Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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US troops preparing to leave Afghanistan
Concrete steps have begun to remove the final U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Although they will not leave by the original May 1 deadline negotiated with the Taliban, the departure will likely be completed well before September 1, the anniversary of 9-11. The Associated Press has the story: US wrapping up final steps for removing remaining…
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Russia pulls extra troops back from Ukrainian border
Russia pulls several thousand troops back from where it had deployed them on its border with Ukraine, to the relief of Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the readiness drills were completed. However, he ordered their heavy weapons kept in western Russia for another massive military exercise. The Associated Press has the story: Russia…
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Global leaders cooperate with Biden on climate change
Although Russia and China have had chilly relations with the new Biden administration, they put aside those differences in a virtual summit hosted by Biden to pledge cooperation with the new effort under Biden to reduce fossil fuel usage. However, both nations did not go so far as to pledge specific reductions. Biden has proposed…
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General: Troop pullout will collapse Afghanistan’s military
Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, has been very vocal recently warning against the upcoming U.S. troop pullout from Afghanistan. He told Congress that it will result in the collapse of the Afghanistan military. The Associated Press has the story: Dire warning from top military brass about pulling out of Afghanistan WASHINGTON (AP)…
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When do COVID-19 vaccines wear off?
The COVID-19 vaccines haven’t been around long enough to determine when their effects will wear off. So far, they appear to last at least six months, and researchers believe it will end up being a year before they begin wearing off. The Associated Press has the story: Experts assess how long COVID-19 vaccines last for…
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‘Modern slaves’ in Romania burn trash to survive
In Romania, the Roma people, also known as gypsies, struggle to survive. Without education or proper resources, they resort to burning plastic and metal, which they can sell for money. The Associated Press has the story: The nomadic Roma in Romania forge a difficult living, burning metals and plastics for money VIDRA, Romania (AP) —…
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Syrian missile not intentional, Israel says
A missile from Syria that landed deep inside Israel, setting off air raid sirens, was the result of a misfire, according to the Israeli military. Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said it was due to incompetence by Syrian air defense. The Associated Press has the story: Israeli military confirms that Syrian missile…
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Abraham Accords: A Tool for Progress
Abraham Accords: A Tool for Progress As diplomatic agreements go, the Abraham Accords, in which I played a part as Special Representative for International Relations at the White House, are unique in modern history. As the name suggests, these agreements celebrate the deep reverence and belief in the biblical figure Abraham that Muslims, Jews and…
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Israeli strike near Damascus in response to a Syrian missile
Israeli strike near Damascus in response to a Syrian missile JERUSALEM (AP) — A missile launched from Syria was fired into southern Israel early Thursday, setting off air raid sirens near the country’s top-secret nuclear reactor, the Israeli military said. In response, it said it attacked the missile launcher and air-defense systems in neighboring Syria.…
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