(2021-08-24). The Taliban May Pretend to Show Moderation, But the Murderous Reality is Far Different. counterpunch.org In 2001 the Taliban blew up the giant 1,500-year-old Buddhist statues in Bamiyan, central Afghanistan to show their defiance of the world and their contempt for all religious beliefs aside from their own fanatical version of Sunni Islam. Another motive was to demonstrate the Taliban's power over the Shia minority in Afghanistan, mostly members of the 4 million-strong Hazara ethnic group, in whose heartlands the statues had stood before their destruction.
(2021-08-24). America's Original Sin in Post-9/11 Afghanistan. dissidentvoice.org The collapse of Kabul was certainly inevitable but not because U.S.-trained Afghan forces woke up on the morning of August 15 and were suddenly struck with an overwhelming desire to surrender. In fact, a direct line can be drawn from the present moment back to the United States' decision two decades ago to prevent the …
(2021-08-24). U.S. Military Bases Around the World: At What Cost? libya360.wordpress.com Mision Verdad U.S. Soldiers leaving Afghanistan (Photo: U.S. Navy) On April 14, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. military in Afghanistan will withdraw by September 11, 2021. Its departure from the territory has occurred in a disorderly and hasty manner, revealing the failure of the military invasion of twenty years ago. However, Washington…
(2021-08-24). The War in Afghanistan is Dead. Long Live the War on Terror! counterpunch.org Although President Biden has held fast on his commitment to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, he has thrown a few bones to advocates of U.S. power projection. One, in particular, stands out, and that is Biden's promise to use our "counterterrorism over-the-horizon capability" in Afghanistan and the wider region if necessary. What does this mean?
(2021-08-24). Afghanistan: The Cause and Effect of 9/11. counterpunch.org On TV, it's Saigon all over again. You see them pleading, help me!, take me with you to a better place. Kids we've regaled with ironical Che tee shirts and stonewashed Levi jeans, some of them the offspring of soldiers mixing with the local women, who the GIs promised to set free with equality and
(2021-08-24). The Top Five Conflict Variables in Afghanistan. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-24). What Will the Taliban Do? It's Up to Us. counterpunch.org How will the Taliban govern Afghanistan? It may be up to us. The U.S. is out, but what the Biden Administration and its Western allies do in the weeks and months ahead will have a big influence on whether the Central Asian country reverts to the insular medieval barbarism of the 1990s or modernizes in
(2021-08-24). Afghanistan's Armageddon 20 Years After 9/11 Offers Foreign Policy Choices: Groundhog Day or Imperial Reckoning? counterpunch.org Wakeup Calls As the Afghanistan Armageddon unravels, this humiliating, devastating defeat for the US and its allies and the 20th anniversary of 9/11 (and who knows what may take place to mark that day?), plus the June 29 death of war monger extraordinaire Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, are wakeup calls. They offer Americans the chance
(2021-08-24). Eight Key Points on America's Defeat in Afghanistan. counterpunch.org The humiliating defeat of the American Empire in Afghanistan — replete with "near identical images" of frantic evacuation helicopters atop a US Embassy as in Saigon in 1975 — poses a dilemma for left anti-imperialists. We must always welcome and applaud setbacks suffered by the empire, which oppresses the world with its giant global network of bases and troops and its relentless exploitation and pollution of the world natural and human resources.
(2021-08-24). "War Is a Racket": The US War in Afghanistan Validates General Smedley Butler. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-24). Pakistan's dangerous 'Great Game' in Afghanistan comes full circle. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com From today's La Prensa Latina, originally from Spain's EFE. Pakistan's dangerous 'Great Game' in Afghanistan comes full circleBy Jaime León Islamabad — After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, internet users in Pakistan celebrated the occasion by sharing a video of the late Hamid Gul, who headed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country's premier …
(2021-08-24). As Kabul is retaken, papers look back in Erasure. mronline.org 
Corporate media coverage of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the collapse of the country's U.S.-backed government has offered audiences more mystification than illumination.
