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Taliban announces total conquest of Kandahar as Afghan officials confirm fall of 2nd-largest city


RT
Fri, 13 Aug 2021 20:25 UTC
Kandahar
© REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui
Humvees that belong to Afghan Special Forces are seen destroyed during heavy clashes with Taliban during the rescue mission of a police officer besieged at a check post, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, July 13, 2021.
The Taliban has claimed complete control over Kandahar following fierce fighting, as officials confirm that government forces have retreated from the second-largest city.

A spokesperson for the militant group posted a statement on Friday announcing that Afghanistan's most important provinces - Kandahar, Helmand, Herat and Badghis - had been completely conquered.

The Taliban said it had seized hundreds of weapons and vehicles, as well as large amounts of ammunition, following the successful military operation.

An Afghan member of parliament who spoke with CNN confirmed the city was no longer under the control of the Kabul government.

"Many (government) soldiers surrendered and the rest fled," Gul Ahmad Kamin told the outlet, adding that some Afghan forces were still waiting to be evacuated from the city.

A local government official quoted by Reuters said the Taliban seized the city following "heavy clashes" that lasted late into the night.

Comment: The UK defence secretary thinks a civil war is coming to the country. Denmark and Norway shut their embassies in Kabul, and Germany has cut its staff to a bare minimum. The U.S. embassy has been instructed to destroy sensitive documents and computers.
US negotiators have asked the Taliban not to attack the embassy, threatening the loss of foreign aid, the Times said. But state-backed NPR said the future of the embassy's many Afghan workers "was not immediately clear." The embassy memo indicated that a small consular staff will remain in Kabul, though it's not clear how that would be feasible if the capital is captured by the Taliban.

Biden has insisted that the fears of a Vietnam-like exit are unfounded. When asked by a reporter last month about possible parallels to the Saigon evacuation, he said, "None whatsoever. Zero. What you had is, you had entire brigades breaking through the gates of our embassy, six, if I'm not mistaken. The Taliban is not the south — the North Vietnamese army. They're not, they're not remotely comparable in terms of capability."
There's going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of an embassy of the United States from Afghanistan. It is not at all comparable.
Not everyone is convinced. US Representative Mike Rogers (R-Alabama), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said American lives have been put at risk by Biden's "haphazard" withdrawal from Afghanistan. As a result, he added, the turmoil in Afghanistan is unsurprising, and "the worst is yet to come."

"Weeks ago, President Biden promised the American people that we would not have a Saigon moment in Afghanistan," Rogers said in a statement on Thursday. "Now, we are watching President Biden's Saigon moment unfold before us." The congressman predicted on Friday that the withdrawal deadline will be missed as more troops are sent to the central Asian country.

In addition to the 3,000 troops who have already been dispatched to Afghanistan, 4,500 to 5,000 others are being moved to bases in Kuwait and Qatar, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday. About 3,500 to 4,000 are from the 82nd Airborne Division and will be put on stand-by in Kuwait, "in case we need even more than the 3,000 going to Kabul," Kirby said.
The U.S. previously estimated it could fall to the Taliban in 90 days. According to some reports, the Taliban could take it over in a matter of days (or hours).
According to ground reports, Kabul is ready for its takeover by Taliban, as the terrorist group continue its offensive against Afghan forces and blitz of cities, sources told CNN-News18.

Police stations are empty, and officers have run away with arms and ammunition for personal safety, the sources said. It is only a matter of time by when the Taliban reach Kabul - either by late night or tomorrow morning, they said, adding that however, the terrorist group will not attack the Presidential Palace.

