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The article in the American Journal of Psychiatry explores the genetic correlations between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and various health outcomes. Using genome-wide association studies, the researchers identified effects linking PTSD genetic liability to lipid-related disorders, women's health, and malaria medications. The study employed various methods, including causal inference analysis and Mendelian randomization, to investigate the relationships between PTSD and these health domains. The findings suggest potential causal effects of PTSD genetic liability on lipid-related disorders, oophorectomy, hormone replacement therapy, presence of cardiac and vascular implants, and malaria medications. Further research is needed to understand these relationships and their implications for PTSD comorbidities across health domains. [Extracted from the article]

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been estimated to affect about 13% of veterans returning from Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF). For some veterans, the process of transitioning back to civilian life and learning how to reconnect with others can be complicated by PTSD symptoms. The purpose of this literature review is to understand how peer support services can improve a veteran's psychological functioning and aid PTSD recovery. Reviewing the literature has revealed reports from veterans involved in peer support groups. These peer support groups have helped in the promotion of social bonds, in gaining a sense of acceptance and belonging, as well as a decrease in PTSD symptoms. The results contribute to identifying a process by which peer support services could positively impact veterans with PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle East is still at the center of the US media and public argument, especially after the US engagement in the most recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ben Fountain addresses American involvement in these wars in his novel, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2012). His work received the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction and was a finalist for the 2012 National Book Award. This paper examines Fountain's Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk vis-à-vis grievability of American and non-American lives in the context of the 2003 Iraq War. It aims at uncovering the differential methods implemented by the author to approach the casualties in Iraq and how he addresses accountability for war atrocities. It draws on Judith Butler's contention that Western societies treat the lives/deaths of non-Western people in a differential method; the lives of Westerners are prioritized at the expense of the safety and wellness of non-Westerners. The argument is made in three constructs: grievable lives, ungrievable lives, and accountability and culpability in war. This article argues that Fountain's novel is largely centered on American soldiers' victim status and their extended suffering. Americans' deaths are grieved through a large narrative space while Iraqis' deaths are disregarded and ungrieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative mental health outcomes are prevalent among veterans exposed to military‐related stressors and are associated with social isolation. Limited research exists on resilience following military separation and its impact on social isolation in veterans. We examined resilience against military‐related stressors and 2‐year longitudinal associations with social isolation indicators; gender differences were also explored. U.S. military veterans (N = 351, 70.4% men) who deployed to the wars in and around Iraq and Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks (9/11) were recruited as part of a longitudinal assessment study examining predictors of postdeployment adjustment. Using a residualization approach, resilience was approximated as low stressor reactivity (SR), calculated by regressing mental health onto military‐related stressor exposure. Military‐related stressors were significantly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to both events during post‐9/11 deployment (deployment event) and outside of post‐9/11 deployment (other event), functional disability, and depression. After correcting for multiple comparisons, only SR derived from depressive symptoms predicted more closeness difficulties in social relationships longitudinally, B = 0.50, q = .023. Women also demonstrated higher SR than men regarding other event‐related PTSD symptoms, B = −0.52, q < .001; functional disability, B = −0.28, q = .028; and depression, B = −0.34, q = .012. Results suggest that veterans with higher depressogenic reactivity to military‐related stressors were more likely to endorse discomfort with closeness than those with lower depressogenic reactivity. Women veterans may also be more impacted by nondeployment traumatic distress, psychosocial dysfunction, and depression in response to military‐related stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to estimate all-cause mortality among Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn era service members and veterans and to identify protective and risk factors for mortality. Using 20 years of longitudinal data from the Millennium Cohort Study (2001–2021), sequential Cox proportional hazard models were conducted to examine demographic, military, and health-related characteristics associated with all-cause mortality among service members and veterans. Among 201,619 participants, 3806 (1.9 %) were deceased by the end of the observation period, with an age- and sex-adjusted incidence of 37.6 deaths per 100,000 person-years. Deployed service members had lower all-cause