(2021-08-24). Dispatches from India: 75 Years of Independence. peoplesdispatch.org We take a look at the plight of Afghan refugees in India, protests by disability rights organizations in Tamil Nadu, the present and future of India on the anniversary of independence, and the people's assembly organized on the anniversary of an iconic environmental movement in the country…
(2021-08-24). Will Ukraine Face The Same Abandonment After US Exit From Afghanistan? southfront.org 
Illustrative ImageAmerica is good at making promises but not so good at keeping them. | Written by Johanna Ross is a journalist based in Edinburgh, Scotland. | Ukraine is '
(2021-08-24). Taliban Warns US of Consequences if Withdrawal Extended Past August 31 Deadline. orinocotribune.com Taliban labeled the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan as a "red line" and warned of consequences if the US delays its complete withdrawal from their country. | In an interview with the British channel Sky News on Monday, August 23, spokesman for the Taliban political office, Suhail Shahin, reacted to reports of a possible continuation of the US military presence in Afghanistan beyond the deadline of the August 31, stating that the complete withdrawal of foreign forces is considered a "red line, since the prolongation of the occupation would have serious consequences." | "It is a red line, "sa…
(2021-08-24). Out of Afghanistan, Better Late Than Never. counterpunch.org It wasn't long ago the American media was gaslighting us on Cuba. Now it's Afghanistan. The situation is complex, but any solution begins with the United States leaving. The sudden concern for Afghan women is an especially confounding event. Afghan women report in polls that almost 90% of them are abused. Their plight may be
(2021-08-24). The Heat: Taliban Takeover and Kabul evacuation. america.cgtn.com 
The race to evacuate Americans and allies from Afghanistan goes on amid sparring over a possible deadline extension. The United States says it is striving to evacuate as many people as possible from the airport in Kabul "by the end of the month." About 16,000 …
(2021-08-24). RAWA responds to the Taliban takeover. greenleft.org.au Afghan Women's Mission co-director Sonali Kolhatkar spoke with the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) about the unfolding situation on the ground.
(2021-08-24). Headlines for August 24, 2021. democracynow.org G7 Leaders Urge Biden to Delay Withdrawal from Afghanistan as Taliban Warns of "Consequences", WHO Calls for Two-Month Pause on Booster Shots Amid Stark Vaccine Inequity, FDA Fully Approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Prompting Vaccine Mandates, Florida Doctors Hold Protest as Students Return to Classes Amid Massive COVID-19 Surge, Haiti's Earthquake Death Toll Rises to Over 2,200 with Thousands Still Homeless, Kathy Hochul Sworn In as New York Governor as Andrew Cuomo Resigns, Weather Underground Radical David Gilbert Granted Clemency, North Carolina Court Restores Voting Rights to Tens of Thousands with F…
(2021-08-24). China, Iran Step in to Aid Afghanistan as US Freezes Kabul's Foreign Assets After Taliban Takeover. sputniknews.com The runaway governor of Afghanistan's central bank has warned of risks of inflation on food and other items as well as currency depreciation in the country owing to the US decision to freeze $9 billion worth of Kabul's foreign assets and suspension of dollar payments to the nation. The American decision comes after the Taliban's* takeover of Kabul.
(2021-08-24). Afghan Holocaust — The Awful Truth Versus US Alliance Lies. orinocotribune.com By Dr Gideon Polya — Aug 22, 2021 | The 20 year Afghan War has ended and the war criminal US, UK, NATO and Australian invaders have all but left a devastated land. The Indigenous Afghan Taliban rapidly and peacefully took over all of formerly Occupied Afghanistan as the collaborator government collapsed and the US-trained Afghan forces offered no resistance. A peaceful, liberated Afghanistan hopefully faces a brighter future with the help of its Muslim neighbours, China, Russia and the rest of the civilized world. | The utterly mendacious and racist US and US-dominated Western Mainstream media trumpet a dish…
(2021-08-24). Saturday 8/28: Stop Killing of Afghans! SF Rally in Support of Afghanistan People & Refugees. indybay.org United Nations Plaza @ 50 United Nations Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94102 | Please wear a mask & follow COVID guidelines; This is a peaceful, respectful demonstration…
(2021-08-24). Wednesday 8/25: Rapid Response Call: How to Support Families in Haiti, Afghanistan & US Border. indybay.org Online via Zoom…
(2021-08-24). U.N. Warns of "Humanitarian Catastrophe" in Afghanistan Amid Political Turmoil, Economic Crisis & Drought. democracynow.org 