Sources said the Taliban will honour international commitments and it is possible the Kabul administration will shift to the Kabul airport in the next few hours.
Eighteen of 34 provinces are now in Taliban hands:
  • August 6 - Zaranji (Nimruz)
  • August 7 - Sheberghan (Jowzjan)
  • August 8 - Kunduz (Kunduz)
  • August 8 - Sar-e Pol (Sar-e Pol)
  • August 8 - Talquan (Takhar)
  • August 9 - Aybak (Samangan)
  • August 10 - Farah (Farah)
  • August 10 - Pul-i Khumri (Baghlan)
  • August 11 - Faizabad (Badakhshan)
  • August 12 - Ghazni (Ghazni)
  • August 12 - Kandahar (Kandahar)
  • August 12 - Herat (Herat)
  • August 12 - Qala-e-Naw (Badghis)
  • August 13 - Lashkar Gah (Helmand)
  • August 13 - Tirin kot (Uruzgan)
  • August 13 - Chaghcharan (Ghor)
  • August 13 - Pul-e Alim (Logar)
  • August 13 - Qalat (Zabul)


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MIB

The cyber espionage state of Israel

Vladimir Platov
New Eastern Outlook
Fri, 13 Aug 2021 19:41 UTC
cyber warfare security hacker
After several dozen international publications, including The Washington Post and The Guardian, simultaneously reported in mid-July on a major investigation by Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories over Israel's Pegasus spyware, another scandal over Israeli cyber-spying activities erupted.

According to the articles, not only Israel itself but also dozens of governments used Israeli technology to hack the phones of politicians, journalists, opposition activists, and human rights activists. Tens of thousands of phones were tapped. A direct trace is also evident in Israel's complicity in the cyber-surveillance of the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, hence the responsibility for the events that happened to him. The investigation contains a great deal of information about human rights abuses in many regions of the world through programs developed by Israel and, in particular, by the NSO Group, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. It has become apparent to everyone that not only government services are engaged in cyber espionage in Israel but, in addition to the NSO Group, there are other Israeli companies competing with each other: they manufacture similar products and supply them to those who commit similar crimes. There are also technologies possessed exclusively by the Israeli security and intelligence agencies, which provide their services to Israel's close friends, including several Arab states.

Comment: Notably, a cyber security firm working in league with Israel's government recently released a report accusing other countries, China in particular, of hacking various other nations to 'advance its negotiations in tech and business'. Meanwhile, as the research above reveals, Israel is involved in much, much worse. And the implications for freedom and democracy around the world are massive. Although this isn't a great surprise to those who've been paying attention to world events over the last two decades.

With the WEF's ominous threat that we can expect to see a 'cyberpandemic' in the near future, one wonders just what part Israel will play?

See also:

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Arrow Down

After 20 years and billions of dollars, American defeat in Afghanistan worse than the Soviet failure - how has this happened?

Paul Robinson
RT
Fri, 13 Aug 2021 13:07 UTC
Taliban in truck
© AFP
Taliban fighters drive an Afghan National Army vehicle in Kandahar
As the last men of the dwindling American garrison in Afghanistan pack their bags, there is an echo of the Soviet Union's own withdrawal from the country, more than 30 years ago. But, in truth, Washington's defeat is far greater.

In December 1979, Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan to support the unpopular government of the ruling People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). They soon found themselves bogged down in a bloody war against the mujahideen guerillas. Nine years later, the Soviets decided that there had been enough bloodshed and, in May 1988, they began their exit. The final contingent of Soviet troops drove back across the bridge to the USSR in February the following year.

Twelve years later, US troops arrived to fight the Taliban. Soldiers of other NATO states then followed. Together, they stayed even longer than the Soviets, but are now on the way out. US President Joe Biden has promised that American soldiers will leave Afghanistan by the end of August.

As the US completes its retreat from its longest war, its enemy is on the march. In the past week, the Taliban have captured 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals, including the second and third largest cities in the country, Kandahar and Herat, both of which fell on Thursday.

Comment: Grooves: Even if the lessons of Afghanistan manage to hit home in America, they will not likely carry over into future conflicts, power grabs, resource rapes, population decimation nor governance upgrades. The US is too big, too complex and too compromised to change.

