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Ukraine
Does Russia intend to attack Ukraine with its troops now poisoned on the Ukraine border?
I talk with former Ukrainian Ambassador to the EU Konstiantyn Yelisieiev in Kiev, who says Russia's President Putin want to remake the former Soviet Union and needs to retake Ukraine to do it.
And in Moscow, Carnegie Center Maxim Samorukov says Russia is sabre rattling to stop Ukraine from joining NATO but doesn't seek more Ukrainian territory.
My latest podcast which is our 75th! Please have a listen and share the link.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/8329108
Afghanistan
Twenty years ago, I was the NBC News Correspondent tasked to get into Afghanistan before U.S. forces invaded after the 9/11 attack by Al Qaeda on America. 19 terrorists flew two planes into the World trade Center, a third into the Pentagon, a fourth plane into a field after struggling with the passengers.
Almost three thousand people died and I started my journey within days to the Northern neighbour of Afghanistan, Tajikistan as the quickest entry point into a sliver of Afghanistan still held by the Northern Alliance, against The Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Soon I would hitch a ride on a Northern Alliance helicopter on a ‘gun run’ into Northern Afghanistan where it supplied ammunition to fighting Afghan soldiers, and they would soon be supported by landing U.S. special forces to fight the Taliban back from places like Bagram Airbase, Kabul, and Kandahar.
The Taliban had refused to give up Al Qaeda leader Osama Ben Laden, and were supporting Al Qaeda training and giving them a safe haven.
What’s changed? The U.S. looking to leave Afghanistan now by September 11th 2021 says Al Qaeda no longer possesses “an external plotting ability” and President Biden wants the last U.S. forces (2500 of them) out on the anniversary.
Some Republicans were vocal in their criticism. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor that Mr. Biden was making a "grave mistake."
"Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake. It is retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished and abdication of American leadership," McConnell said.
GOP Senator Jim Inhofe called Mr. Biden's decision "outrageous," and Senator Joni Ernst said that it was "concerning."
"I think a random withdrawal just because you're celebrating an anniversary is not the right decision," Ernst said.
In this case Biden’s critics are likely right. Afghanistan will likely slide back into civil war. Talks with the Taliban for a ‘peace process’ have so far failed. Violence in the country is increasing. Al Qaeda and ISIS are present and control some areas.
The reason to enter Afghanistan was to stop it being a launch pad for terror on America. No one can say if that threat has really gone away, but the U.S. administration counters it will still maintain some counter terror presence in the region just in case.
If you can listen to this Back Story podcast with the former Canadian Ambassador to Kabul, and also the current Afghan Ambassador in London, on whats really driving violence in Afghanistan and the wisdom of drawing down U.S. troops.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/afghanistan-and-the-taliban/id1512445640?i=1000495709697
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/13/us/politics/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal.html
Vaccines Blood Clots
Now a second vaccine, after Astra Zeneca, has been halted out of an abundance of caution out of concern over blood clotting. Six women vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson product suffered from cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, an extremely rare blood clot. The vaccine has been given to 6.8 million Americans. So the chance of a blood clot is effectively one in a million! Suspending the vaccine will have huge consequences in the fight against Covid19.
And we don’t know say experts if the blood clots are related.
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/johnson-johnson-pause-bad-news-crucial-time-bidens-vaccination-efforts-rcna668
Canada Covid
Meantime the Whistler ski resort in British Columbia, Canada has been ordered CLOSED after the dangerous spread of P1 Brazil variant, and it’s spreading at an alarming rate in B.C. Provincial health officials seem to be acting too late and the virus will outrun the vaccines and the other milder variants unless they act now.
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/whistler-canada-biggest-ski-resort-093719588.html
The Queen
The Queen has carried out her first official ceremony, since the death of her husband Phillip last Friday. The monarch hosted a ceremony in which the Earl Peel formally stood down as Lord Chamberlain, whose office organizes royal ceremonies.
During a private event held at Windsor Castle, the Queen accepted her former royal aide's wand and office insignia.
The Royal Family is observing two weeks of mourning. The duke's funeral will take place at Windsor on Saturday.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/13/queen-returns-to-royal-duties-four-days-after-death-of-prince-philip
Have a good day everyone! Please share this news letter with one other person?
Dana