Due to Christmas/New Year's holiday, my net access will range from spotty to non-existent for the next few days/weeks. Happy holidays everyone!


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Hundreds Call For Release Of Afghan Assets In Taliban-Sanctioned Protest

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/kabul-protest-afghanistan-taliban-sanctioned/31619417.html



'Maybe the War Would Have Ended Earlier.' Afghanistan Watchdog Says Secrecy Hurt Oversight Effort

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/maybe-the-war-would-have-ended-earlier-afghanistan-watchdog-says-secrecy-hurt-oversight-effort/ar-AAS1lBf



The Pawns Gambit

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/india/articles/20211221.aspx



New Survey Shows Afghan Media 'Carnage' After Taliban Takeover

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-media-carnage-taliban-takeover/31618250.html



Pakistan is opening a dangerous Pandora's box with the Taliban

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/586567-pakistan-is-opening-a-dangerous-pandoras-box-with-the-taliban



Pakistan tests home-grown missile with additional range

https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-india-02f6b2194ed082d786b8640a650d00f4









First squadron of S-400 deployed in Punjab sector: Report

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/first-squadron-of-s-400-deployed-in-punjab-sector-report-101640055551309.html









Iran's envoy to Yemen's Houthis dies of COVID-19 after coming home - statement

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-689333



Tensions rising between U.S. and Iran; New Year’s seen as potential flashpoint

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/tensions-rising-us-iran-new-years-seen-potential-flashpoint-rcna9347



Iran fires ballistic and cruise missiles in Gulf war games

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-fires-ballistic-cruise-missiles-gulf-war-games-2021-12-21/



Iranian President Raisi’s Renewed Emphasis on Space Is Likely to Create New Tensions

https://warontherocks.com/2021/12/iranian-president-raisis-renewed-emphasis-on-space-is-likely-to-create-new-tensions/









Saudi-led coalition strikes halt UN aid flights into Yemen's capital

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20211221-saudi-led-coalition-strikes-halt-un-aid-flights-into-yemen-s-capital









Turkey, Russia working closely on Syria issue as US excluded - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-689355




U.N. Chief Calls for Investigation Into 2020 Lebanon Port Explosion That Killed 216

https://www.newsweek.com/un-chief-calls-investigation-2020-lebanon-port-explosion-that-killed-216-1661264









Israel said to arrest over 100 Hamas members in Hebron area in major sweep

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-arrest-over-100-hamas-members-in-hebron-area-in-major-sweep/



Palestinians shoot at IDF as it maps out demolition of terrorist homes

https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/article-689296



10 Israelis set to be indicted for illegally exporting missiles to China

https://www.timesofisrael.com/10-israelis-set-to-be-indicted-for-illegally-exporting-missiles-to-china/



Ex-intel chief confirms Israel’s role in Soleimani killing

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-jerusalem-israel-military-intelligence-cfba78c69ae656697684ab92c4cac5b9



Hamas sees terrorism as the way to push Israel towards concessions - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/article-689370









French army kills key IS group suspect in 2020 murders of Niger aid workers

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20211221-french-army-says-it-killed-key-suspect-in-2020-murders-of-niger-aid-workers




Foreign Drones Tip the Balance in Ethiopia’s Civil War

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/world/africa/drones-ethiopia-war-turkey-emirates.html









Ukraine Enters Russian Invasion ‘Danger Period’

https://coffeeordie.com/russian-invasion-danger-period/



Analysis: 'No walkover' - Ukraine could extract high price for any Russian attack

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/analysis-no-walkover-ukraine-could-extract-high-price-for-any-russian-attack/ar-AAS1ozf



Pentagon Team Has Returned From Assessing Ukraine's Air Defense Needs

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43596/pentagon-team-has-returned-from-assessing-ukraines-air-defense-needs



Suspects in Dutch trial 'fully responsible' for MH17 downing, prosecution says

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/suspects-dutch-trial-fully-responsible-mh17-downing-prosecution-says-2021-12-21/



Russians who shot down Malaysian Airlines flight wanted to shoot down a Ukrainian fighter

https://warisboring.com/russians-who-shot-down-malaysian-airlines-flight-wanted-to-shoot-down-a-ukrainian-fighter/



Russia Is Now Claiming the U.S. Is Preparing a ‘Chemical Weapons’ Attack in Ukraine

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russias-defense-minister-sergei-shoigu-claims-us-is-preparing-chemical-weapons-attack



Putin Argues U.S., Talk of NATO Expansion to Blame for Increased Tensions With Ukraine

https://www.newsweek.com/putin-argues-us-talk-nato-expansion-blame-increased-tensions-ukraine-1661651



In 2014, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Was Aging And Weak. Today, It Can Fire Cruise Missiles At Kiev.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/12/21/in-2014-russias-black-sea-fleet-was-aging-and-weak-today-it-can-fire-cruise-missiles-at-kiev/



Putin warns of possible military response over ‘aggressive’ Nato

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/21/putin-warns-of-possible-military-response-to-aggressive-nato-russia



The Changing Face of Russian Counter-Irregular Warfare

https://warontherocks.com/2021/12/the-changing-face-of-russian-counter-irregular-warfare/



Russia fires cruise missile from Sea of Japan in test exercise -media

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-fires-cruise-missile-from-sea-of-japan-in-test-exercise-media/ar-AAS0BJl



Russia Won't Rule Out Nukes in Belarus Amid NATO Standoff, Diplomat Says

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-rule-out-nukes-weapons-belarus-nato-standoff-ukraine-diplomat-andrey-rudenko-1661613



