Podcasts about afghan pakistan

Tonight we are talking with former NY Army National Guard Captain, Dennis Knowles. Dennis was deployed with Stew to Afghanistan in 2006-2007. Dennis served on the Afghan-Pakistan border with the Afghan National Army. 

Asian Wars BrewingBy FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.[World News]It was the happenstance of another conflict that encouraged Turkish solidarity and Khanate action, the Crimea. Russia had opened a serious door to the Abyss by annexing the Crimea from the Ukraine by force. Technically, Russia had violated Ukrainian sovereignty by seizing that region.The Russians (with tacit support from China) put forth the political notion of 'lost territory'. Thus Vladimir Putin had unwittingly 'green lighted' the greatest consumption of 'lost territory' in the history of mankind. Following Putin's reasoning, all Temujin was doing was reuniting the widely separated pieces of the Great Khanate. His invasion of Xinjiang and Nei Mongol were also part of that policy.The 'Carolina Reaper' spice in this chili was a group called the Crimean Tartars. It didn't get too much press in the West, but in the spring of 2014, the Crimean Tartars, a Turkish ethnic minority, attempted to do to Russia and the new Republic of Crimea what those two had done to the Ukraine. They declared their own autonomous state within the Crimea.Russian security forces quickly squashed that movement, and in doing so, managed to incite the Turkish Republics and the minority Turkish populations living inside the Russian Federation. It was a low grade irritant to the Turkish people that would, in time, have dwindled into being yet another indignity, much like the Uyghur struggles for independence. By the dictates of Fate alone, it was the right irritant at the magic time for the Khanate.The Turkish people were being reacquainted with the clarion call of Pan-Turkish Nationalism. It was an idea that was over 100 years old and rather discredited in most circles, treated as an anthropological discipline, but not as a political ambition. But there were now three igniters for the Khanate Phoenix.The dismissive treatment of the Crimean Tartars was the smallest spark, yet also the most crucial in that it reminded your average Turk that for 100 years, they had been the victims of secular, oppressive regimes, the Soviets (Russian) and the Communist Chinese. That oppression was still living its fifteen minutes of fame.The second factor was the boogeyman of the West that had been burning bright-hot over the past twenty years, the Islamic Identity movement. It wasn't just fanatics running around the Syrian Desert, or the Afghan/Pakistan border. It was a strong undercurrent in the Muslim world that recalled the halcyon days of the Caliphate.The original Mongol Khanate hadn't championed any religious doctrine. It had been the Mongol-Turkish successor states that had turned Islam into a weapon to strike down their enemies. That was the history that Temujin and the Earth  and  Sky were embracing. This was both a jihad and a struggle to reassert their ethnic identity.The Russian Federation had arrogantly discarded Turkish appeals. Turkish nationalists were incensed, but they were never big fans of Russia anyway. It was the commuters on their way to work who found this utter dismissal to be insulting. It was the Imams who spoke out against still more sectarian oppression. It was the journalists who wrote a few scathing articles about the new Russian imperialism.When that tiny core of Earth  and  Sky seized power in those four countries, their power was more ephemeral than substantive. The important factors working against them were that they had relatively little power in those countries and no organized political support. (They had been a secret society, after all.) What they did have going for them was an antsy, dissatisfied public and an on-edge military.Remember, the Chinese had launched a series of apparently unwarranted attacks into their nations only forty-eight hours ago and had given these countries some trumped up claims of combating terrorism. The militaries of Kazakhstan and Mongolia discovered that they were at war before sunrise. Not knowing the score, unengaged PLA border units began clashing with their Mongolian and Turkish counterparts.In War as in Love, the same rules held true. The quality of your 'game' was secondary to who approached the girl first. If the girl was on the prowl, you were the answer to her desires. Unless the second guy to show up was remarkably superior, she'd stick with the one who recognized her qualities first.Girls are not nearly as shallow and superficial as guys would like to believe. Unless she's looking for a three-way, she'll take the guy she feels is the least likely to stick with her for the night, rather than become a date-jumper herself. (If she is a party girl, all bets are off.) For the militaries of Kazakhstan and Mongolia, they were about to be that 'second guy' to get to Lady Victory if they didn't get moving.If they hesitated much longer, they knew they'd get clobbered. The unknown person talking to them from the Ministry of Defense was saying that their countries were at war. Shots were being fired. If those generals and colonels had believed there was still time for rational discourse, they would have realized they were engaging in madness.But every second that passed increased the likelihood of planes being caught in their bunkers, runways being cratered, their troops being caught in their barracks and their reserves left unarmed in their homes. The Khanate was broadcasting that a State of War existed. The legitimate governmental infrastructure hadn't adjusted yet, so those militaries went into 'pre-emptive' strike mode.