Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners
Quotes of the Day:
“The idea that war is a secular crusade and involves the smiting of the wicked pervades how Americans discuss it. If you want to save your soul go to church. There is no holiness to be found on a battlefield and nations seek it at their own peril. War always amounts to a failure of normal ‘politics’ to resolve a contention, which is why it is ‘politics by other means.’ People are often willing to be cynical about normal politics but drop such skepticism when it comes to politics and organized violence, which is usually infinitely more ethically murky than normal politics often is.”
- Adam Elkus
"No one is more arrogant toward women, more aggressive or scornful, than the man who is anxious about his virility."
- Simone de Beauvoir
“Anger is “a movement generated by decision” that “can be eliminated by decision.” What these Stoic-inspired teachers are trying to teach is control at that pivotal first moment of decision—the “assent to an evaluative impression.” It’s that assent to an impression of having been cheated in the case of these young kids, that gets the impulse of anger going.”
- Nancy Sherman, Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience
1. Top US commanders in Afghanistan wrestle with mistakes and regrets as America's longest war ends
2. ‘Imminent Threat’ or Aid Worker: Did a U.S. Drone Strike in Afghanistan Kill the Wrong Person?
3. Those Still Left Behind in Afghanistan
4. Afghan American woman’s escape highlights secretive CIA role in Kabul rescues
5. Retired two-star general opens up about bipolar disorder; now his mission is to save lives
6. Opinion | What the U.S. Withdrawal From Afghanistan Means for Taiwan
7. Opinion | What we still don’t know about Americans in Afghanistan
8. Jarhead elites: Marine Raiders are aiming high
9. Nuclear Terrorism: A Plausible and Pestilent Threat
10. The Pentagon’s Army of Nerds: Why the military needs Silicon Valley, now more than ever
11. Disinformation Wars: Retired Indian Army Officer Becomes Butt Of Jokes After Sharing Photo From A Movie Set As ‘Truth’ Of Pakistan Army in Panjshir
12. Read former President George W. Bush's speech at the Flight 93 memorial service
13. How Equipment Left In Afghanistan Will Expose US Secrets
14. Thoughts on 11 September: A Special Operations Perspective
15. The Lie of Nation Building
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