurds while working toward a rapprochement such as they have with Iraqi Kurdistan. That would require the Syrian Kurds to repudiate the PKK. I don't know if they would do that but it's their only long-term hope, in my view. The Kurds would also have to be left with the means to defend themselves, and they would also have to negotiate federal status with Damascus, again analogous to Iraqi Kurdistan. Such arrangements would take time to negotiate, might be impossible, but certainly cannot happen without U.S. involvement.<br />
<br />
As for Afghanistan, obviously the Kabul government is slowly but inexorably losing, even with the 14,000 U.S. troops who are there currently. I can't say what difference removing 7,000 will make, but this was done abruptly, without consultation with the Afghan government or NATO allies.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17315876.taliban-welcomes-partial-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/">The Taliban, not suprisingly, have welcomed the announcement</a> because they have made withdrawal of foreign troops a precondition for peace. However, of course, this actually complicates prospects for peace because they can wait until all the U.S. forces are gone and then largely dictate terms to the Kabul government, <a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/trump-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-peace-process/">a view shared by many Afghans</a>. Nevertheless <a href="http://www.afghanistantimes.af/nato-touts-afghan-army-as-u-s-weighs-troop-withdrawal/">NATO remains committed to Afghanistan</a> so perhaps this will make little difference. In any case it was done impulsively and without proper planning and coordination.Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-58740285408089209062018-11-27T06:18:00.002-08:002018-11-27T06:18:44.591-08:00Update for Tuesday, November 27, 2018<a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/11/27/Bomb-kills-3-US-soldiers-in-Afghanistan-4-injured/8491543322644/">Three U.S. service members are killed and four injured in an explosion near Ghazni</a>. A U.S. contractor was also injured. No further details have been released as of yet.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/ranger-killed-afghanistan-died-friendly-fire/story?id=59439267">A U.S. army ranger was killed on Saturday</a> in Nimroz province during an assault on Al Qaeda positions. It is believed he was shot accidentally by an Afghan soldier. Sgt. Sgt. Leandro Jasso, 25, of the 75th Ranger Regiment was on his third deployment to Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/taliban-kidnaps-25-passengers-balkh">Taliban abduct 25 travelers in Balkh</a>, later release the women. The motive for the action is not reported.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1171752/icode/">A severe drought has led to food shortages affecting half of Afghanistan's rural population</a>. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization is working to assist the most severely affected farmers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unhcr.org/uk/news/briefing/2018/11/5bfd0be44/unhcr-launches-massive-airlift-tents-afghanistans-drought-displaced.html">The drought and fighting have led to displacement of a quarter million people</a> in the western provinces of Herat, Badghis and Ghor. The UN is flying in 15,100 family size tents to shelter the population as winter approaches.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/nov/27/uk-pledges-35m-to-afghanistan-as-food-crisis-worsens">The United Kingdom has pledged 35 million pounds for drought relief</a>. This story from The Guardian has further information on the crisis.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sabanews.net/en/news516622.htm">Following criticism of the recent parliamentary elections, the Afghan government is considering postponing the presidential election scheduled for April</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/398628-22-afghan-cops-die-in-taliban-ambush">Taliban ambush a police convoy on Sunday in Farah</a>, killing 22 police.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/bombs-dropped-on-afghanistan-numbers-rising/29621915.html">The number of bombs dropped on Afghanistan by the U.S.-led coalition is approaching the record set in 2011</a>. The number through September of this year was 5,213. 5,411 was the total in 2011.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-80484745559543354162018-11-21T06:59:00.000-08:002018-11-21T06:59:05.134-08:00Update for Wednesday, November 21, 2018<a href="https://www.trtworld.com/asia/afghans-mourn-as-death-toll-in-kabul-attack-jumps-to-55-21839">Suicide bomb attack on a gathering of religious scholars in Kabul kills 55, injures 95</a>. The Taliban have denied responsibility and IS has not issued any statement. The meeting was hosted by the Afghan Ulema council on the occasion of the Prophet's birthday.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://ariananews.af/protesters-close-kabul-gardiz-highway-in-logar/">Protesters close the Kabul-Gardiz highway</a> in Logar, accusing government forces of killing 8 civilians.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/11/21/officer-among-3-police-killed-kandahar-blast">Three police killed in a roadside bombing in Kandahar</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.stripes.com/news/missiles-fired-at-afghan-city-as-top-us-commander-visits-1.557503">As U.S. commander Gen. Scott Miller visits Ghazni, two missiles strike the city</a> damaging a medical facility. Miller is not believed to have been the target.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gulftoday.ae/portal/4bc37f74-15a0-425e-9ae4-d602efb6e53e.aspx">Pentagon inspector general finds little progress in U.S. led peace initiative</a>.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-68360486167665668422018-11-15T07:24:00.000-08:002018-11-15T07:24:02.496-08:00Update for Thursday, November 15, 2018<a href="http://www.1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/36446-latest-assault-in-farah-kills-45-including-district-police-chief">New Taliiban assault in Farah province kills 45 government forces</a>, including the district police chief. The attackers seized arms and ammunition and are said to have captured a military base.<br />
