November, 2021

• 8 November

  Victory in Syria Requires Learning from Afghanistan

  

  At the end of the day, these seemingly intractable conflicts can’t be won with just military might, or even by diplomacy in Geneva, but only by building governance that has the legitimacy of the people. The world was stunned in mid-August when Afghan Armed Forces laid down their weapons in …

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• 8 November

  Cautious Optimism as Syrian Army Returns to SDF Positions

  

  As a Turkish operation in Northern Syria against the SDF looms, the Syrian Army is getting closer to the Kurdish-led group, according to al-Watan. Informed sources within the city of Ayn Issa revealed to al-Watan that the Syrian army has strengthened its presence near Ayn Issa and the outskirts of …

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• 8 November

  Son of Libyan Strongman Haftar Visited Israel, Seeking Diplomatic Ties for Military Aid

  

  With Libyan presidential elections set for late December, Saddam Haftar touched down in Tel Aviv last week for a secret meeting. Could Israeli normalization with Libya be on the horizon? Last Monday, a private jet – a French-manufactured Dassault Falcon, registration P4-RMA – took off from Dubai and landed at …

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• 8 November

  Confronting Challenge Of Weaponized Corruption In Black Sea Region And Beyond – Analysis

  

  Existing and emerging democratic nations around the world—particularly the Black Sea countries bordering Russia—face expanding threats that transcend traditional forms of warfare. Authoritarian regimes such as those of the current Russian Federation and People’s Republic of China increasingly rely on creative measures short of war to undermine, stall, or outright …

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• 8 November

  Countering Transnational Crime Demands Greater Global Cooperation – Analysis

  

  Transnational organised crime (TOC) is becoming an increasingly global problem that will require international and interagency coordination, network analysis and information sharing. Drug trafficking accounts for 30 per cent of the proceeds of TOC. It also includes a wide-range of other criminal activities such as human trafficking, arms trafficking, migrant …

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• 8 November

  New Team and New Fears in Tehran

  

  Major-General Hossein Salami, chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and keynote speaker in this year’s ceremonies, even claims that the US has already lost its global leadership position while a trio made of China, Russia and Iran is emerging as the new arbiter of human destiny. Not responding …

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• 8 November

  European Army: Rhetoric versus Reality

  

  The call for a supranational army, part of a push for Europe to achieve “strategic autonomy” from the United States, is being spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, who, as part of his reelection campaign, apparently hopes to replace outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the de facto leader of …

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• 7 November

  Ethiopia Declares State of Emergency as Civil War Escalates Sharply

  

  As Ethiopia’s civil war continues to drag on, Tigrayan rebels are advancing toward the capital, leading the government in Addis Ababa to declare a state of emergency, currently slated for six months. The Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has apparently joined forces with another rebel group, the Oromo Liberation Army …

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• 7 November

  Saudi Spat with Lebanon Risks Accelerating Regional Instability

  

  In its latest spat with yet another country in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia recently recalled its ambassador to Lebanon and banned Lebanese imports. At times, Lebanon has been caught in the middle of the regional competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin …

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• 7 November

  With Haqqanis at the Helm, the Taliban Will Grow Even More Extreme

  

  The Haqqani network has long been the most lethal and vicious element of the Taliban. Afghanistan’s newly appointed minister of interior and acting minister of refugees each have $5 million bounties on their head for their involvement with international terrorism. Sirajuddin Haqqani and his uncle, Khalil, are members of the …

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