[End World News]So the UN was meeting in Special Session, trying to figure out what had gone wrong in Central Asia. The UN representatives of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan didn't know what was going and as seasoned diplomats, they kept their mouths shut. Only four people in the UN knew the real score.One was my old friend, Oyuun Tömörbaatar, Kazakhstan's Permanent UN Representative. He was fresh off the jet back to New York and most likely, the Khanate's silent ambassador. The other three didn't include the US. No, two of them were Sir Grant, Her Majesty's Representative, and David Donoghue, Ireland's Representative and member of the Illuminati, the O'Shea faction.There also was yet another 'slight problem'. The former Mongolian Representative seemed to have vanished and his Youth Panel Advisor was handing over his own bona fides, which no one at the UN could confirm because the Mongolian Capital, Ulan Bator, was in the midst of a regime change. Until then, Tuguldor Batjargal could speak and talk, but not vote.That news wasn't all that relevant to the Amazons. To the US and the Brits, it was critical. The US Cabinet was still assembling and had no specific orders for their UN Ambassador yet, so it fell to the United Kingdom to make the first move. From the minimal expressions Delilah and Chaz were slipping our way, the Amazons were getting 'Brownie Points' with at least one world government.I had little doubt I was gaining status in Temujin's eyes too. I had delivered diplomatic contact in less than eleven hours, even if it was the British, and not the Americans, putting forth the first feelers. I was soul-sick looking over at Katrina and Elsa. They respected my pain by not congratulating me on a successful diplomatic stratagem.St. Marie had already honored my initiatives by agreeing to send help to the ninja. I doubted such a mission was in the Amazon War Plans Manual. In their past, Amazons always fought alone. Even allies were little more than different factions fighting the same enemy. In the past two weeks that had changed.By my interpretation of events, the Augurs had bound us to the Earth  and  Sky. By conception, I was tied to the Illuminati. I had manipulated my birthright via Vranus to intertwine the blood of House Ishara with that of the 9 Clans. Was I making a difference, not only within my Amazons, but to the World at large?Maybe I was. I would have been happier if I wasn't being such a spaz, stumbling from one encounter to the next, hoping I was doing the right thing. I would have settled for doing the least harm. To survive this, I had to get back to my roots, ambitious playboy. I was going to let people down because of my sexual ambitions. Okay.If I suddenly began to embrace traditional Western morality it was going to break me. I had to prioritize. I was giving women, trapped in the ghostly place between the outside World's secularism and Amazon spiritualism, immortality. I had two unborn daughters and one unborn son who might actually want me around as they grew up."Cáel?" Helena beckoned me. I hadn't heard her come in. I had no idea she was here, which implied another disaster had befallen people in life I cared about. She foisted a box on me. It was wooden, about 30cm x 30cm x 10cm. It had a simple latch that I flipped so that I could look inside. Inside was,"We, the Isharans, decided that if you are going to make a pledge to this outsider woman, then you should give her something of us," she explained. "We were unaware of you making other arrangements, so three of us examined a few of the artifacts Krasimira had transferred to Havenstone and decided on this."I put the box down on the side table. The necklace inside was beautiful, fragile and ancient-looking."It was the gift of a Parthian princess to an Isharan Emissary from, we think it is from the 2nd century," Helena explained. She meant 2nd century CE.The artifacts transferred must have been from the repository of the Amazons, location unknown, that had been held in the Isharan vaults. My House had anticipated my mind-splitting day and selected an engagement gift for Hana Sulkanen."The small selection of rings was unpromising, so, we figure she knows you are unconventional," Helena shrugged.I began crying. I hugged her, then motioned Buffy over to share in the 'family' moment."You are getting married?" CIA Officer Cresky ruined the mood."Yes. I proposed marriage to Hana Sulkanen and she has accepted, but circumstances interrupted my search for the ring," I interlaced deceptions with the truth.I did not mention the timing of the arrangement in order to buy Hana some time to prepare for the CIA rectal probes coming her family's way. I had forgotten the company I ran with."Officer Cresky, if I may?" Chaz spoke in a smooth, yet lethal intonation. "I suggest you circle-file that bit of data." Cresky looked his way, still so sure he knew better than the rest of the room."Very well," Chaz nodded to Cresky. "Before you trip over your own arrogance, think about what we are doing here? Highly equipped mercenaries operating without concern for legal prosecution, bio-terrorism on a scale to rival the European colonization of the Americas, and a military conflict on your soil involving perhaps seven hundred well-armed, experienced light infantry and Special Forces, does any of that ring a bell?""Thank you for that summary, Mr. Whoever-You-Are," Cresky smirked. That lasted about two seconds before FBI Agent Vincent stepped over and landed a painful Gibb-slap (that is from NCIS) to the back of Cresky's head. "What the fuck!" Cresky spat as he stood up, spun around and began to draw down on Vincent.Whoa, we are a fast crowd. Cresky's sixth sense kicked in just in time to realize every Amazon, two of the three Brits, two of the Illuminati and Virginia all held guns pointed at him. Vincent hadn't even bothered to defend himself."Everyone put their guns away," I stated calmly."Let me shoot him," I added with a vicious gleam in my eye. "I've got diplomatic immunity.""Good point," Delilah responded gleefully. "Chaz, go get some of those curtains. We'll used them as a drop cloth. I'll call housekeeping.""I like this plan," Buffy jumped in. "I think we can stuff his body in the refrigerator.""I'll make sure to leave a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door when we leave," Helena finished up our murderous conspiracy. They weren't done with Cresky. Color Sergeant Chaz Tomorrow strode