Morning Belz, Aug. 16

Afghanistan links.

Afghan gov’t collapses, Taliban seizes Kabul — AP
Chinese state media pounces — Global Times*
Afghanis cling to departing US Air Force plane — Ian Bremmer**
Britain’s defense secretary nearly cries on TV — LBC
Long piece from 2020 on war in Afghanistan — American Affairs
2020 op-ed from Taliban, on what they want — NYT
The French are into catastrophizing reality too — Economist 🔒
The biggest media company you’ve never heard of — NYT

*picture above
**graphic video down in the thread, when at least one person falls from the outside of the plane as it takes off

Quote
“We have spent the past few years debating how oppressive the U.S. is. These images of Afghans clinging to a U.S. plane and falling from the sky are a damn sobering reminder that while there are no utopias, we'd better appreciate the society we were lucky enough to be born into.” — Thomas Chattterton Williams

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