The United Nations warns Afghanistan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, as the country faces political upheaval, a worsening economic crisis and a devastating drought. Humanitarian groups are vowing to keep working in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover, but they are facing new hurdles, from working under Taliban rule to concerns about the international community providing much needed foreign aid to restrictions at the Kabul airport. "Today in Afghanistan, we're seeing a potential humanitarian catastrophe," says Isabelle Moussard Carlsen, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanita…
(2021-08-24). Pobre Haití: Tras el magnicidio y el terremoto, vuelven los marines estadounidenses. globalizacion.ca Parece una mala novela policial, donde un comando de mercenarios comete un magnicidio y donde los gobiernos que envían y financian a los asesinos luego se aseguran de que sean funcionarios propios quienes investiguen el hecho, amparados por un comando…
(2021-08-24). Video: Syria's Daraa Crisis Deepens While Northern Syria Moves Closer to Chaos. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-24). Israel's Airstrikes in Syria are not Newsworthy for Western Media, as a Result Status quo Continues & Civilians Suffer. orinocotribune.com 
By Eva Bartlett — Aug 22, 2021 | Israel again illegally bombed Syria last week, violating Lebanese airspace to do so and putting at risk the lives of untold numbers of civilians. And following this, crickets in the media, again. | On Thursday, just after 11pm, Israeli missiles targeted the vicinities of Damascus and Homs, according to a
(2021-08-24). Large Explosion In HTS Training Camp Killed At Least 14 Militants In Syria's Idlib (Video 18+). southfront.org
(2021-08-24). Progressive movements warn of right-wing coup against Pedro Castillo and other stories. peoplesdispatch.org Today we look at ALBA Movements' statement on the coup attempts in Peru, fuel and medical shortages in Lebanon as the government cuts subsidies, and more…
(2021-08-24). Israel violates ceasefire agreement yet again, bombs Gaza. peoplesdispatch.org Monday's Israeli bombing on the occupied Palestinian territory was the second in less than a week and a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement in May, which ended the 11-day Israeli offensive on Gaza…
(2021-08-24). Israeli forces attack Palestinians in Gaza marking the 1969 Al-Aqsa arson. peoplesdispatch.org Israeli security forces injured 42 Palestinians during demonstrations held on Saturday, August 21 at the Gaza-Israel border to mark the 1969 arson attack on the Al-Aqsa mosque. Two people were critically injured, including a 13-year-old boy who was shot in the head. The same night, Israeli air force fighter jets conducted airstrikes on Gaza, targeting multiple locations. | According to Palestinian health ministry sources, of those injured, 27 were shot by security forces with live ammunition, the majority of them on the lower halves of their bodies. Among the protesters injured, 10 were children. Several others s…
(2021-08-24). Except for Palestine — The Limits of Progressive Politics. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-24). Saturday 8/21: Free Palestine. indybay.org corner of Ocean and Water Streets, Santa Cruz…
(2021-08-24). Pandemic pushes 80 mln people in Asia to extreme poverty — Asian Development Bank. tass.com As of 2017, about 203 mln people, or 5.2% of the population of developing countries in Asia, lived in extreme poverty. Without COVID-19, this number would have dropped to 2.6% in 2020…
(2021-08-24). Germany and Australia to work together on China. indybay.org As part of the Indo-Pacific strategy, Germany is deepening political and military engagement with Australia as its main partner in the region. In recent months, Berlin's more active vector in the Indo-Pacific region has been presented as fully meeting the current and promising challenges from the PRC.
(2021-08-24). Russia, China And Iran To Hold Joint Military Drills In The Coming Months. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Russia said it will hold joint maritime exercises with China and Iran in the coming months, in an announcement timed to show support from Moscow and Beijing to Tehran. | Russia's ambassador to Tehran, Levan Dzhagaryan, said the drills would be held in the Persian Gulf in late 2021 or early 2022."The annual joint naval exercises CHIRU will be held in the Persian Gulf region," Dzhagaryan was quoted by Russian Sputnik news agency as saying. "Russian, Iranian and Chinese warships are taking part…
(2021-08-24). China's inactivated vaccines effective against Delta variant: Singaporean media. ecns.cn China's inactivated vaccines can provide excellent protection from severe symptoms caused by the Delta variant of COVID-19, a Singaporean newspaper has cited a latest research report as saying.
(2021-08-24). US to create new Pacific fleet to deter China. indybay.org The US administration continues to take steps to contain China's influence. This time, the American side is considering the possibility of deploying a permanent group of national Navies in the Pacific Ocean.