purposefully to the closest drapes and yanked them down with no effort."I'm afraid I can't let you do this," Vincent extended a palm to Chaz.I couldn't begin to describe how stupid that was, had Chaz not been a consummate professional. He dropped the curtains, moved past Vincent and returned to his station by the MI-6 leader who was continuing an unbroken telephone conversation. No sooner had we re-holstered our firearms,"Sulkanen eh?" Senior Field Officer George Cresky looked back at me.The entire time Deidre, Riki, Javiera, Katrina and Captain Moe were on their phones, giving and receiving information from their various organizations. That explained the lack of refereeing from the people with authority, unless you counted on me to be in charge. No one was. The ATF guy had open his laptop and was streaming some data with Elsa looking over his shoulder.The ICE agent was playing phone tag with his brethren in Arizona. They were trying to figure out who all those dead Chinese guys were and how they had gotten into the country, with all their freaking armory. With old Jonas still waiting for his bail hearing, the ICE guy was also juggling the Homeland Security inquiries that Javiera couldn't deal with at the moment."George," I shrugged. "I'm not going to threaten you. It is pointless. You think you are the smartest man in the room. I think you are the fifth smartest and that's only because I've recently experienced a lobotomy that gifted me with five thousand years of life experiences. My money is on Katrina being smarter than Javiera, but I don't really know her yet.""Who do you think is fourth?" George scoffed."Riki, of course, moron. I only rate her below Javiera and Katrina because she even remotely believes I might be Irish," I chuckled."No, I don't," Riki corrected me in a brief interlude in her phone conversation."What about me?" Delilah mused."If you were smarter than me, you would be halfway to Heathrow by now," I pointed out."Damn it!" Delilah snapped her fingers, conceding me this round."Agent Loire, I see you aren't arguing with him," Virginia prodded her colleague."I learned some time ago that I don't need to possess the highest IQ to get the job done. Smart people screw up just as often as dumb ones," Vincent related. "I'm a big believer in common sense and the remarkable ability for most people to ignore it.""Thank you for that wisdom, Sir," I bowed to Vincent. "I'm glad today hasn't been a total waste.""You are saving lives," Virginia brought up. By the looks I was getting from the 'talkers', they agreed with her. I didn't."By all means, when I've actually saved a single soul, let me know," I countered unhappily."Wakko Ishara," Wiesława got my attention, "we need to be going."Making it to Hana on time was on my wish list, so I gave the various female authorities a quick acknowledgement, grabbed the box, and then made for the door. For a split second, I almost made it out the door with only two bodyguards (Wiesława and Saku), almost."Cáel? Where do you think you are going?" Buffy inquired.I was head of a First House of the Amazon Host, a Prince of Hungary, a diplomat from the Pugnacious Nation of Ireland and, a prospective sex toy to the Illuminati."Run for it!" I urged my two companions as I raced past them."Son of a Bitch!" Buffy yelled after me. "Get him!"I really am a bad influence on most of the people I meet. And the three of us were safely ahead of the pack until I had to stop to pound on the elevator button. The reactions of Nikita and Skylar saved me. Nikita put her hand on her piece and took two steps my way. Skylar turned the other way, trying to figure out what we were running from.Buffy collided with her, became tangled up and they fell over together. Helena, coming right behind Buffy, leapt over those two and ended up impacting with Nikita. Helena landed face-first on Nikita's back. Wiesława, Sakuniyas and I fled into the elevator and hit a button for a lower floor."What are we doing?" Wiesława inquired in a nervous tone."I don't want to walk around with a freaking army, Wiesława," I confided. "I want to have a bit of intimacy when I meet with Hana.""Why didn't you tell our sisters that?" she reposted."Would they have listened?" Saku snorted. "Amazon, would you have listened if he insisted you stay away?""I, " Wiesława looked from Saku to me then back to me. "No, but why are we running away from his 'First'?""Child, this oddity I understand," Saku studied me. "Before battle, we would kick the heads of dead enemy scouts around to ease the tension. It was a nonsensical thing to do before facing death. Whatever else I dislike about this one," she gave me a sign of her approval, "he does not shy away from the fight, nor deludes himself into thinking a fight is not coming.""He is easing his nerves," she concluded."That is the nicest thing you've ever said about me," I gave her a respectful nod."I was wrong to doubt you were the grandson of Alal," she explained. "That was one of the things that drew me to him, I loved battle too much and he loved it not at all. We complimented each other."The elevator opened up on the tenth floor and off I ran. The Odd Couple was on my heels."Where are we going?" Wiesława asked."The service elevator. There must be fifty people in the lobby waiting for us and I'm not pulling a Butch and Sundance," I huffed. Those two didn't get it. Pamela would have.Not only did I have to find the service elevator, but I had to find someone in Facilities or Housekeeping because this elevator wasn't for guests and had its own key code. I found the elevator first. The doors opened. It was Pamela."How the?" I huffed as I jumped on board."Rachel fitted you with a tracking device, Chumley," Pamela joked. The four of us were heading down into the bowels of the hotel and, hopefully, an unguarded exit."Damn it!" I groused. "Tennessee, you need to keep me abreast of such things.""Don't Tux your tail between your flippers and waddle away," Pamela chortled."This isn't nearly as much fun when they don't get it," I reminded her."Be patient," Pamela snickered. "I'm sure their curiosity is eating them alive."

