“Of course, they’re going to deny. They’re in the unfortunate position of having cried wolf so often that it becomes hard to know quite what to believe.”
Afghanistan
Russia Sets Rampart Against Islam in Case It Runs Rampant
“The Russians were here before, they’re here now, and they will be here in the future. To us it makes no difference who stands there, Tajiks or Russians.”
Many Russians Today Take Pride In Afghan War That Foretold Soviet Demise
“The situation is changing dramatically in regards to the deployment of troops to Afghanistan,” said veteran Sergei Morozov. “Those who fought are being looked up to again.”
He Came, He Saw, He Withdrew From Syria
The main unspoken reason for the Kremlin’s Syria mission was to re-establish Russia as a global player on par with the United States.
Germany and Drones
Military experience gained in the Balkans, the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan has made Germany more, not less, assertive. One of the clearest signs is Angela Merkel’s pursuit of weaponized drones.
Uzbeks Try to Blunt Islam’s Rise
“The government itself is creating fundamentalism,” says Mikhail Ardzinov. “We say we need to conduct a dialogue with religious people. Now it’s become dangerous.”
Taliban Jars Central Asia
Moscow’s futile attack on Afghanistan was launched from this scorching border town 20 years ago. Now it’s bracing itself for an invasion in the reverse direction.
Oil-and-Gas Rich Country Swallows Money, Still Needing More
“You have to swim somewhere,” says one girl who emerges from the murky water. “We live here, so what choice do we have? Our hair and teeth haven’t fallen out yet.”
Wild Rides and Waiting Games in Remote Afghanistan
Just one seat away on the helicopter sits Commander Masood himself. As I prepare to introduce myself, I notice his lips are moving in silent prayer. I wonder if I shouldn’t be doing the same.
Taliban POWs Dream of Exporting Their Brand of Islam
“We want to turn Afghanistan into our base and bring Islam to the whole world,” says Salahuddin Khalib, a Taliban fighter whose bright eyes shine through his oversized glasses. “We know that many Muslims will die. But if 10,000 are killed in the process, we’ll make 5 billion new ones.”
