(2021-08-26). John Pilger: Afghanistan, the great game of smashing countries. mronline.org 
In 2010, I was in Washington and arranged to interview the mastermind of Afghanistan's modern era of suffering, Zbigniew Brzezinski. I quoted to him his autobiography in which he admitted that his grand scheme for drawing the Soviets into Afghanistan had created "a few stirred up Muslims". "Do you have any regrets?" I asked. "Regrets! Regrets! What regrets?" – John Pilger…
(2021-08-26). Only Religious War Remains. counterpunch.org The Taliban seizure of Afghanistan underscores an ugly 21st century fact: Religion-based warfare remains the world's worst type of armed conflict, and the "holy warriors" display barbaric cruelty. After America's CIA under President Reagan helped brutal Muslim tribal warlords drive the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan, victorious warlords fell into conflict with each other. That's
(2021-08-26). Central Syria Insurgency: Dozens Of Russian Airstrikes, Syrian Artillery Strikes Hit ISIS Cells. southfront.org 
Illustrative image. | On August 25, dozens of Russian airstrikes and Syrian artillery strikes targeted ISIS' remaining cells in Syria's central region. | According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 30 Russian airstrikes hit hideouts of the terrorist group in the following areas: | The outskirts of the town of al-Sukhnah in the eastern Homs countryside; | The outskirts of the town of al-Sholah in the western Deir Ezzor countryside; | The outskirts of the town of al-Resafa…
(2021-08-26). De-Escalation: Dozens Of Gunmen Depart Daraa Al-Balad After Pressure From Syrian Army (Photos). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image. | Gunmen in the southern part of the Syrian city of Daraa, known as Daraa al-Balad, have finally succumbed to the demands of Syrian authorities and begun to leave the area. | On August 26 afternoon, 50 wanted gunmen departed Daraa al-Balad along with their families in several buses provided by Syrian authorities. The gunmen will most likely settle in Turkish-occupied areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo. Russian forces are reportedly facilitating…
(2021-08-26). More Russian Airstrikes Hit Greater Idlib, Monitoring Group Says 60 Targeted The Region In August (Photos). southfront.org 
A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti | On August 26, a new wave of Russian airstrikes hit militants' positions in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib. | Warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) carried out five airstrikes on the hills surrounding the town of Kabani in the northern countryside of Lattakia and three airstrikes on the outskirts of the town of al-Fatterah in the southern Idlib countryside. | Bo…
(2021-08-26). The Dangers of Nuclear War: "Global Stability" Requires the Reintroduction of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), with Inclusion of China. globalresearch.ca …
(2021-08-26). Iran Two Months Away From Nuclear Bomb: Israel Defense Minister. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Tehran is two months away from nuclear weapons capacity, according to Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz."Iran is only two months away from acquiring the materials necessary for a nuclear weapon," Gantz told a gathering of 60 ambassadors in Tel Aviv. | Gantz said that the world needed an alternative to the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal, in case it fails entirely."We do not know if the Iranian regime will be willing to sign an agreement and come back to the negotiation table [md…
(2021-08-26). Ukraine holds "Crimean Platform" summit. wsws.org Moscow denounced the provocative summit, which was attended by representatives from all 30 NATO members, as an "anti-Russian event."
(2021-08-26). Russia's COVID-19 response slowed by population reluctant to take domestic vaccine. Arik Burakovsky, Assistant Director, Russia and Eurasia Program, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University 
(2021-08-26). Ukraine Needs Russian Gas Transit Until At Least 2034. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Kiev needs the transit of Russian gas until at least 2034, when the agreement with Gazprom expires, said Sergei Makogon, General Director of GTS Operator of Ukraine LLC."We have no guarantees that the contract will be renewed. Therefore, we are negotiating with the governments of the United States and Germany. <...> And we believe that the most significant guarantee is the renewal or continuation of the existing contract now, without waiting for 2025, for the next 15 years," he said on the…
(2021-08-25). Putin and XI Cooperate To Prevent Risk Expansion in Asia. telesurenglish.net Through a telephone call made on Tuesday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping expressed their willingness to cooperate in the fight against the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking that the political situation in Afghanistan could generate. | RELATED: | "Xi called for concerted efforts to encourage all factions in Afghanistan to build an open and inclusive political structure through consultation,…
(2021-08-25). Russian Defense Ministry Evacuated 500 People From Afghanistan (Videos, Photos). southfront.org 
Photo: TASS / Maksim Grigoryev | On August 25, the Ministry of Defense of Russia organized the evacuation of 500 Russian citizens as well as citizens of Collective Security Treaty Organization, Belarus Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and Ukraine from the Afghan capital Kabul. | Four Russian military transport aircraft airlifted the Russian and ex-Soviet citizens from Hamid Karzai International Airport. | According to the Russian MoD, the four aircraft were carrying medical personnel and supplies to provide the necessary…
(2021-08-25). The Moral Implications of Bloodlust, White Supremacy, Christian Nationalism. counterpunch.org The war in Afghanistan reminds us that those who do not learn from past mistakes are likely to repeat them. Years ago, scholar Akhilesh Pillalamarri wrote that Afghanistan has long been known as the graveyard of empires. Nevertheless, the U.S. repeated the respective mistakes of the British and Soviet empires in the 19th and 20th centuries by invading and trying to occupy the country.
