Content

Blog Post

Sep 9, 2021

Afghanistan’s economy under the Taliban: the challenges ahead

By Inbar Pe'er

If their past is any indication of the future, the Taliban will find funds. But their ability to properly manage monetary policy remains to be seen. If they don’t, they’ll surely lose the economic war, and the people of Afghanistan along with it

Afghanistan Economy & Business

BelarusAlert

Sep 8, 2021

Belarus and Europe’s new Iron Curtain

By Brian Whitmore

Kremlin-backed Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's weaponization of illegal migration has forced neighboring EU members to introduce tougher border restrictions and led to talk of a new Iron Curtain.

Belarus European Union

IranSource

Sep 8, 2021

Iran’s new president has blood on his hands

By Nasser Mohajer and Kaveh Yazdani

Iran’s new President, Ebrahim Raisi, played a key role in the execution of some 5,000 political prisoners and was part of the “Death Commission” responsible for the 1988 massacre.

Human Rights Iran

MENASource

Sep 8, 2021

It’s been twenty years since 9/11. The US Army still hasn’t learned to speak Arabic or Dari.

By Jon Tishman

The August withdrawal ended close to twenty years of combat operations in Afghanistan, while the US aims to end seventeen years of combat mission in Iraq by the end of this year. After such lengthy conflicts, one might expect the US Army to be overrun with soldiers fluent in Arabic and Dari. Despite repeated deployments and enough time to educate current senior leaders in the ranks from grade school skills to bachelor’s degree-level, the overall rate of soldiers conversant in target languages remains abysmally low in combat arms, even among codified linguist positions.

Afghanistan Iraq

UkraineAlert

Sep 7, 2021

Could Vladimir Putin repeat his Crimean conquest in southwestern Ukraine?

By Michael Druckman

The Bessarabia region in southwestern Ukraine shares many of the same characteristics that helped facilitate the 2014 Kremlin takeover of Crimea and should be a national security priority for the Ukrainian authorities.

Conflict Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Sep 7, 2021

Ukraine’s digital revolution is gaining momentum

By Mykhailo Fedorov

September marks the second anniversary of Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation. The Ministry can report significant progress in turning President Zelenskyy's dreams of a digital revolution into reality.

Digital Policy Internet

EconoGraphics

Sep 7, 2021

ASEAN’s COVID spike

By Niels Graham

Since April, Asia has experienced a wave of COVID suppressing growth throughout the region. The key question to watch is: will supply chain contagion once again follow the virus west?

East Asia Macroeconomics

UkraineAlert

Sep 5, 2021

US anti-corruption crusade should focus on Europe’s east

By Janusz Bugajski

By making the fight against corruption a key US foreign policy priority, President Biden can counter the Kremlin's efforts to gain influence throughout Central and Eastern Europe via the exploitation of corruption.

Central Europe Corruption

Event Recap

Sep 3, 2021

Event recap: “What is the key to national prosperity?”

By Atlantic Council

On August 18, 2021, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted a virtual roundtable to discuss the themes of the book, Prosperity for all Nations, by Raza Hasan.

Pakistan South Asia

BelarusAlert

Sep 3, 2021

Broadening the pressure on the Lukashenka regime

By Daniel Fried

Recent news of fresh IMF financing for Belarus has sparked controversy at a time when the democratic world is seeking to impose sanctions on the country's Kremlin-backed dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus European Union