mortality risk than those who did not deploy. Personnel who experienced combat had higher mortality risk compared with those who did not in unadjusted models; this association was nonsignificant after accounting for health-related factors. Enlisted and Army personnel both had a higher mortality risk, while women and Hispanic individuals had a lower risk. Stressful life events, lower physical health related quality of life, problem drinking, and smoking were also associated with greater mortality risk. These profiles may be useful for developing preventive education and intervention efforts in military and veteran populations to reduce premature mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of prehospital tourniquet application in reducing preventable deaths from extremity hemorrhage, particularly in high-resource military and civilian settings. While tourniquet application has been widely adopted in well-resourced environments, issues arise in low-resource settings with prolonged evacuation times, leading to adverse consequences such as irreversible limb ischemia. The authors propose steps to improve context-appropriate tourniquet guidance, including conducting observational studies in low-resource settings and developing hemorrhage control trainings that prioritize alternative modalities and appropriate tourniquet conversion. [Extracted from the article]

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The "Adelphi Series" article provides a comprehensive overview of strategy, grand strategy, and military doctrine throughout history, from ancient times to modern conflicts. It covers a wide range of topics, including historical examples like Roman Emperor Tiberius and contemporary issues such as US grand strategy and China's geopolitical ambitions. The text also delves into the Vietnam War, nuclear weapons, cyber warfare, and the intersection of technology, military power, and information warfare in the modern era. It offers valuable insights into the complexities of warfare, decision-making, and the evolving nature of conflict, making it a valuable resource for those interested in military history and international security. [Extracted from the article]

The "Changing values and the writing of history" article reviews the United States Foreign Policy History & Resource Guide, a website offering a comprehensive history of US foreign policy from the War of 1812 to the "War on Terror." The Guide features essays by multiple authors, is ad-free, and provides downloadable PDFs for offline use. While the Guide is praised for its accessibility, accuracy, and rich content, some critiques include potential bias in its recommendations and a lack of in-depth exploration of concepts like imperialism. The article also highlights the Guide's detailed analysis of the "war on terror" section, which provides a thorough and balanced account of conflicts from 2001 to 2022, incorporating diverse perspectives and voices. [Extracted from the article]

The article provides a detailed analysis of Medical Battalion (Multifunctional) (MMB) support operations in Europe from April 2022 to March 2024, against the backdrop of conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Hamas. It emphasizes the significance of Force Health Protection (FHP) missions, which make up a majority of the MMB workload, and highlights challenges in executing medical missions, such as funding issues and coordination difficulties. The study concludes with recommendations for improving medical support operations in crisis environments, aiming to inform evidence-based decisions and educate Army Medical Department leaders. The 421st MMB is commended for its efforts in making Army Tactical Medicine work in Europe and Africa through small team deployments for medical support missions. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, I discuss the methodological challenges and ethical questions that emerge when conducting fieldwork with refugee and immigrant populations in a moment of emergency. I draw on research conducted in Missoula, Montana, between 2021–2022 as Afghans arrived in U.S. communities following the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan. I draw on vignettes from fieldwork to foreground the methodological, emotional, and ethical implications of recruiting recently displaced people in moments of emergency into an ongoing research project. I discuss how I navigated these sudden changes in the field, reflecting on my positionality as a researcher and training as a feminist geographer. I contextualize my decision to forgo conducting interviews with a recently displaced population and overburdened service providers within scholarship on feminist methodologies, migration studies, and ethics of care. In doing so, I reflect on the ambivalent nature of research, and what it means to conduct research on, with, and/or about refugees and immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article investigates the politics of visibility and the limits of representation in the American sitcom, United States of Al—the first network television program to prominently feature an Afghan character. Employing textual analysis, this article analyzes the first season of the program, paying close attention to the development of the title character and storyline. In an attempt to combat the negative stereotypes of Afghans in American media by portraying an all-good person worthy of American acceptance, United States of Al ultimately reifies the very stereotypes it hopes to counter. Further, as the analysis illustrates, United States of Al makes visible Afghans to network programming, but suffers in its attempts to represent a deep and dynamic character. Uncovering how United States of Al -one of the first of its kind—portrays Afghans is critical to our