Today's guest on the Danger Close Podcast with Jack Carr is retired U.S. Army Infantry captain Sean Parnell. As a 10th Mountain Division soldier, Sean served in some of the heaviest combat of the Afghan War. Join Jack and Sean as they discuss Sean's 485 days of fierce fighting on the Afghan-Pakistan border in 2006-2007 and key leadership take-aways from Sean's time in service. They also discuss Sean's two congressional runs and the power, money and manipulations at play from at home and abroad on the U.S. political system. Sean captured his experiences in Afghanistan in the New York Times bestselling book Outlaw Platoon and is currently the host of the Sean Parnell Battle Ground Podcast, which airs daily at 5pm EST. To learn more about Sean, follow him on Instagram @officialseanparnell and visit his website, https://officialseanparnell.com/. SPONSORS: Red Sky Mourning – The 7th novel in the James Reece Terminal List series. Pre-order here - http://jackcarr.co/rsm Bravo Company Manufacturing: Visit us on the web here - http://jackcarr.co/bcm and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA SIG: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the legendary SIG SAUER P226. Learn more here - https://jackcarr.co/40th-p226 Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here - https://jackcarr.co/gear

Amidst deteriorating relations between Kabul and Islamabad, news emerged on 18th December. The Afghan ambassador to Pakistan confirmed that an invitation had been extended to Pakistani politician Maulana Fazlur Rahman to visit Kabul. The visit, according to many sources, was intended to defuse tensions between the neighbours; Fazlur Rahman, an influential politician and religious scholar, could mediate between the two.In Episode 5 of Season Two of The Afghan Eye podcast, Ahmed-Waleed Kakar discusses Maulana Fazlur Rahman: who is he, what is his background, and why is he important enough to serve as a mediator between Afghanistan and Pakistan? Ahmed-Waleed Kakar also asks experts about their views on the prospects of any mediation being successful.Fazlur Rahman invited to visit Kabul:https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450369/fazl-invited-to-kabul-amid-rising-tensionsFazlur Rahman to visit Kabul on Wednesday: https://www.ariananews.af/maulana-fazal-ur-rehman-to-visit-kabul-on-wednesday/Fazlur Rahman interview with BBC Pashto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldg-oLctJ2MUS sanctions on two Taliban leaders:https://www.state.gov/promoting-accountability-in-support-of-the-75th-anniversary-of-the-universal-declaration-of-human-rights/Support the show♦ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Afgeye ♦ PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/afghaneye ♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afghaneyeinsta/ ♦ X: https://X.com/AfgEye♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afgeyeFB/ ♦ Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yb4sz7bh ♦ Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/ycjlytsz ♦ Google Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/y5qsvqq2 ♦ Shop: https://teespring.com/stores/the-afghan-eye-podcast

Your daily news in under three minutes.

This edition features stories about an explosion in Kabul, security operations at Khyber Pass at the Afghan-Pakistan border and the gate closure of Torkham Gate in response to militant activity. Hosted by Senior Airman Jamie Cicioria.

This edition features stories about a meeting between the Afghan Government and Regional Command South-West to increase security in Marjah District, and a meeting in Kunar Province to discuss security along the Afghan-Pakistan border. Produced by Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin Diaz. Afghanistan

A deep dive into the sensitive geopolitics at the Afghan-Pakistan border. Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. After 20 years of war, in August 2021, the United States became the most recent superpower to be seen off by Afghanistan. After the US withdrew, the Taliban, whom the United States had kicked out in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, swiftly seized power again. But since then, the Taliban has challenged the status of the Afghan-Pakistan border and given haven to the anti-Pakistan insurgent group, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, TTP, which has killed thousands of Pakistanis and wants to establish a Taliban-style Sharia state in Pakistan.  In this episode, to explain the complicated knot in that volatile region, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Javid Ahmad, a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council South Asia Center, and former ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates; and Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy and editor of the foundation's Long War Journal.  Highlights (click/tap above):  2:35 The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is a classic case of reverse insurgency 4:50 Many believe the Pakistani military is in a pre-war stage with the TTP 5:30 Pakistani state, elites seek “strategic depth” within Afghanistan, against India – and continue to support the Afghan Taliban 7:20 The risk from Al Qaeda to the region and the US is very great; the Taliban is not abandoning Al Qaeda 13:10 The Taliban, or Afghans in general, have nothing in common with China 16:10 The wheel of jihad keeps on turning – and could turn into a major problem for the Pakistani state 21:17 Washington should diversify its approach toward the Taliban  Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Fa'izah Sani Follow Asian Insider with Nirmal Ghosh every fourth Friday of the month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Asian Insider videos: https://str.sg/wdcC --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A deep dive into the sensitive geopolitics at the Afghan-Pakistan border. Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. After 20 years of war, in August 2021, the United States became the most recent superpower to be seen off by Afghanistan. After the US withdrew, the Taliban, whom the United States had kicked out in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, swiftly seized power again. But since then, the Taliban has challenged the status of the Afghan-Pakistan border and given haven to the anti-Pakistan insurgent group, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, TTP, which has killed thousands of Pakistanis and wants to establish a Taliban-style Sharia state in Pakistan.  In this episode, to explain the complicated knot in that volatile region, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Javid Ahmad, a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council South Asia Center, and former ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates; and Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy and editor of the foundation's Long War Journal.  Highlights (click/tap above):  2:35 The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is a classic case of reverse insurgency 4:50 Many believe the Pakistani military is in a pre-war stage with the TTP 5:30 Pakistani state, elites seek “strategic depth” within Afghanistan, against India – and continue to support the Afghan Taliban 7:20 The risk from Al Qaeda to the region and the US is very great; the Taliban is not abandoning Al Qaeda 13:10 The Taliban, or Afghans in general, have nothing in common with China 16:10 The wheel of jihad keeps on turning – and could turn into a major problem for the Pakistani state 21:17 Washington should diversify its approach toward the Taliban  Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Fa'izah Sani Follow Asian Insider with Nirmal Ghosh every fourth Friday of the month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Asian Insider videos: https://str.sg/wdcC --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A deep dive into the sensitive geopolitics at the Afghan-Pakistan border. Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. After 20 years of war, in August 2021, the United States became the most recent superpower to be seen off by Afghanistan. After the US withdrew, the Taliban, whom the United States had kicked out in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, swiftly seized power again. But since then, the Taliban has challenged the status of the Afghan-Pakistan border and given haven to the anti-Pakistan insurgent group, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, TTP, which has killed thousands of Pakistanis and wants to establish a Taliban-style Sharia state in Pakistan.  In this episode, to explain the complicated knot in that volatile region, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Javid Ahmad, a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council South Asia Center, and former ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates; and Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy and editor of the foundation's Long War Journal.  Highlights (click/tap above):  2:35 The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is a classic case of reverse insurgency 4:50 Many believe the Pakistani military is in a pre-war stage with the TTP 5:30 Pakistani state, elites seek “strategic depth” within Afghanistan, against India – and continue to support the Afghan Taliban 7:20 The risk from Al Qaeda to the region and the US is very great; the Taliban is not abandoning Al Qaeda 13:10 The Taliban, or Afghans in general, have nothing in common with China 16:10 The wheel of jihad keeps on turning – and could turn into a major problem for the Pakistani state 21:17 Washington should diversify its approach toward the Taliban  Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Fa'izah Sani Follow Asian Insider with Nirmal Ghosh every fourth Friday of the month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Asian Insider videos: https://str.sg/wdcC --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a new era of True Spies begins, Sophia di Martino joins the experts to reveal Osama bin Laden's origins, methods and motivation. CIA operatives Gina Bennett and Tracy Walder join CNN's Peter Bergen, the man who first interviewed Osama, to share the unvarnished truth about Bin Laden's rise to power. In Part 1 of this three-part epic we follow Bergen to the mountainous Afghan-Pakistan border region for the recording of the first televised interview with the Al Qaeda leader. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producers: Gemma Newby, Joe Foley. Produced by Max Bower. Music by Nick Ryan.