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Umbrella

Biden comes to Newsom's recall defense as WH mulls larger role

Jeremy B. White
Politico
Thu, 12 Aug 2021 08:48 UTC
Biden Newsom Harris
© Washington Times/Gage Skidmore/CNN/KJN
Three Amigos
US President Joe Biden • California Governor Gavin Newsom • US VP Kamala Harris
President Joe Biden resoundingly endorsed Gov. Gavin Newsom against a looming recall vote on Thursday, telegraphing that the White House could come to Newsom's aid in the race's critical final weeks.

The Biden administration had already gone on the record opposing the vote to oust Newsom. But Biden's statement was on a different order of magnitude and came as the White House considers deploying Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris — or both — on Newsom's behalf.

Biden said in a statement:
"Governor Newsom is leading California through unprecedented crises. He is a key partner in fighting the pandemic and delivering economic relief to working families and helping us build our economy back better than ever. He's taking on the climate crisis and standing up for the rights of women, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. He knows how to get the job done because he's been doing it. And to keep him on the job, registered California voters should vote no on the recall election by September 14 and keep California moving forward."
A source familiar with White House planning said both Biden and Harris intend to take an active role in the campaign's homestretch. That could include in-person appearances and social media support.

Comment: See also:

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X

Abbas and Palestinian Authority increase campaign to silence dissent

Dalal Vassine
Mondoweiss
Thu, 12 Aug 2021 00:00 UTC
Abbas
© Thaer Ganaim
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Late last month, the Palestinian Authority's (PA) Council of Ministers announced a new decision to limit freedom of expression for Palestinians already living under Israel's occupation. The PA eliminated Article 22 of the "Code of Conduct and Ethics for Public Service," which stated that public employees have the right to express their opinion verbally or in writing, including on social media. Article 22's only condition was that employees note it was their personal opinion and not that of the government agency where they worked. This is the latest move by PA President Mahmoud Abbas to further curtail the few freedoms Palestinians have and strengthen his tenuous hold on power.

The PA's decision comes on the heels of the torture and murder of activist Nizar Banat. In response to a wave of protests over the assassination, PA security forces and thugs aligned with Abbas's Fatah movement attacked demonstrators. This was followed by the arrests and intimidation of activists as well as journalists, and the employees of legal assistance and human rights organizations. To prevent protests from spreading, Abbas is hoping to extinguish criticism from inside and outside the PA and Fatah.

Comment: Abbas, like Netanyahu, is looking out for himself - the people a distant second. While representing Palestinians on face value, he thrives on enacting Israeli dictates under Washington's purview. His term of office was up years ago and yet he is still in power. He must be useful.

See also:
Will the torturing to death of a vocal critic lead finally to the ousting of Mahmoud Abbas, Palestine's de facto dictator?

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Star of David

Hezbollah responds to fresh Israeli airstrikes and media paints Israel as the "victim"

Robert Inkalesh
MintPress News
Fri, 06 Aug 2021 00:00 UTC
soldier missile debris
© Mohammed Zaatari/AP
Lebanese soldier holds part of Israeli missile from airstrike in southern Lebanon
Sirens blared in the upper Galilee and Golan Heights, as rockets rained down on Israeli-held territory in the disputed Shebaa Farms area this morning. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but a state of fear did seem to emerge in the largest escalation between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah in 15 years.

Lebanese Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the firing of the 19 rockets into northern Israel in response to a series of Israeli air and artillery strikes carried out earlier this week on southern Lebanon. The rocket fire reportedly shocked the Israeli military establishment and sparked further aggression against targets in Lebanon's south; and, in defiance of all evidence, Western mainstream media quickly took to painting Israel as the victim.
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Arrow Up

US imposes more sanctions on crippled Cuba, this time on interior ministry officials and military unit


RT
Fri, 13 Aug 2021 17:09 UTC
Havana cuba
© AFP/Yamil Lage
Havana, Cuba
The US Treasury Department has announced that it will enforce sanctions on two Cuban Ministry of Interior officials and a military unit, in the latest round of penalties imposed by Washington over a crackdown on recent protests.