understanding of how Afghans are represented in the American cultural imagination and the extent to which they may identify belongingness within mediated sites of identity negotiation. As attention from Afghanistan dissipates with the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country, interest in framing U.S. involvement in Afghanistan continues and this article provides one intervention to engage in more nuanced discussions of media visibility, representation, and power as it relates to Afghans and Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Battlefield trauma necessitates prompt hemostatic intervention to mitigate fatalities resulting from critical blood loss. Insights from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom emphasize the limitations of conventional methods, such as tourniquets, especially in noncompressible torso hemorrhage. Despite advancements in hemostatic agents, the evolving dynamics of multidomain operations necessitate novel, lightweight strategies for hemorrhage control. This study investigates the Silicone-Based Polymer (SBP) Universal Combat Matrix (UCM) by SiOxMed, a multimodal matrix exhibiting efficacy in lethal hemorrhage models. The study evaluates UCM's multiday hemostatic capabilities in a noncompressible torso hemorrhage model, offering pivotal insights for potential deployment in battlefield trauma. Materials and Methods This research was performed under Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval and was designed to replicate austere conditions in an off-site enclosed facility. Yorkshire Hampshire swine underwent baseline assessments and anesthesia induction (n  = 3). A Grade IV liver injury was made by incising X-shaped lesions, each measuring 4 cm × 2.5 cm, into the diaphragmatic surface of the left and right middle lobes using a scalpel blade, resulting in a lesion region of approximately 3 cm × 6 cm × 3 cm, followed by 30 seconds of uncontrolled bleeding. The injuries were then treated with SBP. Intensive care unit monitoring for 1 hour ensured sustained hemostasis, followed by 48 hours of postanesthesia monitoring and then a return to the operating table to visualize sustained hemostasis. Posteuthanasia, liver tissue underwent histological assessments to evaluate the hemorrhagic interface and liver tissue reactivity. Results The average time to hemostatic control was 247.3 ± 71.3 seconds. Stable heart rate (81.3 ± 10.0) and respiratory rate (31.7 ± 16.5) were maintained during intensive care unit monitoring. All swine survived the 1-hour anesthesia monitoring period and the subsequent 48-hour monitoring (average survival time, 48.0 hours ± 0.0, n  = 3). Visualization of the abdominal cavity at 48 hours revealed no hemorrhage. Histological assessment demonstrated aligned red blood cells and stratified layers of fibrin at the hemorrhagic interface. Masson's Trichrome analysis demonstrated a reactive and regenerative scenario 48 hours postinjury, with a collagen membrane demarcating uninjured and exposed liver regions, along with a comprehensive stromal response. Conclusions In conclusion, our investigation into the SBP UCM hemostatic efficacy in a grade IV liver laceration model demonstrates its rapid and reliable action in controlling bleeding, showcasing practicality with an average mass of 4.0 ± 1.0 g. Silicone-Based Polymer sustained hemostasis without adverse physiological effects, as evidenced by stable parameters and the survival of all swine during and after anesthesia. Macroscopic examination at 48 hours revealed durable adherence with no indications of hemorrhage. Histological evaluations highlighted SBP's role in stable clot formation, fibrinogenesis, and tissue regeneration, indicating its potential as a multimodal wound dressing. Although promising, the study has limitations, emphasizing the need for future research with larger samples and controls. This work sets the stage for exploring SBP's clinical implications, particularly in scenarios where lightweight, multimodal technologies are crucial for addressing traumatic injuries and enhancing military medical capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Sleep-related disorders are associated with pain, fatigue, and deficits in cognitive performance, which may interfere with successful rehabilitation. The study objectives were to (1) quantify outpatient prescriptions for insomnia medications during the first year following combat-related amputations, (2) examine longitudinal changes in prescriptions for insomnia medications, and (3) analyze patient characteristics associated with prescriptions for insomnia medications. Material and Methods This was a retrospective study of DoD casualty records from the Expeditionary Medical Encounter Dataset and prescriptions for outpatient medications from the Pharmacy Data Transaction Service. Patients were a total of 1,651 U.S. service members who sustained major limb amputations in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom from 2001 through 2017 and had outpatient prescriptions for any medication during the first year postinjury. Prescriptions for medications recommended for insomnia were low-dose antidepressants, anxiolytic sedatives, benzodiazepines, melatonin receptor agonist, and low-dose quetiapine. These prescription medications were analyzed by medication type, postinjury time, and patient characteristics during the first year postinjury. Results During the first year postinjury, 78% of patients (1,291 of 1,651) had outpatient prescriptions for insomnia medications, primarily anxiolytic sedative drugs (e.g. zolpidem), averaging a total of 86 prescription days (median = 66). The prevalence of these prescriptions declined substantially during the first year, from 57% of patients during the first quarter to 28% during the