South Asia

By Danny Sjursen | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – We walked in a single file. Not because it was tactically sound. It wasn’t — at least according to standard infantry doctrine. Patrolling southern Afghanistan in column formation limited maneuverability, made it difficult to mass fire, and exposed us to enfilading machine-gun bursts. Still, in 2011, […]

Afghanistan

Trump to Send 4,000 More US Troops to Afghanistan as Mattis admits ‘Not Winning’

Juan Cole

TeleSur | – – The Trump adminstration plans to deploy 4,000 more troops, extending the nearly The official says troops will train Afghan soldiers, and fight Taliban and Islamic State group forces. The Pentagon is planning to send almost 4,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, an official said anonymously Thursday. There are already around 8,400 U.S. […]

Afghanistan

Popular Protest against US-backed Government in Kabul: What is going On?

contributors

By Solaiman M. Fazel | (Informed Comment) | – – Two days after a deadly blast in Kabul’s diplomatic quarter, why did thousands of residents and civil society activists participate in a protest near Kabul’s presidential palace calling for the resignation of President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah? There are several lingering […]

Bangladesh

The Climate Catastrophe Trump Promotes: Bangladesh between Flood and Drought

contributors

World Bank | (Video Clip) – – “Due to its geographical position, Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Watch how communities in areas afflicted by recurring floods or droughts are finding solutions to cope with climate change.” World Bank: “With or Without Water: Coping With Climate Change in Bangladesh”

Afghanistan

Could public anger over Kabul Bombing shake Afghan Government?

contributors

By Frud Bezhan. ( RFE/RL) | – – How did a sewage tank truck packed with explosives penetrate a heavily fortified area of the Afghan capital and carry out the deadliest attack in Kabul since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001? That is the question angry Afghans want the government to answer, and provide some explanation […]

China

Trump, Paris Accords and the End of the American Century

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – As Trump seems likely to pull out of the Paris Climate accord, he will be creating several kinds of leadership vacuum. One is a vacuum of global political leadership. Another is a vacuum of corporate and technological leadership. In short, renouncing American commitments on Climate is […]

Afghanistan

Is US Winning its Longest War? Huge Bomb Hits Kabul Embassy Row, kills at least 80

contributors

TeleSur | – – Health ministry spokesman Ismael Kawoosi said: “They are still bringing bodies, and wounded people to hospitals.” A powerful vehicle bomb has hit the diplomatic area of the Kabul. The blast reportedly claimed the lives of at least 80 people and injured another 350. Civilians are said to make up a large […]

Coal

Coal in Death spiral as India cancels 14 gigs, and Solar prices Plummet

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – China and India have knocked the United States off the top spot of the index of best places to invest in renewables. Analysts cite the impact of Trump’s policies in favor of coal and petroleum. Meanwhile, as Trump talks up a return of coal in the […]

Afghanistan

How America’s Myth of the Infallible Generals gets us in Trouble

contributors

By Danny Sjursen | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – More, more, more. I was guilty of it myself. Commanding a small cavalry troop of about 85 soldiers in southwest Kandahar Province back in 2011, I certainly wanted and requested more: more troopers, more Special Forces advisers, more Afghan police, more air support, more supplies, more […]