On Friday, the US said that it was sanctioning Romarico Vidal Sotomayor Garcia and Pedro Orlando Martinez Fernandez, two officials of the interior ministry, accusing them of being "perpetrators responsible for suppressing the Cuban people's calls for freedom and respect for human rights."

The Treasury also said it would impose sanctions on the Tropas de Prevencion of the Cuban Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces.

The US has condemned the Cuban government's response to a recent spate of protests over the past two months. While some protesters oppose the Cuban government and its response to the pandemic and ongoing shortages of goods and medicine, others have appealed for the US to remove crippling economic sanctions on the socialist country, which have been in place since the Cold War.

Officials in Cuba have accused the Biden administration of stoking the unrest.

Comment: US is putting the pedal to 'the meddle'. A day without new sanctions pressed upon some vulnerable part of the world is a day wasted.

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Snakes in Suits

White House fires back at Florida's GOP governor over handling of COVID surge

Shannon K. Crawford
ABC News
Thu, 05 Aug 2021 04:11 UTC
DeSantis
© Mike Fender/News Herald/USA Today Network
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: "I'm standing in your way."
The White House on Thursday hit back at Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis after he told President Joe Biden he will stand "in his way" while the country experiences an alarming surge of COVID-19 cases, with press secretary Jen Psaki saying the "facts" about hospitalizations in Florida speak for themselves.

At Thursday's briefing with reporters, ABC News Correspondent Stephanie Ramos raised DeSantis' latest fundraising push using the president's comments from Tuesday urging DeSantis to help or "get out of the way," and she asked whether Biden is considering reaching out to DeSantis. Psaki responded:
"Well, first, from Day One, we've approached this not as a political issue but a public health issue. We remain in touch with officials in Florida, just like we're in touch with officials from around the country about how we can provide assistance from the federal level to help address this public health crisis."
Then, she turned up the heat.
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Footprints

Pentagon: US to deploy 3K troops to Afghanistan to assist in departure of embassy staff

Gaby Arancibia
Sputnik
Thu, 12 Aug 2021 19:00 UTC
EmbassyKabul
© Wikimedia Commons
US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan
Earlier, the US State Department ordered the evacuation of staff at the US embassy in Afghanistan in light of the "security conditions" being posed by the increasing control by the Taliban. Officials, however, have also stressed that the move it part of ongoing withdrawal procedures from the war-torn nation.

The US Department of Defense revealed on Thursday that it will be sending approximately 3,000 US troops to Afghanistan as part of the branch's efforts to assist in the departure of diplomats and other American civilians in the country.

The Thursday revelation was announced by Pentagon spokesperson Adm. John Kirby, who also informed reporters that the additional troops would be on top of the 650 US troops already stationed in Afghanistan. Kirby explained that 3,000 troops would be deployed to the Hamid Karzai International Airport over the "next few days," and that a reserve force of 3,500 to 4,000 will stage out of Kuwait.

Forces being ordered to Kuwait will be pulled from a combat team based out of North Carolina's Fort Bragg. "This is about prudent preparations," the admiral underscored when asked about the high troop figures. "We believe it's appropriate to the security situation."

Comment: They're sending over a force to avoid total humiliation then.

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Russian Flag

BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford told to leave Moscow in reciprocal move protesting British sanctions against Russians


RT
Fri, 13 Aug 2021 18:33 UTC
Sarah Rainsford
© Getty Images / Roberto Ricciuti
A British foreign correspondent working for the BBC in Moscow has been told her visa will not be renewed she must now leave the country, in a move that comes as relations between the two countries worsen amid a diplomatic rift.

A Foreign Ministry official revealed on Friday that Sarah Rainsford, a reporter for the state-funded broadcaster's Russia bureau, had been denied permission to remain in the country and would have to depart before the end of the month, Bloomberg reports.

Rainsford's right to remain in the country is due to expire on August 31, and an application for a new visa is said to have been rejected.
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