TALIBAN ATROCITIES ‘DEEPLY DISTURBING’: Calling reports of atrocities committed by the Taliban “deeply disturbing and totally unacceptable,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned the group that if it continues its offensive and ignores peace talks, it risks total international isolation.
“The Taliban has repeatedly said that they seek in the future a number of things — international recognition, international support; they want their leaders to be able to travel freely around the world; they would like sanctions lifted on them. And none of those things are going to be possible if the Taliban seeks to take the country by force and commits the kind of atrocities that have been reported,” Blinken said at a State Department briefing.
“An Afghanistan, as I’ve said before, that does not respect the basic rights of its people, that does not have a representative and inclusive government, that does not abide by the main gains of the last 20 years, is an Afghanistan that will be a pariah state, certainly for the United States, and I believe for the international community.”
US AIRSTRIKE HITS TALIBAN: Blinken’s warning came as the U.S. conducted an airstrike on Taliban position Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand province, where fighting has entered its fifth day.
The U.S. airstrike yesterday morning reportedly killed seven Taliban, according to Afghanistan’s Tolo News, which reported the Taliban objective appeared to be a prison, the police headquarters, and the district governor’s compound.
Three of Afghanistan’s provincial capitals are under assault by the Taliban. In addition to Lashkargah, Faizabad in Badakhshan and the city of Kunduz in Kunduz province are also under attack.
“I want to emphasize that although U.S. troops are leaving, the United States remains deeply engaged. We will continue to support Afghanistan through security assistance, humanitarian development aid, and diplomatic support for the peace process,” said Blinken yesterday. “The Afghan people deserve a just and lasting peace, and the security and opportunity that peace makes possible. We will do all that we can to advance that goal.”
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HAPPENING TODAY: The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a confirmation hearing at 9:30 a.m. for Army Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, President Joe Biden’s pick to head U.S. Southern Command. Livestream at https://www.defense.gov/Watch/Live-Events
ALSO TODAY: Army Gen. James Dickinson, commander of U.S. Space Command, is the luncheon speaker at the second day of Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Global Maritime Exposition. The remarks will also be streamed at https://www.defense.gov/Watch/Live-Events
VIRTUAL ASPEN SECURITY FORUM: This morning is also the first day of the virtual Aspen Security Forum, which features a full day of panel discussions beginning at 8 a.m. on topics such as “The View from Singapore,” “The Future of the Quad,” and “Cryptocurrencies and National Security.”
Later this morning, there are two discussions on the future of Afghanistan. First at 10:45 a.m., there’s “A Conversation with Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad,” special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation. Followed by “Two Decades On: Lessons from Afghanistan,” with retired Gen. David Petraeus, former CIA director; Roya Rahmani, Afghan Ambassador to the U.S.; P. Michael McKinley, former ambassador of the U.S. to Afghanistan; and Meghan O’Sullivan, Harvard University. See full agenda and register at https://www.aspensecurityforum.org/2021-virtual-asf
NO EASY PATH FOR ‘P-2’ AFGHANS: When the State Department fleshed out the details of its expanded program to provide Afghans who worked for U.S. organizations a way to relocate to the United States, it became clear that the process will be tough for many applicants to complete.
The main difference between the “priority two,” or “P-2 designation,” is that Afghans who qualify have to get themselves and their families out of Afghanistan before their applications can be processed, which officials yesterday said would take more than a year.
And the first step is their employer, whether funded by the U.S. government or a U.S.-based nongovernmental or media organization, has to make a referral to the State Department, certifying the individual worked for them in Afghanistan.
“Once that happens, they are in our system, and we will contact the individual via email to let them know they are now in the system,” a senior State Department official told reporters on a conference call. “Once they get themselves out of Afghanistan, they alert us that they are now outside of the country, tell us where they are, and then we can begin the processing of their caseload to be presented to the Department of Homeland Security for adjudication, granting U.S. Refugee Admissions Program access to certain Afghan nationals and their eligible family members.”
US EXPANDS AFGHAN REFUGEE PROGRAM DUE TO ‘INCREASED LEVELS OF TALIBAN VIOLENCE’
‘THIS IS INCREDIBLY HARD’: At his news conference, Blinken admitted that without U.S. help, it will be an arduous and perilous journey for anyone trying to flee the country into Pakistan, Iran, or other third countries.