Russia’s Predator-Like Drone Is Now Shooting Down Other Drones

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43585/russias-predator-like-drone-is-now-shooting-down-other-drones



How the Kremlin Is Militarizing Russian Society

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/world/europe/russia-military-putin-kremlin.html



'Don't ask us any questions': Mother of dead fighter says Russian mercenary group left her in the dark and threatened her access to her son's gravesite

https://www.businessinsider.com/wagner-group-family-accounts-2021-12



Russian Citizens Are Now Being Prepped for Nuclear War

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-citizens-are-now-being-prepped-for-nuclear-war



Russia Introduces Regulations To Expedite Mass Burials Of Those Killed During Military Conflicts

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-mass-burials-regulations/31619324.html





Thirty years after Soviet collapse, Russia maintains grip on breakaway Georgian province

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211221-thirty-years-after-fall-of-ussr-russian-maintains-grip-on-georgian-breakaway-province




Belarus, Poland block UN team from accessing border amid migrant crisis

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211221-belarus-poland-block-un-team-from-accessing-border-amid-migrant-crisis




Hungary to Acquire IRIS-T Air-to-Air Missiles

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/12/21/hungary-iris-missile/




Bulgarian Air Force receives Zlin 242L trainers

https://defbrief.com/2021/12/21/bulgarian-air-force-receives-zlin-242l-trainers/




Nammo finalises drone-mounted M72 development

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/weapons-headlines/latest/nammo-finalises-drone-mounted-m72-development




Germany plans to step up Asian deployments after warship’s South China Sea foray

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3160545/germany-plans-step-asian-deployments-after-warships-south-china




The First Dreadnought-class submarine will enter service in the early 2030s

http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/december/11144-the-first-dreadnought-class-submarine-will-enter-service-in-the-early-2030s.html



BAE exploring military applications for Eve eVTOL aircraft

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/bae-exploring-military-applications-for-eve-evtol-aircraft/








American missionaries describe daring escape from Haitian kidnappers

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20211221-american-missionaries-describe-daring-escape-from-haitian-kidnappers



US to Provide Weapons, Armored Vehicles to Haiti

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/12/21/us-weapons-vehicles-haiti/









China’s PLA Is a Peasant Army No More

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/12/chinas-pla-peasant-army-no-more/360021/



China is Home to World's First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-21/new-reactor-spotlights-china-s-push-to-lead-way-in-nuclear-power



China: Snitching To Survive

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htintel/articles/20211221.aspx



Bullish China Warns U.S. Unification With Taiwan Unstoppable by 'Any Force'

https://www.newsweek.com/bullish-china-warns-us-unification-taiwan-unstoppable-any-force-1661529



Chinese spies have penetrated Taiwan’s military, case documents reveal

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/taiwan-china-espionage/





Would China Really Invade Taiwan? The US Military Isn’t Taking Any Chances

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/12/would-china-really-invade-taiwan-the-us-military-isnt-taking-any-chances/





An Eagle Takes Shape – Indonesia’s Elang Hitam MALE UCAV

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/12/an-eagle-takes-shape-indonesias-elang.html










Silicon Valley warns the Pentagon: ‘Time is running out’

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/12/silicon-valley-warns-the-pentagon-time-is-running-out/



Russian National with ties to Putin's office extradited to U.S. over insider trading, hacking scheme

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/other/russian-national-with-ties-to-putins-office-extradited-to-us-over-insider-trading-hacking-scheme/vi-AARZUJs



Pentagon’s Inspector General to probe Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage operations

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/12/20/breaking-news/pentagons-inspector-general-to-probe-navys-red-hill-fuel-storage-operations/



The Problem with Drones that Everyone Saw Coming

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/12/problem-drones-everyone-saw-coming/360025/



Pentagon updates extremism policy and says nearly 100 service members engaged in extremist activity in 2021

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pentagon-extremism-military-policy-updates/



Drone Defense: How To Detect And Stop Drone-Based Terrorism

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2021/12/20/drone-defense-how-to-detect-and-stop-drone-based-terrorism/



Northrop Completes Anti-Access/Area Denial Missile Flight Test

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/31033/Northrop_Completes_Anti_Access_Area_Denial_Missile_Flight_Test#.YcIL6VmIZ9A



Congress Authorizes Millions For USS Connecticut (SSN-22) Repairs

https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2021/12/20/congress-authorizes-millions-for-uss-connecticut-ssn-22-repairs/



DARPA Selects Performers to Build Manta Ray Unmanned Underwater Vehicles

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/31028/DARPA_Selects_Performers_to_Build_Manta_Ray_Unmanned_Underwater_Vehicles#.YcIMClmIZ9A



SpaceX launches 52 Starlink satellites from California base

https://www.c4isrnet.com/space/2021/12/20/spacex-launches-52-starlink-satellites-from-california-base/



Designs for next-gen missile defense interceptors pass key review ahead of schedule

https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2021/12/20/designs-for-next-gen-missile-defense-interceptors-pass-key-review-ahead-of-schedule/



US Army will use creepy robots in subterranean environments

https://defence-blog.com/us-army-will-use-creepy-robots-in-subterranean-environments/



Navy Special Ops Has Adapted RQ-21 Blackjack Drones To Deploy Smaller Quadcopters

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43568/navy-special-ops-has-adapted-rq-21-blackjack-drones-to-deploy-smaller-quadcopters



Austal first to reveal contract for US Navy Next Generation Logistics Ship program

https://defbrief.com/2021/12/21/austal-first-to-reveal-contract-for-us-navy-next-generation-logistics-ship-program/

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