Since the abrupt fall and dramatic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Great Power Competition and China have dominated the headlines. The last few days and this weekend catch-up have been very different in that there is no central theme, and the news is coming from all directions as previously overshadowed regions break through in capturing our attention. Today’s Daily Dump is no different as one could throw a dart at the map and find a compelling story. With that in mind, we begin today’s edition with War on the Rocks’: The Bahamas: A Close but Unfamiliar U.S. Partner in which they argue that this geographically significant archipelago should not be taken for granted and Washington should seek to deepen our ties there. It is a very informative article on a region that rarely makes headlines beyond encounters with hurricanes.
Next, we cross the Atlantic to Africa for two articles. The first, Cameroon’s community violence adds to Lake Chad Basin security woes, from the Institute for Security Studies, details how land and water are at the root of insecurities driven by Boko Haram, organized crime and kidnappings for ransom which threatens the larger regional stability. The second article, America’s War in Afghanistan Is Over. But in the Horn of Africa, Its War on Terror Rages On, from Time, offers a deep dive where the battle for influence continues with this important little nugget buried deep with the article, “The nation [Djibouti] has, however, capitalized on its strategic position, hosting bases for France, the U.S. and China—Beijing’s first overseas military facility. The bases, and foreign investment in local infrastructure, ensure some economic benefit from the regional counterterrorism campaigns.”
Moving out of Africa, the Asia Times reports, Russia’s ally Tajikistan emerges as Taliban’s new nemesis. Tajikistan will serve as the hub of resistance to the Taliban rule and its importance will only grow as their crackdown on dissent continues. The article details the complexity of the region and how Russia will seek to mediate any conflict between the two in hopes of avoiding destabilization of their longtime ally. Finally, the Small Wars Journal offers a look back at some of the works that predicted the recent Afghanistan calamity in: SWJ Book Review – Planning to Fail: The US Wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The book and review provide a roadmap of recommendations for future policy makers on how they could avoid the pitfalls of certain foreign policy interventions. And for something different, how about Radio Free Europe’s The Undoing Of The U.S.S.R.: How It Happened which offers a detailed look at the last decade of the U.S.S.R.? All of this and so much more in Today’s Daily Dump.
Inspired by the Cognitive Raider Initiative, The Cognitive Warrior Project has put together a daily list of diverse articles that can easily be chosen from to play a part in developing a more mentally agile warfighter that embraces the adaptation required for tomorrow’s battlefield. Our intent is to create a space where you can choose one or two articles a day (about 10 minutes) instead of mindlessly scrolling social media.
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October 4, 2021
Navigating a Sea of Challenges: A New Approach for NATO in the Eastern Mediterranean – Modern War Institute
Podcast: The Man in The Tank Wins: IDF Armor, Part 1 – Urban Warfare Project
How We Fell into the Terrorist Trap and Have Yet to Find Our Way Out – Modern War Institute
Covert Operations Fail More Often than Not, so Why Do Leaders Order Them? – Modern War Institute
Cash Camps: Financing Detainee Activities in Al-Hol and Roj Camps – Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point
LINCOLN AS STRATEGIST: EXERCISING THE ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER – WAR ROOM
THE EU AS 27 ANGRY MEN: ACT NOW OR FOREVER LOSE YOUR PEACE – WAR ROOM
Getting Serious? The UK–UAE Illicit Finance Partnership Holds Promise – Royal United Services Institute
Russia and Iran: Disappointed Friends of the Taliban? – Royal United Services Institute