fourth quarter postinjury. In univariate analyses, multiple patient characteristics, including high Injury Severity Score, continued opioid and non-opioid analgesic prescriptions, and diagnoses of chronic pain, mood disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, were significantly associated with higher prevalence and duration of outpatient prescriptions for insomnia medications. Conclusions The present results indicate a high prevalence of outpatient prescriptions for insomnia medications following combat-related amputations, a prevalence that is substantially higher than previously reported among active duty personnel. These findings can inform DVA/DoD guidelines for amputation care and insomnia among military subpopulations. The results highlight the need for more research on the treatment of insomnia during early postinjury rehabilitation among patients who sustained serious combat injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced medical technology that is used to treat respiratory and heart failure. The U.S. military has used ECMO in the care of combat casualties during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as in the treatment of patients during the recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. However, few Military Health System personnel have training and experience in the use of ECMO therapy. To address this dearth of expertise, we developed and evaluated an accelerated ECMO course for military medical personnel. Objectives To compare the efficacy of an accelerated ECMO course for Military Health System critical care teams. Methods Seventeen teams, each consisting of a physician and nurse, underwent a 5-h accelerated ECMO course. Similar to our previous live-tissue ECMO training program (phases I and II), each team watched prerecorded ECMO training lectures. Subjects then practiced priming the ECMO circuit, cannulating ECMO, initiating ECMO, and correcting common complications on an ECMO simulation model. An added component to this phase III project included transportation and telemedicine consultation availability. Training success was evaluated via knowledge and confidence assessments, and observation of each team attempting to initiate ECMO on a Yorkshire swine patient model, transport the patient model, and troubleshoot complications with the support of telemedicine consultation when desired. Results Seventeen teams successfully completed the course. All seventeen teams (100%) successfully placed the swine on veno-arterial ECMO. Of those, 15 teams successfully transitioned to veno-arterial-venous ECMO. The knowledge assessments of physicians and nurses increased by 12.2% from pretest (mean of 62.1%, SD 10.4%) to posttest (mean of 74.4%, SD 8.2%), P  < .0001; their confidence assessments increased by 41.1% from pretest (mean of 20.1%, SD 11.8%) to posttest (mean of 61.2%, SD 18.6%). Conclusions An abbreviated 1-day lecture and hands-on task-trainer-based ECMO course resulted in a high rate of successful skill demonstration and improvement of physicians' and nurses' knowledge assessments and confidence levels, similar to our previous live-tissue training program. When compared to our previous studies, the addition of telemedicine and patient transportation to this study did not affect the duration or performance of procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Women comprise nearly 19% of the U.S. military and now serve in almost all operational roles, increasing their risk of combat trauma and injuries.3 Data from the Joint Trauma Registry during Operation Enduring Freedom shows that battle-injured females had a higher case fatality rate at 36% compared to their male counterparts at 17%.1 The Tactical Combat Casualty Care curriculum is used to prepare battlefield medics to provide immediate care to wounded service members, but fails to address differences in the care of female versus male casualties. The students, who are presented with life-threatening injuries in simulated trauma scenarios, may be slower to assess, identify, and treat injuries in female patients as compared with male patients. Materials and Methods This observational program analysis was reviewed by the Uniformed Services University Human Research Protections Program and approved for execution as an exempt protocol under the provision of 32 CFR 219.104(d)(1). The study assessed the performance of male and female Mexican military personnel during a Tactical Combat Casualty Care course, using standardized trauma scenarios. Anatomically, correct male and female manikins were used to compare response time for different gender patients presenting with the same injuries. Results There was a statistically significant increase in time required to complete an initial blood sweep, identify a gunshot wound to the chest, and call for medical evacuation when treating a female patient compared to a male patient. Conclusions A lack of female representation in trauma training may have contributed to the higher case fatality rate of female soldiers compared to male soldiers during Operation Enduring Freedom. Female live actors and Gender Retrofit Kits can augment trauma casualty assessment and treatment training scenarios and better prepare our forces to respond to life-threatening emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of "planetary health" and its potential to change our understanding of global challenges. It criticizes the rise of "climate security" as a dominant framework, which prioritizes militarization and national security over the health of the planet and its inhabitants. The article argues that a planetary health approach, rooted in eco-social justice, can challenge militarized conceptions of global challenges and promote non-military action and systemic change. It highlights examples of ecosystemic care practices, such as eco-sumud, buen vivir, and mutual aid, as alternatives to militarized approaches. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for policy and action that prioritize the interconnectedness of security, health, and justice. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Where Should Europe End? Constructing the Eastern Frontier" discusses the historical, geopolitical, and cultural complexities surrounding the Eastern border of Europe, particularly in relation to Russia. It explores the significance of borders in contemporary Europe, the impact of EU enlargement towards the East, and the challenges posed by conflicts in Eastern Europe. The text delves into various paradigms such as identity, democracy, civilization, and realism to analyze the ongoing war in Eastern Europe and the implications for the EU. The article emphasizes the need for a comprehensive settlement of the succession wars of the Soviet Union to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the advancements in blood transfusion practices for resuscitating bleeding patients, which have been influenced by experiences on the battlefield and later adopted in civilian settings. These changes, such as using balanced ratios of blood products and prepositioning blood in emergency departments, have improved outcomes for trauma patients and those with hemorrhagic shock. However, there are still three major changes needed for wider implementation: adopting a walking blood bank, correcting reimbursement practices for prehospital blood transfusion, and ensuring military personnel are trained in transfusion practices. The article also addresses the issue of blood shortages in the United States and suggests implementing a whole blood-based resuscitation strategy as a potential solution. The authors emphasize the importance of military-civilian partnerships and call for policy changes to support the routine use of prehospital blood products and the implementation of the whole blood-based resuscitation strategy in civilian trauma systems. [Extracted from the article]

What explains right-wing radicalization in the United States? Existing research emphasizes demographic changes, economic insecurity, and elite polarization. This paper highlights an additional factor: the impact of foreign wars on society at home. We argue communities that bear the greatest costs of foreign wars are prone to higher rates of right-wing radicalization. To support this claim, we present robust correlations between activity on Parler, a predominantly right-wing social media platform, and fatalities among residents who served in U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, at both the county and census tract level. The findings contribute to understanding right-wing radicalization in the US in two key respects. First, it examines widespread, nonviolent radical-right activity that, because it is less provocative than protest and violence, has eluded systematic measurement. Second, it highlights that U.S. foreign wars have important implications for domestic politics beyond partisanship and voting, to potentially include radicalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is recognized as the "signature injury" of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Sleep disruption, mTBI, and neuroinflammation have been individually linked to cerebral perivascular space (PVS) dilatation. Dilated PVSs are putative markers of impaired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid exchange, which plays an important role in removing cerebral waste. The aim of this cross-sectional, retrospective study was to define associations between biomarkers of inflammation and MRI-visible PVS (MV-PVS) burden in Veterans after blast-related mTBI (blast-mTBI) and controls. The CSF and plasma inflammatory biomarker concentrations were compared between blast-mTBI and control groups and correlated with MV-PVS volume and number per white matter cm3. Multiple regression analyses were performed with inflammatory biomarkers as predictors and MV-PVS burden as the outcome. Correction for multiple comparisons was performed using the Banjamini-Hochberg method with a false discovery rate of 0.05. There were no group-wise differences in MV-PVS burden between Veterans with blast-mTBI and controls. Greater MV-PVS burden was significantly associated with higher concentrations of several proinflammatory biomarkers from CSF (i.e., eotaxin, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8) and plasma (i.e., MCP-4, IL-13) in the blast-mTBI group only. After controlling for sleep time and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, temporal MV-PVS burden remained significantly associated with higher CSF markers of inflammation in the blast-mTBI group only. These data support an association between central, rather than peripheral, neuroinflammation and MV-PVS burden in Veterans with blast-mTBI independent of sleep. Future studies should continue to explore the role of blast-mTBI related central inflammation in MV-PVS development, as well as investigate the impact of subclinical exposures on MV-PVS burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article employs conceptual tools from the philosophy of science to shed new light on prolonged Iran-US hostility. Iranian and American elites evidently have negative attitudes towards the other nation, but these attitudes lack systematic and theoretical analysis. We apply the post-positivist concepts of theory-laden perception and judgement to anticipate the impact of established attitudes on foreign policy experts. After considering the cognitive training of each foreign policy community in the 1980s, the article hypothesises each group's perceptions of and judgements about the other's behaviour