(2021-08-25). Russian Leading Political Party Provides Prediction For Middle East's Future. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia released a statement which is an attempt to predict the future of the Middle East, Central Asia, Caucasus and even parts of the Balkans. | The LDPR is the third most popular party in Russia. | In their opinion a lot of changes will take place, some significant, some not so much. | Pakistan will unite with Afghanistan and a single state of Pashtunistan will be created. All other non-Pashtun peoples will be pushed westward towards Central Asi…
(2021-08-25). Vladimir Putin And Xi Jinping Discussed Afghanistan, Agreed on Countering Terrorism. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Afghanistan with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the telephone. | In the phone call, the two leaders "expressed their readiness to step up efforts to combat threats of terrorism and drug trafficking coming from the territory of Afghanistan," the Kremlin said in a statement. | They also spoke of the "importance of establishing peace" in Afghanistan and "preventing the spread of instability to adjacent regions". | Putin and…
(2021-08-25). UK Believes Russia And China Can Act As "Moderating Influence" Over Taliban. southfront.org 
Dominic Raab. Illustrative ImageFor London and Washington, the Russian and Chinese posture is a possibility for peace. | Written by Lucas Leiroz, research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. | Apparently, the future of relations between Afghanistan and the West will depend on the level of influence of Moscow and Beijing over the Central Asian country. In a recent statement, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that his country would have to ask the Russian and Chinese governments…
(2021-08-25). Military Situation In Syria On August 25, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On August 24, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 23 times: 13 — in Idlib province, 4 — in Latakia province, 5 — in Hama province, 1 — in Aleppo province | On August 25, the first batch of militants who refused to settle with the SAA left Daraa al-Balad, according to implementation of the Russian road map | On August 25, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in Kafr Nuran | On Augu…
(2021-08-25). Russian Warplanes Continue To Hammer Militant Positions In Greater Idlib. southfront.org 
An Su-24 taking off from Hmeimim air base in 2015. IMAGE: Russian Ministry of Defense | On August 25, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a series of airstrikes on militants' positions in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib. | The airstrikes targeted hills surrounding the town of Kabani in the northern Lattakia countryside. The town and its surroundings are known to be a stronghold for many terrorist groups, first and foremost al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). | No losses were repo…
(2021-08-25). The Drawbacks of a Cold War with China in a Hot World. juancole.com 
( Tomdispatch.com ) — In recent months, Washington has had a lot to say about China's ever-expanding air, naval, and missile power. But when Pentagon officials address the topic, they generally speak less about that country's current capabilities, which remain vastly inferior to those of the U.S., than the world they foresee in the 2030s …
(2021-08-25). Somalia: From the Cold War to the War on Terror. libya360.wordpress.com Ann Garrison Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, aka Farmaajo, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, and Ethiopian President Abiy Ahmed Cold War and War on Terror destabilize Somalia and cause great suffering for its people. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, aka Farmaajo, is currently the Interim President of Somalia, pending parliamentary elections that have been repeatedly postponed since February….
(2021-08-25). Kiev Attempts to Cut Water to Crimea. globalresearch.ca …
(2021-08-25). Georgian defense chief, unit that fought Russia in Ukraine ceremony. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Juansher Burchuladze attended the ceremony dedicated to the independence of Ukraine The Minister of Defense of Georgia attended the official event held on the central square of Kiev on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine. The platoon of the 23rd Infantry Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the Western Command of the …
(2021-08-25). Kiev's Attempts To Cut Water To Crimea Strengthens Russia's Resolve To Develop The Peninsula. southfront.org 
Illustrative ImageRussia submits complaint against Ukraine to the European Convention on Human Rights. | Written by Paul Antonopoulos, independent geopolitical analyst | A complaint against Ukraine was submitted to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by the General Prosecutor's Office of Russia because of Kiev's decision to block the flow of water to Crimea from the Dnieper River in April 2014. As the Dnieper flows through Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, K…