“This is incredibly hard. It is hard on so many levels. It’s hard to pick up and leave everything you know, potentially family, friends, community, culture, language. And it’s hard to get yourself to a place where you can take advantage of what opportunities exist to seek to apply for refugee status,” Blinken said. “People have to do very difficult things to make sure that they can find safety and security, and we will do everything we can to help them, including making these different avenues of arrival to the United States for this group of people possible.”
US ENCOURAGING NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES TO WELCOME REFUGEES: “We’ve already been in discussions with neighboring countries, as well as UNHCR to be prepared for potential outflows,” said a senior official. “So in a place like Pakistan, it’ll be important that their borders remain open.”
Blinken said the U.S. will provide financial assistance to feed and house refugees as they wait to enter the U.S., either by way of the P-2 program or the normal channels to seek asylum.
“We are also dedicating very significant assistance, humanitarian assistance, not only in Afghanistan itself but to neighboring countries to enable them to support those who come to their countries, again, seeking potentially, refugee status somewhere or immigrant status somewhere,” Blinken said. “That support, I think, makes it a little bit easier. But I don’t want to deny the challenge and the difficulty. It is indeed a hard thing.”
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The Rundown
Washington Examiner: US expands Afghan refugee program due to ‘increased levels of Taliban violence’
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Defense News: Defense Top Line ‘Will Probably Go Up’: Key Dems See GOP Boost As Path To A Deal
Military.com: Bases Bring Back Mask Mandates as Coronavirus Variant Sweeps Through Unvaccinated Parts of America
Bloomberg: Pentagon Contractors Still Get Accelerated Funds Tied to Covid
Defense One: Top Admiral: Defense Firms Are Lobbying Against the Weapons the US Navy Needs
USNI News: CNO Gilday Wants Industry To Focus On Shipbuilding, Readiness Not Lobbying For Aircraft ‘We Don’t Need’
Seapower Magazine: Gilday: Large Scale Exercise 2021 Will Provide ‘Path To The Future’ For U.S. Navy
Stars and Stripes: Navy and Marine Exercise to Span 17 Time Zones on a Scale Last Seen During the Cold War
Defense News: Pentagon Needs Reorg Before Navy Can Develop Maritime Strategy, Says Rep. Luria
USNI News: First F-35C Fighters, CMV-22B Deploy with Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group
Bloomberg: Hong Kong’s Fate Spurs Japan To Speak Up About Defending Taiwan
Reuters: Seoul Says No Decision On U.S. Drills, But Exercises Should Not Create N.Korea Tension
Bloomberg: North Korea Threatens To Again Suspend Ties With South Over Joint Military Drills With US
Air Force Magazine: NF-16D VISTA Redesignated an ‘X’ Plane to Test Skyborg
Defense Daily: Navy Establishing Two MQ-25 Squadrons For Detachments, Plans To Refuel Test E-2
Air Force Magazine: Air Education and Training Command Embraces Virtual and Augmented Reality
Reuters: Russia Says U.S. Asked 24 Of Its Diplomats To Leave By Sept. 3
19fortyfive.com: Russia’s New PAK DA Stealth Bomber Will Have Hypersonic Weapons
Task & Purpose: ‘We Are All Suffering In Silence’ — Inside The U.S. Military’s Pervasive Culture Of Eating Disorders
AP: Families urge using new DNA tech to ID Pearl Harbor unknowns
Washington Examiner: Opinion: As Ebrahim Raisi enters office, Biden appeases Iran’s drone waltz
Breaking Defense: Opinion: What If The Bigger Shipbuilding Budget Just Doesn’t Come?
19fortyfive.com: Opinion: A Taliban Victory in Afghanistan Means Insurgency in Pakistan
19fortyfive.com: Opinion: What Does Iraq Want from America?
