Blog Posts

A report published in November by the Institute for the Study of War flatly stated that Afghanistan is “a safe haven for terrorist plots against the U.S. homeland.” Afghan officials believe there are now an estimated 3,000 Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is denouncing the Syrian government and Russia for the failure of a cease-fire in Syria that the U.N. Security Council demanded two weeks ago.

"Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has put a peace offer on the table, and analysts say the ball is now in the Taliban's court."

"Anger grows in majority community over poverty and official neglect; ‘No one has repaid us for our sacrifices.’"

"Expectations for an Afghan peace process grew last month with the Taliban’s release of a letter addressed to the American people offering to negotiate."

Continue on for a link to a great list of books, papers and memoirs compiled by Dave Maxwell at Task & Purpose.

"U.S. intelligence agencies estimate that more than 40,000 foreigners from at least 120 countries flocked to Iraq and Syria to join Islamic State."

"The U.S. is adding military advisers and combat aircraft as part of President Donald Trump's new Afghanistan war strategy, but Congress appears to be paying little attention."

"Whether trading speed for altitude or cost for capability, military aviation requires compromise."

"Turkey is preparing an imminent attack on the Syrian city of Afrin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday."

"We have watched carefully the evolution of Ukraine’s armed forces since the war began and it is impressive."

"U.S. military officials offer no plan to finish the war without the hundreds of Kurdish fighters who fled, risking a resurgence of the jihadist group."

The Taliban has not formally responded to Ghani’s proposal. His remarks suggest the group has not even indirectly communicated to Kabul whether it is willing to engage in a peace process.

"Data the Pentagon issued last year to spotlight the success of operations against militant groups in Afghanistan were inaccurate, raising questions about real progress."

"Conflict follows humanity wherever it goes, and the world’s population is increasingly living in cities."

"U.S.-allied forces in eastern Syria said Tuesday that they are withdrawing from the front lines of the war against the Islamic State."

"Both services are now updating their urban operations doctrine for the first time in years."

"Washington officials routinely call Turkey a vital ally, yet Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government have threatened U.S. forces."

The U.S. military has gotten a boost from the current administration but still lacks a clear threat-focus (what do we want to be prepared for).

Continue on for a SWJ update - includes SWJ and Council signup issues.

"Offensive operations against IS fighters in eastern Syria have been paused because U.S.-backed Kurdish soldiers have shifted to a separate fight against Turkish forces."

"The Islamic State just released a video that allegedly shows three U.S. soldiers being attacked in Niger."

SWJ is kicking off an ambitious new project concerning the U.S. Marine Corps’ Combined Action Program in Vietnam. To begin the project, SWJ is requesting reviews of this classic.

“Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan, Ukraine – the globe is scarred by violence.”

The role of women and their potential in countering extremism around the world is often overlooked and underestimated, a group of experts told U.S. lawmakers this week.