during Operation Desert Storm (1991), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). The concurrence of theory-laden judgements with each nation's actual decisions indicates the likely contributions of American and Iranian foreign policy experts to the lack of substantial long-term bilateral cooperation, while the instance of a lack of concurrence indicates the possibility of future change. Our cross-disciplinary methodology demonstrates the utility of venturing outside the traditional boundaries of international relations scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Respiratory diseases such as chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma are observed at increased rates in active duty and veteran military members, and they are especially prevalent in individuals who have been deployed in Southwest Asia during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Particulate matter, specifically the fine-grain desert sand found in the Middle East, may be a key source of this pathology because of deleterious effects on mucociliary clearance. Materials and Methods With IRB approval, human sinonasal tissue was grown at an air-liquid interface and cultures were exposed to different types and sizes of particulate matter, including sand from Afghanistan and Kuwait. Ciliary dynamic responses to mechanical stimulation and ATP application were assessed following particulate exposure. Results Particle size of the commercial sand was substantially larger than that of the sand of Afghan or Kuwaiti origin. Following exposure to particulate matter, normal dynamic ciliary responses to mechanical stimulation and ATP application were significantly decreased (P  < .01), with corresponding decreases in ATP-induced calcium flux (P  < .05). These changes were partially reversible with apical washing after a 16-h period of exposure. After 36 h of exposure to Middle Eastern sand, ciliary responses to purinergic stimulation were completely abolished. Conclusions There is a neutralization of the dynamic ciliary response following chronic particulate matter exposure, similar to ciliary pathologies observed in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Aerosolized particulate matter endured by military personnel in the Southwest Asia may cause dysfunctional mucociliary clearance; these data help to explain the increased prevalence of respiratory pathology in individuals who are or have been deployed in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On August 31, 2021, 20 years after the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, President Biden announced the completion of the United States (US) withdrawal from Afghanistan. The difficult conditions of the withdrawal raised major questions about US credibility, as images from Kabul were broadcasted around the world. Pundits, scholars, and former decision makers warned that reputational damages incurred by Washington could lead Chinese decision makers to reassess the credibility of US commitments in the Indo‐Pacific. Few studies have, however, examined how China interpreted the Afghanistan withdrawal. This article proposes to fill this gap. It argues that though Chinese observers did see the Afghanistan withdrawal as caused by a lack of US resolve, this perceived lack of resolve did not translate into general reputational costs for the United States and, consequently, calculations made by Chinese observers about US credibility in the Indo‐Pacific region remain largely unimpacted by the Afghanistan setback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "US National Security: Policymakers, Processes, and Politics" by John Allen Williams, Stephen J. Cimbala, and Sam C. Sarkesian provides an assessment of the challenges facing the United States national security system. The authors discuss the complexities and inconsistencies of national security policies and the role of politics in shaping them. The book covers various topics, including international actors, unconventional wars, nuclear weapons, the U.S. political system, and the major institutions responsible for national security. It is well-written, logically organized, and would be a valuable resource for students studying U.S. security institutions. However, there are some concerns raised about the limits of presidential power, the relationship between democracy and the military establishment, and the incomplete discussion of Morris Janowitz's views on civil-military relations. Overall, the book is a useful and thought-provoking teaching tool that encourages open examination and debate of U.S. national security issues. [Extracted from the article]

The recent conflicts have brought to the forefront, on a large scale, a successor to the RCIEDs extensively used in Iraq and Afghanistan wars, namely commercial and military drones. They approach the target with assigned ISR, BDA, fire correction, personnel recovery or strike missions and act as force multipliers, as equipment costing a few thousand euros with an attached explosive device can damage or destroy platforms worth hundreds of thousand or even millions of euros. Drones are highly dependent on the use of specific portions of the electromagnetic spectrum to carry out their mission, more precisely to ensure survivability of their critical core elements, meaning the C2 link, data streaming and GNSS. Therefore, fighting against drones, from a broader perspective than countering each individual unmanned system, becomes mostly a matter of controlling or dominating the electromagnetic spectrum, both achievable through electronic warfare actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memorial Day 2023 was a significant moment in twenty-first-century U.S. military history. Although U.S. service members remained deployed around the world and Operation Inherent Resolve continues to target the Islamic State (in April 2023, the U.S. military and its partners executed thirty-five missions against ISIS in Iraq and Syria alone), this year's celebrations came six weeks after the U.S. Senate repealed the two-decade-old Authorization for the Use of Military Force that had made possible the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was also only the second Memorial Day since U.S. troops left Afghanistan, abruptly and somewhat disastrously, in August 2021. As a result, the holiday was arguably the first in which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could be understood as having transitioned from "current events" to events whose legacies Americans were beginning to imagine and define. