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A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter. You can sign up for free right here.

On this day of history, with America's war in Afghanistan officially over, I asked a cross-section of journalists and activists to weigh in on what's next. Pretend to be an assignment editor, I said, and answer this question: "With the US officially leaving Afghanistan, what's the No. 1 angle that needs to be covered now?"

Here are the answers:

>> CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr: "Humanitarian relief. I think it's central to everything. We know the Taliban need it to come into the country and it's a potential lever for the new 'diplomatic' agenda for President Biden. And it may be the only way the people survive."

>> Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: "The plight of the Afghan people. And especially our Afghan allies who are in particular grave danger under the Taliban. They are terrified about being left behind. They are more terrified about being forgotten. Biden may say the war is over. It's not over for them."

>> PBS "NewsHour" special correspondent Jane Ferguson, who flew out of Kabul just a few days ago: "Can the Taliban hold onto control over Afghanistan, or will everything descend into chaotic civil war and failed state? Because if it is the latter -- similar to Somalia in early 90s -- US troops will be back in some capacity, and a major migrant crisis and humanitarian catastrophe will be the result. What happens with Taliban rule/strength will determine the global implications of the fallout of this drawdown over everything else."

>> Philadelphia Inquirer national columnist Will Bunch, an outspoken critic of America's involvement in "forever wars:" "Whether America can complete a shift away from more than 20 years of failed militarism and reap a peace dividend by curbing Pentagon spending."

>> Commentary associate editor Noah Rothman, an equally outspoken critic of Biden's withdrawal decisions: "I would definitely be focused like a laser on US passport holders trying to get out. But also the Pentagon's effort to gloss over legal permanent residents -- people with jobs, families, homes, and bank accounts here. To say nothing of visa holders and visa eligibles. It all adds up to a number the administration hoped to elide, but my suspicion it is in the thousands. And I don't suspect the press will need prodding to cover their stories. My strong suspicion is that they will be too horrible to ignore."

>> The Nation publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel, a longtime opponent of the US war effort: "Will media look at next wars, endless, in the world -- from Syria to Iraq to Africa? Will there be a new cohort of media-savvy analysts to speak to rethinking of a new security/foreign policy agenda? Also, who is the new Barbara Lee? Where is the new generation of diplomats, especially those with a knowledge of the Middle East? And how will the Biden team challenge The Blob?"

>> Joseph Azam, a lawyer and Afghan-American immigrant who serves on the board of the Afghan-American Foundation: "What happens to the people left behind? Depending on how you cut the data, there may be upwards of 1 million of them. American and coalition allies; at risk individuals and their families; Americans, Afghans, other nationalities. The withdrawal has a large wake, we can't even begin to see what's caught in it, but someone needs to be in the water to tell those stories."

>> Committee to Protect Journalists board chair Kathleen Carroll, former exec editor of The AP: "What will history tell us about the end of this 20-year war and can we see that now? Can we pull back the stick from the chaos and heartache and betrayal on the ground and look for what there is to be learned for us as a society, a nation, a people? Can we only see the important moments long after the fact? Or is there a way to see them when they are happening and explore their meaning in our coverage?"

Sky News has the FT and other papers here. The NYT's banner headline says "U.S. FORCES LEAVE KABUL; EVACUATION ENDS." WaPo's is three big words: "America exits Afghanistan."

-- NYT Mag contributing writer Matthieu Aikins: "Good morning, Kabul. The last US troops have left Afghanistan, and the Taliban control the airport. Today is the first day of a new and uncertain era."

-- Al Jazeera's Charlotte Bellis: "Famous Taliban saying changes tense. You had the watches, we had the time."

-- LA Times photog Marcus Yam: Taliban fighters stormed the Kabul airport "wielding American supplied weapons, equipment & uniforms -- after the U.S. Military have completed their withdrawal. Fighters celebrated with gunfire & chants through the night."

-- Yam's colleague Nabih Bulos posted video of fighters entering a hangar and examining US helicopters.

-- BBC's Lyse Doucet: "The last American soldier leaves but the last battles aren't over..."

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The war is 'not over for them:' Reporters, activists urge press to stay focused on Afghan civilians - wlfi.com

This content was published on August 28, 2021 - 21:13August 28, 2021 - 21:13

By Phoebe Fronista and Stelios Misinas

ATHENS (Reuters) - Hundreds of Afghans marched to the U.S. Embassy in Athens on Saturday, making a plea to the international community for peace and holding banners reading, "Afghanistan is bleeding" and "hands off our land."

Following the Taliban's takeover of the country earlier this month, U.S. troops have begun their withdrawal from Kabul airport, after a two-week scramble by Washington and its allies to fly out their nationals and vulnerable Afghans by a Tuesday deadline set by President Joe Biden.

As it neared the end of a 20-year military engagement in the country, the United States said it had killed two Islamic State militants planning attacks in Afghanistan, following a deadly suicide bombing outside Kabul airport on Thursday.

"We are tired of war, we are tired of violence, we are tired of seeing dead bodies. We all came here together, we want peace from the world, we want to end this war," said Omey Naziam, 24, who joined the peaceful protest in the Greek capital.

Other protesters shouted, "stop killing Afghans" and "we want justice."

Greece was the frontline of a migrant crisis in 2015 when more than a million people, most of them Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, arrived seeking refuge. Many of them still live in Greek camps, waiting for their asylum applications to be processed.

Fearing new migrant flows from Afghanistan, Greece has completed a 40-km fence on its border with Turkey and a new surveillance system was in place to stop possible asylum seekers from trying to reach Europe.