Calendar
TUESDAY | AUGUST 3
7 a.m. Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland — Day Two of the Navy League Sea-Air-Space symposium, with Gen. James Dickinson, commander, U.S. Space Command and others: https://seaairspace.org/tuesday-schedule
8 a.m. — The virtual Aspen Security Forum, Day One, with Michele Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy; Zalmay Khalilzad, special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation; retired Gen. David Petraeus, former director, Central Intelligence Agency; Roya Rahmani, Afghan Ambassador to the U.S.; Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.; and more. See full agenda and register at https://www.aspensecurityforum.org/2021-virtual-asf
9:15 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual Spacepower Forum: “The SASC version of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, particularly its implications for the Space Force, with South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds, and Matt Donovan, director of the Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Research Center. Video posted afterward at https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/spacepower
9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nomination of Army Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson for promotion to general and commander of the U.S. Southern Command. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings
10 a.m. 106 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing: “Authorizations of Use of Force: Administration Perspectives,” with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman; Richard Visek, acting legal adviser, Department of State; and Caroline Krass, Pentagon general counsel. https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/authorizations
10:30 a.m. — Heritage Foundation virtual discussion: “Enhancing Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” with Patty-Jane Geller, policy analyst for nuclear deterrence and missile defense at Heritage; and Brent Sadler, senior fellow for naval warfare and advanced technology at Heritage. https://www.heritage.org/defense/event
12 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “Gaining Advantage Through Mission Integration,” with retired Navy Adm. Scott Swift, founder of the Swift Group LLC; retired Air Force Gen. Hawk Carlisle, president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association; retired Army Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley, executive vice president of Flyer Defense; Dan Patt, adjunct fellow at the Hudson Center for Defense Concepts and Technology; and Bryan Clark, director of the Hudson Center for Defense Concepts and Technology. https://www.hudson.org/events/1997-virtual-event
12 p.m. — Association of the U.S. Army Noon Report webinar: “Army Climate Change Initiatives,” with Jack Surash, performing the duties of the assistant Army secretary for installations, energy and environment; and Amy Borman, deputy assistant Army secretary for environment, safety and occupational health. https://info.ausa.org/e/784783/-Noon-Report
WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 4
7 a.m. Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland — Day Two of the Navy League Sea-Air-Space symposium, with Adm. Karl Schultz, Commandant of the Coast Guard; Thomas Harker, acting Navy secretary; and others. https://seaairspace.org/wednesday-schedule/
8 a.m. — The virtual Aspen Security Forum, Day Two, with Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies; Victoria Nuland, undersecretary of state for political affairs; Adm. John Aquilino, commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Stephen Biegun, former deputy secretary of state; Matt Pottinger, former deputy national security adviser; Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska; and more. See full agenda and register at https://www.aspensecurityforum.org/2021-virtual-asf
10 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Enhancing Security in the Black Sea: The Future of Security Cooperation,” with Elena Poptodorova, vice president of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria; and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event
12 p.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual discussion: “Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military,” with Kyleanne Hunter, commissioner at the Defense Department’s Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military; Kayla Williams, commissioner at the Defense Department’s Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military; Andrew Morral, senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation; Tina Tchen, president and CEO of Time’s Up; and Katherine Kuzminski, director of the CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society Program. https://www.cnas.org/events/special-event
THURSDAY | AUGUST 5
8:45 a.m. — Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress virtual discussion: “Transforming the U.S. Military for an Era of Great Power Competition,” with Air Force Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
10 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual Nuclear Deterrence forum with Gordon Chang, East Asia expert, and author of numerous books on China; and Rick Fisher, senior fellow on Asian Military Affairs at the International Assessment and Strategy Center. Video posted afterward at https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event
11 a.m. — United States Institute of Peace virtual discussion: “Pakistan’s National Security Outlook,” with Pakistani National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf. https://www.usip.org/events/pakistans-national-security-outlook
4 p.m. — Washington Post Live discussion: “UFO” a conversation with Mark Monroe, one of the directors of the Showtime series “UFO,” and UFO expert Greg Eghigian, Ph.D., professor of history, Pennsylvania State University. https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live
FRIDAY | AUGUST 6
2 p.m. 14th and F Streets N.W. — National Press Club Newsmaker Program with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. on “the Air Force mission in an ever-changing national security environment.” Live stream at https://www.press.org/events/npc-headliners
TUESDAY | AUGUST 10
10 a.m. — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense Forum, on the “need for U.S. nuclear modernization,” with Maj. Gen. Michael Lutton, the commander of the 20th Air Force, former Joint Staff deputy director for nuclear and homeland defense operations. Video posted afterward at https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/nuclear-deterrence
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I took the actions I did because I saw that there was corruption and I had a duty — doesn’t make a difference who it was. The president of the United States or not, I had a responsibility to make a correction to speak to the right people, to see if we could fix the issue.”
Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, on MSNBC, discussing his new book recounting his role in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump.