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration is highly prevalent among veterans. Suggested risk factors of IPV perpetration include combat exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, alcohol use, and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). While the underlying brain pathophysiological characteristics associated with IPV perpetration remain largely unknown, previous studies have linked aggression and violence to alterations of the limbic system. Here, we investigate whether IPV perpetration is associated with limbic microstructural abnormalities in military veterans. Further, we test the effect of potential risk factors (i.e., PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, mTBI, and war zone-related stress) on the prevalence of IPV perpetration. Methods: Structural and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) data were acquired from 49 male veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom; OEF/OIF) of the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) study. IPV perpetration was assessed using the psychological aggression and physical assault sub-scales of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2). Odds ratios were calculated to assess the likelihood of IPV perpetration in veterans with either of the following diagnoses: PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, or mTBI. Fractional anisotropy tissue (FA) measures were calculated for limbic gray matter structures (amygdala-hippocampus complex, cingulate, parahippocampal gyrus, entorhinal cortex). Partial correlations were calculated between IPV perpetration, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and FA. Results: Veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, or mTBI had higher odds of perpetrating IPV. Greater war zone-related stress, and symptom severity of PTSD, depression, and mTBI were significantly associated with IPV perpetration. CTS2 (psychological aggression), a measure of IPV perpetration, was associated with higher FA in the right amygdala-hippocampus complex (r  =  0.400, p  =  0.005). Conclusion: Veterans with psychiatric disorders and/or mTBI exhibit higher odds of engaging in IPV perpetration. Further, the more severe the symptoms of PTSD, depression, or TBI, and the greater the war zone-related stress, the greater the frequency of IPV perpetration. Moreover, we report a significant association between psychological aggression against an intimate partner and microstructural alterations in the right amygdala-hippocampus complex. These findings suggest the possibility of a structural brain correlate underlying IPV perpetration that requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the U.S.-Afghan war in 2001, none of the parties involved was willing to talk to each other. Over time, however, the need for peace negotiations became apparent, and a peace process slowly gained momentum in 2004. Although the Taliban militarily captured Kabul in 2021, one of the outcomes of the peace process was the Doha Peace Agreement signed by the United States and the Afghan Taliban, in which the latter guaranteed that they would not allow Afghan territory to be used against the United States. In addition, the peace process reached several milestones over the years. This article aims to analyze the achievements of the peace process in light of the web approach proposed by Lederach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores India's response to the Ukraine crisis and its decision not to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It examines various factors that contribute to India's reluctance, such as its fear of pushing Russia closer to China, its reliance on Russia for weaponry, a sense of nostalgia from the Cold War era, and economic benefits from maintaining silence. The article concludes that India is unlikely to change its stance on Russia in the near future, which could impact its alignment with the United States. It also discusses India's longstanding partnership with Russia and how it influences India's foreign policy decisions, particularly in relation to Russia's actions in Ukraine. The article suggests that India's ties to Russia may hinder its ability to develop a closer relationship with the United States, potentially allowing China and Russia to gain influence in the region. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the changes in US nuclear policy and posture over the past three decades, focusing on the challenges and policy choices the US faces in the current international system. It emphasizes the need to adapt to the new landscape to protect US vital interests. The article also highlights the challenges of adapting US strategic forces to a multipolar world, strengthening extended nuclear deterrence, and building a new strategy for stability that doesn't rely on dialogue and arms control. The author concludes with optimism that US policymakers can address these challenges with the help of allies and a motivated public. [Extracted from the article]