
‘This is the Darkest Moment’: Afghans Flee a Crumbling Country
The educated middle classes that were meant to be the foundation of a new Afghanistan are tired of terror, insecurity, and the return of the Taliban.

How Not to Leave Afghanistan
Congress has issued a report on the longest war in U.S. history. Here’s hoping Biden ignores it.

Should Biden Ditch All of Trump’s Policies?
From Afghanistan to China, the new administration seems likely to hold on to some ideas from the previous one.

America Is Going the Same Way as the Soviets in Afghanistan
The Soviet withdrawal was a disaster. The U.S. version looks eerily similar.

Trump’s Worst 2 Military Mistakes for Biden to Fix
Some policies may be worth keeping, but Trump’s handling of allies and withdrawals from conflict zones are not among them.

To Leave Afghanistan, Biden Must Solve His Ghani Problem
Even as the United States checks the Taliban, it must stop the Afghan president from playing the spoiler.

Afghanistan Wanted Chinese Mining Investment. It Got a Chinese Spy Ring Instead.
Desperate to jump-start its economy, Kabul is sick of waiting for Beijing to tap the country’s mineral wealth.

Another Base Attack in Afghanistan Hushed Up to Hurry U.S. Exit
Camp Chapman, once the scene of the CIA’s second-deadliest day, was hit again in December—but never reported.

How Press Freedom Came Under Attack in 2020
Citizens hungry for information turned to the media during the pandemic, but governments around the world used the crisis to restrict journalists.

10 Conflicts to Watch in 2021
The world in 2021 will be haunted by the legacies of 2020: an ongoing pandemic, an economic crisis, Donald Trump’s divisive presidency—and new threats emanating from wars and climate change.

Looming Aid Cuts Will Harm Afghan Women’s Health
With violence on the rise and the U.S. military drawing down, international donors are pulling back some assistance to Afghanistan. Women in refugee camps stand to suffer.

Forever’s Gonna Stop Tonight
Trump pledged to end America’s “forever wars.” He almost managed to—but left carnage behind.

Obama’s Brutal Drone Legacy Will Haunt the Biden Administration
In his memoirs, the former U.S. president seems uninterested in a critical appraisal of his drone policies. Considering the human suffering caused by America’s drone wars, Joe Biden should not make the same mistake.

Our Top Weekend Reads
EU member states find commonality in crisis, Afghans accuse donor countries of hypocrisy on corruption, and how Biden’s climate plans could shape energy markets.

Afghans, Under Fire for Corruption, Accuse Donors of Hypocrisy
Much of the donor money to Afghanistan is lost to fraud and abuse, in part by Western companies.

Afghanistan Needs Truth Before It Can Have Reconciliation
Politicians and warlords have benefited from decades of violence. The victims of the country’s endless wars could provide the key to a lasting peace.