Afghanistan

Report to Congress on Afghanistan and U.S. Policy

The following is the Dec. 1, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy in Brief.

From the report

The aftershocks of Afghanistan’s watershed year of 2021 continue to reverberate within Afghanistan, throughout its region, and in the United States. In 2021, U.S. and international forces departed after nearly two decades of operations in Afghanistan; the internationally backed Afghan government and its military forces collapsed; and the Taliban, a Sunni...

https://news.usni.org/2022/12/02/report-to-congress-on-afghanistan-and-u-s-policy

From missiles to baby formula, airlines provide vital airlift for US government

A military flatbed truck delivers missiles to load on a a white United Airlines jet with the cargo door open.

The Biden administration’s emergency airlift to expedite imports of overseas baby formula amid a widespread domestic shortage is the latest example of the U.S. government employing commercial cargo and passenger airlines to help solve a logistics crisis.

Since the start of the COVID pandemic in early 2020, the Trump and Biden administrations have leaned on these air logistics providers at least five times to deliver equipment, supplies and people for public health and national security needs. 

In...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/from-missiles-to-baby-formula-airlines-provide-vital-airlift-for-us-government

EU has opportunity to harness crisis to deepen economic union, Structural reforms required to safeguard democratic future, and more

EU has opportunity to harness crisis to deepen economic union

By Ellie Groves and Taylor Pearce

The response from the European Commission after the 2008 financial crisis was slow and partial. Having learned from these missteps, the European Union’s response to Covid-19 was swift. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has posed yet another crisis. The EU has an opportunity to harness these crises to implement much-needed reform within its institutions and member states.

 Structural reforms required...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2022/04/23/eu-has-opportunity-to-harness-crisis-to-deepen-economic-union-structural-reforms-required-to-safeguard-democratic-future-and-more/

Essex ARG, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Back From 7 Month Pacific, Middle East Deployment

Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) board a landing craft, utility in the well deck of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD-27) on March 2, 2022. US Navy Photo

Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) pulled into San Diego Naval Base, Calif., on Friday morning to wrap up a seven-month deployment that took the three-ship force and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Force to the Persian Gulf and Western Pacific regions.

“Their integrated...

https://news.usni.org/2022/03/04/essex-arg-11th-marine-expeditionary-unit-back-from-7-month-pacific-middle-east-deployment

CENTCOM Nominee Kurilla: Iran Largest ‘Destabilizing Factor’ in Middle East

Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, gives a speech at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) change of command on March 5, 2021. US Army Photo

Iran is “the number one destabilizing factor” in the 21-nation region covered by U.S. Central Command, the nominee to head the command testified Tuesday.

Army Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla, the current commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Tehran poses “vexing challenges” by...

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/08/centcom-nominee-kurilla-iran-largest-destabilizing-factor-in-middle-east

CENTCOM: Iran Wants Nuclear Agreement and To Retain Ballistic Missile Capability

Iran’s Khalij Fars single-stage ballistic missile

Iran “wants some type of agreement” over its nuclear program as a way to lift sanctions on the regime, but Tehran views its ballistic missile arsenal “as their crown jewels” not to be bargained away, the senior American commander in the Middle East said Thursday.

U.S. Central Command chief Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, delivering the keynote address at a Middle East Institute conference, said Iran has “relentlessly” built several thousand...

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/07/centcom-iran-wants-nuclear-agreement-and-to-retain-ballistic-missile-capability

One Explosive Device Responsible for Deaths of 13 U.S. Service Members in Kabul Attack, Pentagon Says

A Marine assigned to 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) provides over-watch during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 21, 2021. US Marine Corps Photo

The attack during the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan that left 13 U.S. troops dead was the result of one explosive device detonation, according to U.S. Central Command officials.

After conducting an investigation into the August attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul,...

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/04/one-explosive-device-responsible-for-deaths-of-13-service-members-in-kabul-attack

Essex Amphibious Ready Group Leaves 5th Fleet; No U.S. Capital Ship in Middle East

USS Essex (LHD-2), front, transits the Indian Ocean with the guided-missile destroyer USS O’Kane (DDG-77) on Jan. 9, 2022. US Navy Photo

The three-ship Essex Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit left the Middle East last week after operating in the region since late September, according to USNI News’s Fleet and Marine Tracker.

USS Essex (LHD-2), USS Portland (LPD-27), and amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52) are now operating in the Indian Ocean after...

https://news.usni.org/2022/01/10/essex-amphibious-ready-group-leaves-5th-fleet-no-u-s-capital-ship-in-middle-east

Afghaniscam

Afghaniscam

by John Faraclas

John Faraclas

My first “encounter” with Afghanistan took place during my first year in Anargyrios and Corgialenios College of Spetses in 1964 – 1965 during a speech delivered at the English Club by one of our English teachers, Mr. R. Thompson. It left me with many questions and prompted me to study this country given also the success there by Alexander The Great who occupied that region / country in 17 and a half days and nights following relentless attacks…

A very much...

https://allaboutshipping.co.uk/2021/10/20/afghaniscam/

Afghan Ambassador to U.S. Says Taliban Struggling to Govern a ‘Drastically’ Different Country

Evacuees load on to buses to be processed during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 22, 2021. US Marine Corps Photo

The Taliban is struggling to govern a drastically changed country in Afghanistan, the nation’s ambassador to the United States said Wednesday.
The difficulties range from a massive humanitarian crisis affecting 18 million Afghans who lack food and medical care to an economic collapse that has closed markets across the country and a...

https://news.usni.org/2021/10/14/afghan-ambassador-to-u-s-says-taliban-struggling-to-govern-a-drastically-different-country

+ More
Join Our Newsletter
Enter your email to receive a weekly round-up of shipping news.
icon
By subscribing, you agree with our privacy policy and our terms of service.