Content Type: Fast Thinking

FAST THINKING: What you need to know about the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan

By Atlantic Council

What can the United States possibly do now to manage the fallout? How will all this reshape America’s global standing? Our experts penetrate the fog of war.

FAST THINKING: The Taliban take three major cities. Is Kabul next?

By Atlantic Council

Is the fall of Kabul inevitable? Will terrorists enjoy a safe haven once again? Our Afghanistan experts are here to chart the endgame.

FAST THINKING: What will a post-American Afghanistan look like?

By Irfan Nooruddin, William F. Wechsler

On this episode of Fast Thinking, Atlantic Council experts Irfan Nooruddin and Will Wechsler discuss how the United States can continue to support the Afghan government, break down three possible scenarios for what Afghanistan's plight could mean for the future of counterterrorism, and explain how regional players will shape the country's future.

FAST THINKING: What the UN climate report didn’t say

By Atlantic Council

The report maps a path to avert planetary catastrophe if humans completely stop adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2050. But is that even possible?

FAST THINKING: Dead activists, fleeing Olympians, and jailed journalists: Is this the new normal for Belarus?

By Melinda Haring, Doug Klain

Experts Melinda Haring and Doug Klain from the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center explain what's behind the regime's latest illegal actions abroad and discuss what's ahead for Lukashenka in Belarus as we approach the anniversary of the dictator's illegitimate reelection.

FAST THINKING: Will Facebook’s anti-extremism efforts actually work?

By Rose Jackson, Jared Holt

Following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, social-media platforms are under pressure to address the extremist content circulating on their sites. But what exactly should social media's role be in intervening against extremism?

FAST THINKING: Is the Iraq War over… again?

By Atlantic Council

As the US military formally transitions to an advisory role with Iraqi forces, what’s next for the fights against ISIS and Iran-backed militias? Will anything really change? Our Iraq experts weigh in.

FAST THINKING: Nord Stream 2 gets the green light

By Atlantic Council

How will the United States and Germany balance business needs with security? And what price will Kyiv be forced to pay? We drilled down with our experts for answers.

FAST THINKING: Will quantum computing be the next frontier of competition with China?

On June 29, 2021, the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei unveiled “Zuchongzhi,” the fastest quantum computer in the world, which at fifty-six qubits is just a nose ahead of Google’s Sycamore quantum computer. But are we calling the race too soon? Will the United States and its allies catch up?

FAST THINKING: A turning point on Chinese hacking

By Atlantic Council

What does NATO’s buy-in mean for the world’s response to Chinese hacking? What tools do these allies have to fight back? Our experts messaged us (securely) with the answers.