1/4 Blog @lawfaremedia.org with @alcis.org funded by @XCEPT It focuses on the transformative effects of solar power: how it has supported Afghan farmers cope with climate change but ultimately how its expansion now threatens the livelihoods of 3.65 million people www.lawfaremedia.org/article/unde...

The strategic logic of this operation is lacking.

“The Taliban are saying, ‘bring it on.’ They don’t want Pakistan to have leverage over them,” says @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social But the returnees were “walking into a real humanitarian disaster and an economy that cannot grow fast enough” on.ft.com/3FJBEZ7

Economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors holds promise, but tensions along the disputed border with Pakistan could impede growth -- as I told PRI's @theworld.org theworld.org/segments/202...

Hard to overstate the impact of USAID freeze in #Colombia. Last year, US provided 70.6% of incoming humanitarian funds. A 90 day freeze amid acute humanitarian crisis means Colombia has <1/3 of resources it would have last year to respond. Beyond 90 days would be devastating.

Lots of questions right now about the impact of Trump's aid cuts on Afghanistan. Short answer: we don't know. But it's worth noting that the US and other donors were already cutting back. Emergency funds offset the halt to development aid after 2021, but only temporarily.

I discussed my book on Syrian (former) jihadis, including HTS, including why they took over the leadership of the opposition, transformed politically, and their current role in Syria. Free to listen, and free to download as a book too fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/...

Good free-to-read @foreignaffairs.com piece piece on how the USA and Europe appear set to wreck Syria’s transition by simply defaulting to economic warfare for lack of clear ideas. @delaneysimon.bsky.social @jeromed.bsky.social @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...

In @foreignaffairs.com, @graemesmithauthor.bsky.social, @jeromed.bsky.social and I urge Western policymakers to make better choices in #Syria than they did in #Afghanistan, or risk sabotaging Syria's transition 🧵1/ www.foreignaffairs.com/afghanistan/...

"When Syria rebuilds, it's going to have to move beyond the illicit economy. It will have to reinvigorate industry and the banking sector. This will be really difficult with sanctions in place." My interview with @mattgalloway.bsky.social on @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social cbc.ca/listen/live-...

the person to read about these humanitarian carve-outs is @mayaungar.bsky.social : www.crisisgroup.org/global/polit...

This morning I talked to BBC's Lyse Doucet about the steps Western governments can take right now to help Syria get on its feet. Failing to take action on #sanctions relief is like pulling the rug out from under Syria just as it's trying to stand.

A brutal regime falls. But there’s a problem: the UN and several countries say the victorious rebels are terrorists. What to do? There’s no playbook for Islamist insurgents faced with the challenges of running a country. But there is a precedent, in Afghanistan. 1/