<br />
According to this account, <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/taliban-kill-38-afghan-cops-and-soldiers">the attack originated as an insider attack at a joint army and police base</a>.<br />
<br />
According to TOLO, <a href="https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/casualties-rise-war-rages-farah">the Taliban captured 60 prisoners as well</a>. Retaliatory helicopter strikes are said to have killed many Taliban. The security situation in Farah is becoming desperate.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.afghanistantimes.af/skirmish-in-zabul-takes-heavy-toll-on-taliban/">Taliban attack police outposts in Zabul</a>. The government says the attack was repelled, with 8 Taliban and two police killed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.afghanistantimes.af/khalilzad-takes-strides-towards-our-peace-ambitions-us/">The U.S. State Department says special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is making progress in peace negotiations</a> but provides no specifics. <a href="http://www.1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/36439-khalilzad-postpones-pakistan-visit">Khalilzad has postponed a previously scheduled visit to Pakistan</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.afghanistantimes.af/9-army-soldiers-embrace-martyrdom-in-maidan-wardak/">Fighting in Maidan Wardak said to kill 9 Afghan soldiers and 5 insurgents</a>.<br />
<br />
In a mysterious incident, <a href="https://www.khaama.com/dead-body-of-a-senior-pakistani-police-official-found-in-nangarhar-02745/">the body of a senior Pakistani police officer has been found in Nangarhar province</a>. He was kidnapped in Islamabad. A letter found with the body claimed responsibility on behalf of the IS Khurasan faction, but their motive for doing this is not clear.<br />
<br />
<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-40949765894752211492018-11-13T09:53:00.002-08:002018-11-13T09:53:51.601-08:00Update for Tuesday, November 12, 2018<a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/taliban-slaughter-elite-afghan-troops-and-a-safe-district-falls">Taliban attack Jaghori district in Ghazni</a>, destroy a company of elite Afghan special forces, killing more than 30 along with about 50 police and local militia members. The area is inhabited by ethnic Hazaras. Some of them protested in Kabul on Monday and six of them were killed by a suicide bomber. The entire district is in danger of falling to the Taliban.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/11/13/260-jaghori-displaced-families-receive-aid-bamyan">Some 1,800 families have fled the district to Bamyan</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/sufficient-forces-sent-ghazni-moi">Ministry of the Interior says that reinforcements have been sent</a> and that a large-scale military operation is planned.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.khaama.com/u-s-airstrike-leaves-8-taliban-militants-dead-in-ghazni-province-02735/">U.S. airstrike is said to kill 8 Taliban in Ghazni</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/security/item/35676-over-100-terrorists-perished-in-ghazni%E2%80%99s-districts.html">Government claims to have killed more than 100 insurgents overnight in Ghazni</a> while losing only two Afghan National Police. (They commonly report such extremely lopsided casualty claims, which I do not consider credible.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/36414-us-raises-possibility-of-afghan-presidential-election-being-postponed-amid-taliban-talks">Wall St. Journal reports U.S. is considering asking Afghanistan to delay presidential elections</a> as efforts are underway to negotiate a settlement with the Taliban.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-top-news/2018/11/12/afghan-leader-denies-taliban-are-winning-the-war">President Ghani says the Taliban are not winning</a>. (But it's never a good sign when you have to say that. -- C)<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-5647998350478020742018-11-06T06:40:00.001-08:002018-11-06T06:40:48.221-08:00Update for Tuesday, November 6, 2018This is a long read but it's important information. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/06/health/afghanistan-military-civilians-superbugs-resistance-intl/index.html">Antibiotic resistant pathogens are a huge problem in Afghanistan</a>. This was a huge problem for the military, with troops frequently acquiring drug resistant infections in blast wounds. The military has largely overcome it, but the civilian population is severely affected. This article also notes that Afghanistan has among the worst health care and public health systems in the world:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
One woman dies every two hours from
pregnancy-related causes, according to conservative estimates by
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), and one in 25
