(2021-08-17). As Afghanistan falls, what does it mean for the Middle East? juancole.com 
By Tony Walker |- In the 19th century, the phrase "The Great Game" was used to describe competition for power and influence in Afghanistan, and neighbouring central and south Asia territories, between the British and Russian empires. Neither side prevailed in what became known as the "graveyard of empires". Two centuries later, an American superpower …
(2021-08-17). NATO's North Atlantic Council to hold crisis talks. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Nato envoys to hold Afghan crisis talks on Tuesday ==== NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to President George W. Bush on June 1, 2005: "NATO has always been, and still is a value-driven organization; it's about values. The same values we have defended in the Cold War we are now defending in Afghanistan, …
(2021-08-17). Russia, China can moderate crash landing of 'puppet Afghan government,' expert says. tass.com According to the professor of international law at the University of Illinois, "Russia and China are doing their best to moderate the situation"
(2021-08-17). Military Situation In Syria On August 17, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On August 16, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 23 times: 11 — in Idlib province, 5 — in Latakia province, 4 — in Hama province, 3 — in Aleppo province | On August 16, clashes between SDF and Turkish-backed forces were reported north of Tal Tamar | On August 17, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SDF positions in Dardarah village | On August 16, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SD…
(2021-08-17). Major nuclear fusion milestone reached as 'ignition' triggered in a lab. imperial.ac.uk Ignition is a key process that amplifies the energy output from nuclear fusion and could provide clean energy and answer some huge physics questions.
(2021-08-17). Rehire Namibian Mine Union Leaders & Hands Off Lawyer Beukes! Rally At SF China Consulate. indybay.org A rally was held on 8/13/21 at the San Francisco Chinese consulate to demand the rehiring of the 9 dismissed leaders of the Miners Union of Namibia Rossing Branch. Their employers is the state owned Chinese National Nuclear Corporation.
(2021-08-17). Based on war experience of 13 years ago, South Ossetia expresses support for Crimea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com South Ossetia expressed support for Crimea amid unfolding anti-Crimean and anti-Russian campaign Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia Dmitry Medoev sent a message to Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea — Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea to President of Russia Georgy Muradov on behalf of the …
(2021-08-17). Kosovo redivivus: Ukraine calls for international intervention against Russia over Crimean Tatars. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Zelensky calls on global community to respond to searches and detentions in occupied Crimea President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the international community to properly respond to the searches and detentions of Crimean Tatars in the temporarily occupied Crimea. **** He noted that the global community must respond appropriately to such violations.
(2021-08-17). Talk of third world war no joke: Belarusian president. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Lukashenko: I do not want Belarus to turn into battleground "Do not think that I am exaggerating the situation [with the potential] to unleash some war. My words about a possible World War III were not a joke," the Belarusian leader said. **** "If they decide to encroach on Belarus, then, of course, Russia will …
(2021-08-16). Afghanistan's Promising Socialist Future Killed Off By U.S. Imperialism. popularresistance.org Since the horrific events of Sept. 11, much has been said about the desperate situation of the Afghani people now crushed under the heel of the theocratic, dictatorial Taliban, and about the role of the Northern Alliance and other Taliban opponents who now figure in Washington's plans for the region. There has been talk, most of it distorted, about the role of the Soviet Union in the years from 1978 to 1989. There has been talk, most of it understated, about the role of the U.S. in building up the Mujahideen forces, including the Taliban.
(2021-08-16). Afghanistan's Promising Socialist Future Killed Off By US Imperialism. popularresistance.org Since the horrific events of Sept. 11, much has been said about the desperate situation of the Afghani people now crushed under the heel of the theocratic, dictatorial Taliban, and about the role of the Northern Alliance and other Taliban opponents who now figure in Washington's plans for the region. There has been talk, most of it distorted, about the role of the Soviet Union in the years from 1978 to 1989. There has been talk, most of it understated, about the role of the U.S. in building up the Mujahideen forces, including the Taliban.
(2021-08-16). U.S. defeat in Afghanistan—A contrast with the Soviet experience. mronline.org 
The U.S. has been defeated today in Afghanistan not by a super power with an advanced military, but by a rag-tag army of fanatical locals who perfected and consolidated their fanaticism under U.S., Saudi and Pakistani tutelage in the 1980s to fight the Soviets.
(2021-08-16). Military Situation In Syria On August 16, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On August 16, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 23 times: 11 — in Idlib province, 5 — in Latakia province, 4 — in Hama province, 3 — in Aleppo province | On August 15, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in Mariyan | On August 15, clashes between SAA and former rebels were reported in Daraa city | On August 15, Turkish-backed forces arrested two civilians in Afrin and took them…
(2021-08-16). Baby Teeth, Collected Decades Ago, Can Show the Damage to Human Health of Nuclear Tests. warisacrime.org By Lawrence Wittner and Joseph Mangano In 2020, Harvard University's T. C. Chan School of Public Health began a five-year study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that will examine the connection between early life exposure to toxic metals and later-life risk of neurological disease. A collaborator with Harvard, the Radiation and Public Health …
(2021-08-16). Point Beach Reactor Courts Disaster with Sirens Turned Off. counterpunch.org A change to "emergency response" has been made at the 50-year-old Point Beach nuclear reactors on Lake Michigan south of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The operators, NextEra Energy Point Beach (NextEra), have turned off the site's disaster warning sirens. That's right, no more wailing sirens to warn of potentially catastrophic radiation releases or spills from the
(2021-08-16). Ukraine, Turkey boost defense cooperation. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Against you-know-whom. Not that Russia's Putin, who has been mysteriously inconspicuous for several weeks (as though holed up in a bunker somewhere while his citizens need reassurance about recent events not far from their southern border), would acknowledge it. Ankara and Kiev are plotting to heat things up for Moscow in Crimea and, now with …
(2021-08-16). Was the space race just about reaching the moon first? peoplesdispatch.org We all think the US won the space race as they went to the moon. It seemed like it was a race, and there was ONE WINNER — the US — and it was over with Apollo astronauts landing on the moon. | But what about the rockets that still power all our satellite launches? What about the rocket engines that power these rockets? Are we aware that most rockets that the US today uses to power its military and civilian space programs use Russian engines? | Newsclick's Prabir Purkayastha talks about this fascinating history of humanity's space exploration efforts.
(2021-08-16). Ukraine Building "Mosquito" Naval Fleet With Allies, Because Russia "Stole" Its Old One. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Russia "stole" Ukraine's Navy, according to MSM Still, with the United States' help it will build a "mosquito" fleet, featuring small, fast, and stealthy short-range patrol and fast attack craft in a sort of arsenal similar to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. | The…