Today we have a Combat Story first with our first Astronaut who spent over 377 days in space and completed 10 spacewalks (where he's actually out in space in nothing but his suit): Chris Cassidy. Before he joined NASA, Chris was a Navy SEAL and was one of the very first sent into Afghanistan in 2001 after 9/11. There's very little Chris has not accomplished. He attended the US Naval Academy, received a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has two Honorary PhD's. As a SEAL, Chris earned a Bronze Star with Valor and a Presidential Unit Citation for combat in Afghanistan. He was NASA's 14th Chief Astronaut, which is the head of NASA's Astronaut Corps and is the principal advisor to the NASA Administrator on astronaut training and operations.Chris is incredibly humble given his accomplishments and it's no surprise he is now President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, where he's leading efforts to build out an iconic Museum for MOH recipients, a Leadership Institute, and a Monument on the National Mall.I hope you enjoy this view from Space from such a down to Earth man as much as I did. Special thanks to previous guests Darrell Utt and Mike Hayes who helped us connect with Chris.Find Chris Online:-Instagram @astro_seal-Instagram @mohmuseum -MOH Museum Donation www.mohmuseum.org/donateFind Ryan Online:-To support Combat Story and get exclusive content, head to Patreon www.patreon.com/combatstory-Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory-Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/-Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory-Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial-Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial-Email ryan@combatstory.com-Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus-Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio JungleShow Notes:0:00 - Intro 1:05 - Guest Introduction (Chris Cassidy) 2:31 - Interview begins 8:10 - Childhood and interest in military 19:18 - Path to SEAL Teams 25:20 - About his first SEAL Team, an underwater vehicle team29:30 - Where he was when 911 happened and how SEAL Team 3 reposnded38:19 - Combat Story - First time leading troops into an engagement 42:07 - Combat Story - Aha moment while on a mission in the caves of Afghan-Pakistan border46:56 - Team dynamics in a small unit like a SEAL Team 52:09 - Leadership and the danger of complacency and overconfidence 54:24 - Transition to NASA 1:04:53 - First flight expereince as an astronaut1:13:15 - First spacewalk experience1:17:56 - Story of a hairy experience during a spacewalk mission1:30:14 - Feeling privileged to do the work and the long-term fatigue that can happen 1:31:53 - National Medal of Honor Museum 1:40:56 - Dealing with setbacks along his path 1:43:05 - What did you carry into combat/space? 1:44:21 - Would you do it again? 1:45:46 - Listener comments and shout outs

BRADLEY THAYER, Founding Member, Committee on the Present Danger: China, Author, How China Sees the World Bradley Thayer talks about the recent institution of stringent COVID lockdowns in Shanghai, China: “…what we're witnessing in Shanghai…is the totalitarian nature of the Chinese Communist Party, laid bare in pursuit of this absurd COVID zero policy…that is essentially only the public explanation of what is really the intent is to ensure the Party's control over all elements of the local government of Shanghai…” MAJ. FRED GALVIN, USMC (Ret.), Author, “A FEW BAD MEN: The True Story of U.S. Marines Ambushed in Afghanistan and Betrayed in America” Fred Galvin talks about his forthcoming book, “A FEW BAD MEN,” which chronicles the events of March 2007 when him and his Marines came under enemy fire in Afghanistan and the ensuing struggle to clear his name: “…we were on a patrol entering this village right on the Afghan-Pakistan border a morning in 2007, March 4th. And explosive device…inside a van filled with fuel detonated in the front of our patrol…that initiated a complex ambush where we were then engaged by four suicide Jihadists…” BILL WALTON, Chairman, Resolute Protector Foundation, Host, The Bill Walton Show, Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute's Center on Wealth, Poverty and Morality, @billwaltonshow Bill Walton talks about the “Masters of the Universe” on Wall Street and their plans for tomorrow's monetary policy: “…in the case of Peter Thiel…he was speaking at…a cryptocurrency conference recently, and he called out Warren Buffett, Jamie Dimon and Larry Fink…all these men…have their financial models based in the old economy. And they have a lot at stake and a lot to lose…Nobody really understands what's going on with their money right now, both in the United States and worldwide”

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://afghannewswire.com/2021/10/25/clashes-at-closed-afghan-pakistan-border/