(2021-08-24). Tomgram: Michael Klare, Is a Cold War Still Possible in an Overheating World? warisacrime.org This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Think of it as an irony of the first order that Joe Biden's foreign-policy team came into office promoting new cold-war policies against the rising power on this planet, China. After all, even if it is that, it's …
(2021-08-24). More details of Dana contract show continuation of long hours, mandated overtime. wsws.org According to details of the contract for Dana's plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, acquired by the Autoworker Newsletter, the proposed tentative agreement makes no substantial change to long hours, mandated overtime or unsafe, unsanitary and unhealthy conditions in the plant.
(2021-08-24). Indianapolis Public Library CEO resigns after workers, community charge racism. liberationnews.org 
Well-connected CEO can't withstand persistent campaign from workers and the community over allegations of racism and a toxic work environment.
(2021-08-24). Mexico's Move to Shunt out Neoliberal Agenda Holds Lessons for India. orinocotribune.com By Prabhat Patnaik — Aug 22, 2021 | Alongside efforts to reclaim control over Mexico's natural resources, the Andrés Manuel López Obrador government is also planning to recapture control over its Central Bank | President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico in his inaugural speech itself had called neoliberalism a "disaster" and a "calamity." The leftist political party, MORENA, to which he belongs, had stated in its program: "The global economic crisis has revealed the failure of the neoliberal model. The economic policy imposed by the international financial organizations leads to the fact that Mexico is…
(2021-08-24). Indian Bar Association Charges WHO Chief Scientist for Mass Murder. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-24). Defense Team of Diplomat Alex Saab Denounces Constitutional Violations by Cape Verde. orinocotribune.com This Monday, August 23, the defense of the Venezuelan Special Envoy to Iran Alex Saab issued a statement denouncing the constitutional violations in his case. | They also urged the Constitutional Court of Cape Verde to enforce justice and release the Venezuelan diplomat. | Below is the full translation of the statement by the defense: | In a few moments the Constitutional Court of Cape Verde will rule on the appeal presented by the Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab in which he invokes no less than 12 constitutional irregularities in his case. | This is a serious and solemn moment, with multiple and complex diplomatic…
(2021-08-24). 750 US Military Bases Remain Around the Planet. libya360.wordpress.com Patterson Deppen It was the spring of 2003 during the American-led invasion of Iraq. I was in second grade, living on a U.S. military base in Germany, attending one of the Pentagon's many schools for families of servicemen stationed abroad. One Friday morning, my class was on the verge of an uproar. Gathered around our homeroom lunch…
(2021-08-24). Military Situation In Iraq On August 24, 2021 (Map Update). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On August 23, three ISIS terrorists were killed by Iraqi airstrikes in the Al-Ayth area east of Tikrit | On August 23, more than 20 aircraft carried out an operation 200 km deep into Kurdistan Region territory against PKK, according to the Turkish defence ministry | On August 23, a logistical convoy of the US military was targeted by an IED attack in the Baghdad area | On August 23, a logistical convoy of the US military was targeted by an IED attack in the Naseriyah…
(2021-08-24). Dozens Of Turkish Warplanes Pound Iraqi Kurdistan. Casualties Reported (Photos, Videos). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | The Turkish Air Force conducted an operation in Northern Iraq, targeting positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). | According to the Turkish defense ministry, more than 20 warplanes carried out an operation 200km deep into Kurdistan Region territory against 28 positions of PKK. Shelters, caches, warehouses and PKK command posts were reportedly destroyed. | The strikes mainly targeted the Asos region north of Penjwen district, in north-eastern Sulaimani province in Iraq. The mountainous ar…
(2021-08-24). Israeli Air Strikes Hit Hamas Facilities In Gaza. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | The Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip late at night on August 23. The attack was a response to the launching of arson balloons that set off fires in Israeli border region. | According to the IDF report, the strikes hit a Hamas weapons factory in the southern town of Khan Younis, the entrance to a terror tunnel in Jabaliya and an underground rocket launcher that was located near a school in the Shejaiya region. | No casualties were reported, but the strik…
(2021-08-24). Israel's Air Strikes on Gaza Could Amount to War Crimes, Report Finds. globalresearch.ca
(2021-08-24). Will Senate Democrats Stoop to Confirming Rahm Emanuel as Ambassador? counterpunch.org When President Biden announced late Friday afternoon that he will nominate Rahm Emanuel to be the U.S. ambassador to Japan, the timing just before the weekend was clearly intended to minimize attention to the swift rebukes that were sure to come. The White House described Emanuel as having "a distinguished career in public service," but several progressive