newborn babies dies, the third highest neonatal death rate in the world,
<a href="https://origin-www.unicef.org/childsurvival/files/Data_neonatal_mortality_rates_by_country_final(1).pdf" target="_blank">UNICEF figures</a> show. <br />
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Life
expectancy at birth is 64, compared with 79 in the US and a global
average of 72. There is a shortage of doctors, especially in rural
areas, and infection control is poor.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Drug
resistance has become one of the world's greatest public health crises,
estimated to cause 700,000 deaths worldwide and expected to <a href="https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/160525_Final%20paper_with%20cover.pdf" target="_blank">kill 10 million </a>by 2050 if no action is taken.</div>
<div class="zn-body__paragraph">
Fueling
the superbug problem in Afghanistan is the unregulated sale of
antibiotics in human medicine and in agriculture. Drugs are advertised
on television and available to buy over the counter from pharmacies
without a prescription or diagnosis from a doctor. </div>
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/11/06/%E2%80%9840-civilians-killed-khas-uruzgan-malistan-clashes%E2%80%99">Fighting between Taliban and a local militia kills 40 civilians in Uruzgan and Ghazni</a>.<br />
<br />
I don't normally link to PressTV but this story has corroboration and the PressTV version is the most accessible I could find. <a href="https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/11/06/579247/Afghanistan-Taliban-attack-troops">Taliban attack a border post in Farah and kill at least 20 border police</a>, capturing the post. This is on the border with Iran.<br />
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<a href="https://www.khaama.com/435-civilians-killed-wounded-during-the-parliamentary-elections-in-afghanistan-02694/">UN says 56 civilians killed and 379 injured in violence associated with the recent elections</a>.<br />
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<b>In Iraq</b>, <a href="http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/478376">talks are underway between the PUK and KDP to form a new Kurdish regional government</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-rights/more-than-200-mass-graves-of-islamic-state-victims-found-in-iraq-u-n-report-idUKKCN1NB13N?rpc=401&">UN reports more than 200 mass graves found in areas formerly controlled by IS</a>. The process of exhumation is just beginning.<br />
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<a href="http://www.arabnews.com/node/1399951/middle-east">Multiple bombings in Baghdad kill 6 civilians</a>. These targeted predominantly Shiite districts.<br />
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<a href="http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/dc3e1eab-b5d8-4565-b861-5da5936ee795">Newly elected Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi says that the Shiite militias known as Popular Mobilization Forces will not be disbanded</a>. Most of these are linked to Iran.<br />
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<a href="http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/478100">Abdul-Mahdi is apparently ready to announce his slate of ministers</a>. Minor posts have been filled but the major appointments have been held up in political disputes.<br />
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<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/carp-annihilated-iraqs-water-pollution-woes-worsen-58958634">Hundreds of tons of farmed carp have died in the Euphrates</a>, as water pollution grows worse. Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812043282272915800.post-40335487101862878892018-11-05T07:02:00.001-08:002018-11-05T07:02:39.090-08:00Update for Monday, November 5, 2018<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/brent-taylor-dead-afghanistan-national-guard-utah-mayor-trainee-nato-kabul-a8618201.html">Army Major Brent Taylor, 39, of the Utah National Guard</a> was fatally shot on November 3 by a Afghan National Defense and Security Force. Major Taylor was on leave from his office as mayor of North Ogden, Utah.<br />
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<a href="https://scroll.in/latest/901026/afghanistan-taliban-attack-two-checkpoints-in-ghazni-province-kill-13-soldiers-and-policemen">Taliban attack on two checkpoints in Ghazni results in deaths of 13 members of the Afghan security forces</a>. The checkpoints were set up recently to cut off Taliban supply routes. They were completely destroyed.<br />
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<a href="https://www.khaama.com/taliban-commander-among-6-killed-wounded-in-u-s-drone-strike-in-laghman-02684/">U.S. drone strike in Laghman said to kill 3 militants</a>. These appear to have been Taliban, which suggests the U.S. is not limiting its direct combat operations to IS targets as has sometimes been asserted.<br />
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<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1443711/afghan-govts-control-over-territories-reaches-record-low">Afghan government's territorial control reaches a record low</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://dailytimes.com.pk/318630/taliban-in-a-fix-over-moscow-meeting-on-afghan-peace/">It is unclear whether the Taliban will attend peace talks scheduled for November 9 in Moscow</a>.<br />
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<br />Cervanteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302076828795198187noreply@blogger.com0