Ray McPadden is a former Army Ranger, serving with 2nd Battalion/75th Ranger Regiment. Inspired to serve after 9/11, he began his time in the Army as an Infantry Officer with the 10th Mountain Division. Between Iraq and Afghanistan, he served four combat deployments, spending nearly two years fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border during one of those tours. In fact, his unit established the first American foothold in the notorious Korengal Valley. In his relatively short time in the Army, Ray experienced the essence of combat and survival in the Infantry and in Special Operations. He's even reflected on it in two books he's written - one a memoir and the other, a war novel. Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.raymcpadden.com | "And the Whole Mountain Burned" | "We March at Midnight" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

Ray McPadden joined The Protectors to talk about his service, his new book WE MARCHED AT MIDNIGHT, and a ton more.  Ray's Book: We March at Midnight is a blood-spattered tour de force of growing up, leadership, the nature of war, and its aftermath.About Ray:  Ray served as an infantry officer with 2nd Ranger Battalion and 10th Mountain Division, deploying four times and living almost two years on the Afghan-Pakistan border. He earned a Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, and a medal for valor during his time in combat. His first novel, And The Whole Mountain Burned, won the American Library Association's W. Y. Boyd Award in 2019. Ray lives in Montana with his wife, daughter and son.  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/theprotectors)

In this episode, Dr Hakim Wee, who has worked in Afghanistan with Afghan Peace Volunteers for close to 20 years shares the meaning behind his name ‘Hakim' and his journey from running a private medical practice in Singapore to working along the Afghan-Pakistan border. We ask about his biggest takeaways and what keeps him going in the face of endless destruction.

As Biden's Afghan Boondoggle worsens, Charlie talks to a Friend of The Charlie Kirk Show, Candidate for US Senate in Pennsylvania, Author, and American Hero—Sean Parnell. Leaning on experience gained during 485 days of fierce fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border in 2006-2007, Sean walks the audience through the nuances and complexities that Joe Biden and the media fail to acknowledge. He answers an important question about refugees before diving deep into the topic of China, US foreign policy-at-large, and much more.    If you want to support Sean's run for Senate in Pennsylvania, go to ParnellForSenate.Com to donate or learn more.  Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sean Parnell, Retired Army Infantry Captain and candidate for US Senate in Pennsylvania, and Dan Hoffman, Fox News Contributor, and a 30 Year CIA Operations Officer discuss the complete mishandling of the withdrawal in Afghanistan. Parnell was with the Elite 10th Mountain Division and is a veteran of 485 days of fierce fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border. It's clear we need leaders like Sean Parnell and others... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

In this episode, we have a fantastic conversation with author Ray McPadden. We discuss his new memoir, We March at Midnight, which covers his combat tours and life on and off the battlefield. We also discuss his writing methods and publishing process, what he likes to read, fly fishing, his work in Natural Resources with the NPS at Yellowstone, complications with R&R, and transitioning back to civilian life. We really enjoyed this conversation and hope you do as well! We March at Midnight will be out on August 3, make sure to pick up a copy wherever you get your books! Also, don't forget to check out his fiction novel, And the Whole Mountain Burned. Ray served as an infantry officer with 2nd Ranger Battalion and 10th Mountain Division, deploying four times and living almost two years on the Afghan-Pakistan border. He earned a Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, and a medal for valor during his time in combat. His first novel, And The Whole Mountain Burned, won the American Library Association's W. Y. Boyd Award in 2019. Ray lives in Montana with his wife, daughter and son. You can find Ray here. Thanks for coming on, sir! Don't forget to subscribe to and rate the podcast! We don't really know the point of this other than to make us feel good...but we think it helps other people find us! Also don't forget to follow us on Instagram. Website coming soon! Thanks for tuning in. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bourbon-bookshelf/support

Guest: Eric Wentz author of Zero Two Hundred Hours: A Fact-Based Military Thriller. A gripping fact-based account of SEAL military action against terrorism. It takes the captured imagination of the reader on a pre-dawn mission from stopping terrorists with precision sniper attacks on the Afghan/Pakistan border detaining terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In this episode, we explore the interplay between religion and geography through a case study of the mountain regions that formed the borderlands between Afghanistan and British India then, from 1947, Pakistan. In recent years, the region entered the headlines through its association with the so-called Pakistani Taliban. But this was only the latest in a series of movements to emerge from a region whose innate social structures and enforced political autonomy fostered a distinct trajectory of religious development.  Beginning with the formation of this ‘tribal borderland’ through the cartographic boundary-marking of the colonial Great Game, we’ll trace the interplay of religion and geography from the mid-nineteenth century to the present-day as British rule was replaced by Pakistan. Along the way, we’ll follow the transformation of this borderland Islam as traditional Sufi leaders lost influence to reformists associated with the Deoband movement of the lowlands, which was in turn forced to adapt to what had become local religious as well as political modes of self-rule. Nile Green talks to Sana Haroon, the author of Frontier of Faith: Islam in the Indo-Afghan Borderland (Columbia University Press, 2007).