The EU in Chinese Media: Interpreting Xinhua’s Reporting from 2012–2021 – Royal United Services Institute
Watch: The Challenges of Multipolar Deterrence: Theory and Evidence – NSI
Testimony: The Biden Administration’s Policy on Afghanistan – Long War Journal
Podcast: Refuge and Reconciliation – Horns of Dilemma
Podcast: Much Ado About AUKUS – Net Assessment
Trust is at the Heart of Australia’s Influence – War on the Rocks
The Bahamas: A Close but Unfamiliar U.S. Partner – War on the Rocks
Adapting Intelligence to the New Afghanistan – War on the Rocks
Authoritarianism and Nationalizing Natural Resources – War on the Rocks
SWJ Book Review – Planning to Fail: The US Wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq – Small Wars Journal
10/4/2021 National Security and Korean News and Commentary – Small Wars Journal
9/30/2021 National Security and Korean News and Commentary – Small Wars Journal
“Oh So Social” Conversation: Spying + Lost Art of American Intelligence – Small Wars Journal
9/29/2021 National Security and Korean News and Commentary – Small Wars Journal
Watch: A Conversation with Ambassador Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Is China’s Covid-19 Diplomacy Succeeding? – Center for Strategic and International Studies
The U.S. and China’s Battle for Global Reputation – Statista
Cameroon’s community violence adds to Lake Chad Basin security woes – Institute for Security Studies
Event: 06 Oct 2021 Combating cattle rustling is back on East Africa’s agenda – Institute for Security Studies
Prodding the rich world to jab the rest – Institute for Security Studies
Biden’s new China trade plan echoes Trump’s, but assumes Beijing won’t change – Reuters
Two Koreas reopen hotlines as North urges South to mend ties – Reuters
Mozambique president calls on insurgents to surrender after key militant killed – Reuters
China flies record 52 warplanes toward self-ruled Taiwan – AP
Russia test-fires new hypersonic missile from submarine – AP
Taliban raid suspected IS hideout after bombing in capital – AP
UN: War crimes have been committed in Libya – DW
Watch: Drought devastates northern Kenya – DW
Is US-Turkey alliance at a breaking point? – Al Monitor
Morocco flirts with Ethiopia amid stalled Nile dam talks – Al Monitor
Russia’s ally Tajikistan emerges as Taliban’s new nemesis – Asia Times
US, EU still not on the same China page – Asia Times
Belt and Road starts and stops in China’s backyard – Asia Times
The Taliban has a fatal cash flow problem – Asia Times
In Mexico, Nearly 100,000 People Are Missing – The New York Times
3,000 Yazidis Are Still Missing. Their Families Know Where Some of Them Are. – The New York Times
America’s War in Afghanistan Is Over. But in the Horn of Africa, Its War on Terror Rages On – Time
The Undoing Of The U.S.S.R.: How It Happened – Radio Free Europe
Armenia’s Prime Minister Says He’s Ready To Meet Azerbaijan’s President For Talks On Karabakh – Radio Free Europe
Afghan Would-Be Refugee Said Killed By Taliban Near Tajik Border – Radio Free Europe
Lights Out In Kyrgyzstan – Radio Free Europe
Explainer: What’s Behind Fresh Tensions On The Iran-Azerbaijan Border? – Radio Free Europe
The U.S. Military Needs to Learn How to Train Auxiliary Armies – Foreign Policy
Afghanistan Isn’t Good Terrorist Real Estate – Foreign Policy
China’s New Climate Pledge: Is Geopolitical Competition Good for the Climate? – Lawfare
China’s Successful Foray Into Asymmetric Lawfare – Lawfare
Maintaining and Improving NATO’s Technological Edge – Wavell Room
Options to Counter Russia’s Wagner Group in Africa – Divergent Options
Failure to Warn: War Powers Reporting and the “War on Terror” in Africa – Just Security
Taliban Seek Recognition, But Offer Few Concessions to International Concerns – United States Institute of Peace
What the Quad Leaders’ Summit Means for the Indo-Pacific Amid Rising Tensions with China – United States Institute of Peace
Satellite Imagery Contradicts Reports Of Foreign Aircraft At Bagram Air Base In Afghanistan – The Drive
The decreasing cost of renewables unlikely to plateau any time soon – Ars Technica
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