Commentary I don’t always know what will trigger a flashback of my deployment to Afghanistan, but today, it happened to be the song at the end of the 2020 Mulan movie titled, “Loyal Brave True” by Christina Aguilera. As cheesy as that might sound, hear me out. FLASHBACK: When one of the grunts shouted out…

KABUL, Afghanistan — Nearly 80 girls were poisoned and hospitalized in two separate attacks at their primary schools in northern Afghanistan, a local education official said Sunday. It is thought to be the first time this kind of assault has happened since the Taliban swept to power in August 2021 and began their crackdown on…

The House Foreign Affairs Committee will be able to view a dissent cable from the time of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a victory for the committee’s chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas). The committee announced the development on June 5. McCaul, along with Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), viewed the cable on May 23…

Australia has announced the appointment of the country’s next Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. “Today I announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Feakes as Australia’s next Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement on May. 25. “Australia’s Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism is responsible for leading our international engagement on counter-terrorism, including at international…

MIR ALI, Pakistan—A suicide car bomber targeted a security checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing two soldiers, a policeman and a civilian, the military and security officials said. It was the second militant attack to hit Pakistan in as many days. The bombing happened in North Waziristan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province that…

PESHAWAR, Pakistan—Dozens of militants attacked an oil and gas plant on Tuesday in Pakistan’s remote northwest, near the border with Afghanistan, killing four security troops and two private guards, officials said. Oil production was temporarily suspended following the attack on the oil and gas extraction facility run by a multinational European company, MOL Pakistan Oil…

House Republicans are demanding answers from the Pentagon months after the terrorist attack at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2021 that killed 13 U.S. troops and at least 169 Afghan civilians. It comes after a former Marine who survived the Aug. 26, 2021 bombings testified to Congress in March that he was told not to…

After months of back-and-forth tensions, the State Department announced on May 17 that it will allow House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) to view a dissent cable from the time of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. During the briefing at the State Department, principal deputy spokesperson…

After months of back-and-forth tensions, the State Department announced on May 17 that it will allow House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Democratic Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) to view a dissent cable from the time of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. During a briefing at the State Department, principal deputy…

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has requested transcribed interviews with five current and former State Department officials regarding the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. In his May 14 press release, Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) announced his panel’s request for on-the-record interviews, which he asked that the witnesses arrange by May 22. Interviews were requested…