Steven and I chat about being a "good kid", becoming an Army Ranger, his role in the death of Pat Tillman, PTSD, and how the grace of God literally changed his heart.  4:15 Steven begins sharing his faith experience as a child and how he was a "good kid" "The lens I would describe a lot of my faith journey, I suppose, is through the lens of the prodigal son....In retrospect, as I grew up, I am a good rule follower.  I can't stand it if people aren't approving of me.  I viscerally need that...." Steven talks about pride and how the idea of do X and get Y was very appealing to him.   "Going into the military in 2003, I was very much the older son in that story [prodigal son]." 7:55 Steven shares about joining the army in the wake of 9/11 and becoming a Ranger He describes how one becomes a Ranger in the Army. 11:32: Steven became a Ranger in the 2nd Ranger Battalion based at Ft. Lewis where he was assigned to his platoon.  In his platoon were two brothers, Pat and Kevin Tillman. April 2004: Platoon sent to Afghan/Pakistan border to conduct combat operations (raids and patrols) 12:47: Steven explains what a raid and/or patrol looks like for a Ranger Unit.  15:22-27:40 Steven shares the details of April 22, 2004 "Once the smoke cleared our platoon had sustained 2 casualties (2 dead and 2 wounded). One of those that were killed was an Afghan military soldier....the other who was killed that day was Pat Tillman."  28:00Steven shares how the narrative surrounding Pat Tillman death varied greatly between the American media and what actually happened on the ground SHOW NOTES continued  Steven Elliott's book: WAR STORY Elliott Fund __________________________________________ Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB __________________________________________ SPONSOR: Hope Threads  This organization was founded by moms in north Raleigh, who have been inspired and motivated to join with highly resilient and talented refugees as they learn English, and develop marketable skills to support their families. These women come from countries with political turmoil, where they had to fight for the safety of their families. They’ve been given the opportunity to come to the United States and the challenges still exist, though they’ve changed face. Their children are generally thriving in school, though they lack the language skills to understand what’s being said in parent teacher conferences….or to know how to get their children proper medical care in the maze of a medical system.  Multiple barriers exist that prevent these women from traditional employment opportunities, as most of them do not have cars to get them to work, the finances to pay for childcare, or the language skills to communicate and advocate for themselves. Hope Threads was born out of relationships formed over years of serving these women by teaching them English or caring for their children as they learn.  They are graciously hosted by North Ridge Bible Chapel and have virtually no overhead costs, as volunteers teach sewing skills and care for children in a gospel centered children’s program.  You can find them online at hope-Threads.com or on Instagram at hope.threads. Your purchase empowers a resilient woman as she acculturates, learns new skills, and supports her family. Please visit Hope Threads to view their catalog and/or sponsor a refugee woman.    

Sean joined The Protectors to talk Infantry, writing books, and life.  Sean has a ton of experience and it shows in the words of his best-selling books…from his non-fiction Outlaw Platoon to his fiction books Man of War and All Out War.  We also talk about Sean's charity work and giving back to the veteran community.  Listen in…From Sean's BIO: “Army Ranger, combat infantryman with the elite 10th Mountain Division, and veteran of 485 days of fierce fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border, Captain Sean Parnell's unique leadership skills welded his platoon into one of the most fierce and effective American fighting units in modern military history.”Sean's Charity: https://americanwarriorinitiative.com/  “The objective of the non-profit American Warrior Initiative 501(c)3 is to educate, encourage and inspire Americans to give back to our military.”Sean on the Web: https://officialseanparnell.co/Sean on Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanparnellusa Sean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialseanparnell Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/theprotectors)

Hassan Abbas is Professor of International Security Studies and Chair of the Department of Regional and Analytical Studies at National Defense University’s College of International Security Affairs (CISA). Aside from his expertise on Pakistan and Afghanistan, he also travels frequently to Iraq for research work on Hashd al-Shaabi (also known as Popular Mobilization Forces/Shia Militias). Along with addressing the main topic of the Taliban revival, he will compare and contrast Taliban and Hashd. His latest book titled, The Taliban Revival: Violence and Extremism on the Pakistan-Afghanistan Frontier (Yale University Press, 2014) was profiled on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in August 2014. Abbas’ earlier well acclaimed book Pakistan’s Drift into Extremism: Allah, the Army and America’s War on Terror (M E Sharpe, 2004) remains on bestseller lists in Pakistan and India. He also runs WATANDOST, a blog on Pakistan and its neighbors’ related affairs. His other publications include an Asia Society report titled Stabilizing Pakistan Through Police Reform (2012) and Pakistan 2020: A Vision for Building a Better Future (Asia Society, 2011). Dr. Abbas serves as a Carnegie Fellow 2016-2017 at New America where he is focusing on a book project on Islam’s internal struggles and spirituality narrated through the lens of his travels to Islam’s holy sites across the world. He is also currently a Senior Advisor at Asia Society. He was the Distinguished Quaid-i-Azam Chair Professor at Columbia University before joining CISA and has previously held fellowships at Harvard Law School and Asia Society in New York. He regularly appears as an analyst on media including CNN, ABC, BBC, C-Span, Al Jazeera and GEO TV (Pakistan). His opinion pieces and research articles have been published in various leading international newspapers and academic publications.

In this Global IQ Minute with veteran military advisor Stephen Biddle, the topic is the future of American support in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. effect on region's conflicts and the contested Afghan/Pakistan border which Biddle describes as "famously porous" and an area where the sides have a "tendency to negotiate by 155 millimeter artillery."

Will you #BeBoldForChange on International Women's Day 2017 and beyond by taking groundbreaking action that truly drives the greatest change for women? Joining us this week: In the first interview, we speak to Dr Brooke Rogers, the first psychologist at the Department of War Studies and chair of the Behavioural Science Expert Group for the Cabinet, with main research areas focussing on resilience, protecting crowded spaces and behavioural science. In the following interviews, we speak to members of Women in War and International Politics (WWIP): Ashley Pratt, Madison Estes and Farhana Akthar talking to us about their own experiences. Upcoming Events: Energy and Climate Policy between the Trump Presidency and Paris Agreement EUCERS/KAS Energy Talks 2017 7th of March 2017, 14.00 - 16.30 with a lunch upon arrival, River Room Speakers: Professor Dr Friedbert Pflüger, Director, EUCERS, King’s College London, Hans-Hartwig Blomeier, Director London Office, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung 14.20 Julian Popov, former Minister of Environment of Bulgaria, Fellow at the European Climate Foundation, Bernice Lee OBE, Executive Director, Hoffmann Centre on the Sustainable Resource Economy, Senior Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House Jonathan Gaventa, Director, E3G Dr Frank Umbach, Research Director, EUCERS, King’s College London, Daniel Scholten, Assistant Professor, CRNI Managing Editor, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology AFGHAN STUDIES GROUP 9th March 2017 (18:00-19:30) 3rd Floor Franklin Wilkins Building, Room 3.52 “The Defiant Border: The Afghan-Pakistan Borderlands” by Elizabeth Leake. "The Defiant Border" explores why the Afghan-Pakistan borderlands have remained largely independent of state controls from the colonial period into the 21st century. This book looks at local Pashtun tribes' modes for evading first British colonial, then Pakistani, governance; the ongoing border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan; and continuing interest in the region from Indian, US, British, and Soviet actors. LEARNED FROM THE RUSSIAN HACK: THE NEW ERA OF POLITICAL WARFARE 14th March 2017 (17:00-18:30) Pyramid Room ( K4U.04) 4th floor Strand Campus Dr Brandon Valeriano, Cardiff University will discuss ongoing research exploring cyber coercion, external threats and video games, and arms races and arms control in cyberspace. Dr. Valeriano has written opinion and popular media pieces for such outlets as Washington Post, Slate, Foreign Affairs, Business Insider, and War on the Rock. His two most recent books are Cyber War versus Cyber Reality at Oxford University Press (2015) and Russian Coercive Diplomacy at Palgrave (2015) THE PRACTICE OF NATIONAL SECURITY – INAUGRAL LECTURE OF LORD PETER RICKETTS GCMG GCVO, Visiting Professor at the Centre for Defence Studies Wednesday 15th March 2017, 18.30-20.30, Edmund J Safra. Strand Campus. RSVP here Lord Ricketts will reflect on the establishment of the UK National Security Council in 2010, as well as his appointment as the first National Security Advisor and the emergence of a national security approach in the United Kingdom. Tracing how the British Government has coordinated the different strands of its overseas policy from the Committee of Imperial Defence onwards, he will set out why he believes the creation of the National Security Council was a constitutional innovation that deserves to last, and will detail how it operated in its first years while he was the National Security Adviser. For more information, visit kcl.ac.uk/warstudies/events.

Bridget Kendall discusses the roots and reach of Islamist terrorism from Afghanistan to Africa. The historian William Dalrymple looks back to Britain's First Afghan War where many Afghanis rose in answer to the call for jihad. Nadeem Aslam's latest novel ranges across the Afghan-Pakistan border where the past and the present are locked together. Dr Christina Hellmich explores what has happened to al-Qaeda since Osama bin Laden's death. And as David Cameron calls the response to Islamist terrorism in North Africa a "generational struggle", the political analyst Imad Mesdoua looks at the parallels with Afghanistan.Producer: Katy Hickman.

On this episode, a personal security detachment team transports high level personnel throughout Afghanistan, Afghan forces prepare for a transition of authority on the Afghan/Pakistan border, troops continue to help improve the lives of Afghan families, Airmen deliver more than just supplies to troops outside the wire, and sports returns to Libya in time for the 2012 Olympic Games. Present in high definition.

On this episode, we meet Soldiers living with the daily threat of rocket attacks on the Afghan-Pakistan border, U.S. forces consult the Iraqi military as they continue to draw down in Iraq, Afghan security forces take part in a rigorous four month long training program, Marines begin using alternative energy to power the battlefield, and a service member takes it upon himself to help a child. Presented in anamorphic 16:9 format.

We devote this week's show to the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the United States and the decade that has followed. We talk to the editor of the Financial Times, Lionel Barber, about his memories of the time and we hear from FT correspondent Matthew Green about life on the Afghan-Pakistan border, in 2011. Presented by Gideon Rachman with Lionel Barber in the studio in London and Matthew Green in Islamabad - interviewed by Serena Tarling. Produced by LJ Filotrani See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode, we get an inside look at the poppy trade in Afghanistan, a provincial reconstruction team works to bring the government and its people closer together, Gen. Petraeus visits the Afghan-Pakistan border to see the advances in security, U.S. and Moroccan forces further their relationship during African Lion 2011, and two service members find out how small of a world it truly is. Presented in anamorphic 16:9 aspect ratio.

On this episode, Marines launch Operation Rawhide II in an effort to stop illegal activity on the Afghan-Pakistan border, as the government grows and operations against the Taliban continue, the city of Marjah looks to have a bright future, a USAID team completes its search and rescue mission in Japan, two Airmen who participated in Operation Odyssey Dawn receive a heroes welcome, and Afghan communities come together to save the life of one little girl. Presented in anamorphic 16:9 format.

This episode features stories on U.S. forces adjusting to their new roles in Iraq as Operation New Dawn begins, the U.S. military continuing its relief efforts in Pakistan, an aero-medical team transporting wounded warriors from the front lines, Army Soldiers disrupting Taliban activity on the Afghan-Pakistan border and a deployed service member pressing on while his family perseveres at home. Presented in anamorphic 16:9 format.

This edition features stories on Soldiers encountering insurgents while on patrol in Afghanistan, U.S. and Afghan forces maintaining a balance on the Afghan-Pakistan border, service members from all four military branches working together to save lives, Marines helping heal an injured Afghan child, and a veteran program created to give mobility back to service members. Presented in anamorphic 16:9 format.