"We are here in order to be the voice of voiceless people in Afghanistan that are trapped," said Parwan Amiri, 17, who lives at a migrant camp outside Athens and whose parents and sister are still in Afghanistan. "More than ever we are thinking that we don't have a land, we don't have a homeland."

European Union home affairs ministers will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan and its consequences for security and migration in the 27-nation bloc.

(Writing by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Leslie Adler)

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'We want peace from the world,' Afghans protest in Athens - swissinfo.ch

Athens is continuing to use the language of threats against Turkey, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Sunday, calling on Turkey's neighbor Greece to leave behind their provocative acts and words.

"Greece should see that it cannot get anywhere with expansionist attitudes, approaches and provocative behaviors and these policies are far from mathematical, reason and understanding, and mean nothing but chasing a vain hope," Akar said in Edirne, a northwestern province bordering Greece.

Accompanied by top army generals, Akar inspected measures taken along the Greek border.

The defense chief reiterated that Turkey favors solving problems in the Aegean Sea through good neighborly relations and dialogue and in line with international laws.

We wish and aim that both countries people live in welfare, but we have difficulty in explaining this, Akar said, referring to Athens.

Akar recalled the mutual and positive dialogue on cooperation in the fight against the forest fires that ripped through both countries last month, but he also criticized "provocations and unlawful aggressive actions" by the Greek side.

"We expect everyone, especially the administrators of our neighbor Greece, to see that having good relations with neighbors is also important for the people of neighboring countries. But unfortunately, we constantly face provocations, unlawful aggressive actions and discourse from the Greek side."

He said Athens tries to limit Ankara's movements by claiming both sea areas and airspace, adding it is not possible to get anywhere in this way and that they should see this very clearly.

Turkey will protect its rights, the minister pledged.

They make demands as if they are the sole owners of the Aegean and engage in efforts to militarize all islands. They make constant accusatory statements and provocations against Turkey, he noted.

Akar underlined that Greece has militarized 16 islands out of 23 that are under demilitarized status according to agreements. It is not possible to accept this, he said.

Relations between the two NATO members, often strained, deteriorated sharply last year, with warships facing off in the Eastern Mediterranean in a dispute over maritime boundaries and energy rights.

Turkey, the country with the longest coastline on the Eastern Mediterranean, has sent drillships with a military escort to explore for energy on its continental shelf, saying that it and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have rights in the region.

To reduce tensions, Turkey has called for dialogue to ensure the fair sharing of the region's resources.

Earlier this year, Turkey and Greece launched the first direct exploratory talks in nearly five years to address their disputes related to sovereignty rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. The two countries have also been holding rounds of meetings on confidence-building measures as well as deconfliction mechanisms.

Addressing the refugee crisis as well, Akar said it should not be approached as a problem concerning only Turkey.

"We expect everyone, especially the European Union, to assume responsibility on this issue," he said.

It is unacceptable that Greece pushes refugees back and exposes them to inhumane practices, he added.

Turkey has recently seen an increase in refugees, particularly from Afghanistan.

Concerns have risen over a possible spike in migrants from Afghanistan due to the United States' pullout from the country after two decades.

Within the scope of fighting irregular migration, a 243-kilometer (151-mile) concrete wall, topped with barbed wire and surrounded by trenches, is being erected along Turkeys 534-kilometer frontier with Iran.

Turkey is not the only country putting up barriers; its neighbor Greece has just completed a 40-kilometer fence and surveillance system to keep out migrants who still manage to enter Turkey and try to reach the EU.

Authorities say there are 182,000 registered Afghan migrants in Turkey and up to an estimated 120,000 unregistered ones. President Recep Tayyip Erdoan urged European countries to take responsibility for any new influx, warning that Turkey had no intention of becoming "Europe's migrant storage unit."

The issue is also likely to feature in talks between Ankara and Brussels about updating a 2016 deal under which Turkey received aid for hosting migrants seeking refuge in the EU.

Akar also pointed out that Greece has been protecting many terrorists for years, including members of the Glenist Terror Group (FET), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.

"And yet, it is not credible and moral that the Greek administrators seem to complain about the spread of terrorism, religious fanaticism and fundamentalism. This is a hypocritical attitude that does not reflect the facts," he stated.

Originally posted here:
Greece continues to use threatening language against Turkey: Akar | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah

University of New England President James D. Herbert, Ph.D., joined fellow University and business leaders at a virtual press conference on Monday, Aug. 30, in which he called on Congress to ensure immigration reforms are included within the upcoming budget reconciliation package.

Such reforms would create pathways to citizenship for those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status so-called Dreamers farmworkers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and essential workers.

Herbert was joined by James S. Dlugos, Ph.D., president of St. Josephs College of Maine; David Barber of Tyson Foods, board member of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), board president of the Maine Business Immigration Coalition (MeBIC), and UNE trustee; Adele Masengo Ngoy, owner/entrepreneur, Adele Masengo Designs and Antoines Formal Wear and Tailor Shop; and Beth Stickney, Esq., executive director of MeBIC.

Herbert spoke to the need for immigrants to sustain Maines population and economy. Through his work as co-chair of the Workforce Development Subcommittee of Gov. Janet Mills Economic Recovery Committee, Herbert said, he learned how badly Maine needs immigrants.

It's basically a matter of simple arithmetic: if we don't bring in immigrants, our population will decline. The only reason Maine hasn't lost population given current demographic trends is because of immigration, Herbert remarked. We not only need immigrants coming in through our existing legal channels, but we need the Dreamers, farm workers, and asylum seekers, and those who are here on temporary protective status in order to continue contributing to our economy.

There are currently 1,500 immigrant youth in Maine who would become eligible for permanent residency through the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, Stickney said, who could begin building permanent careers in the state with their protections ensured.

Herbert also spoke directly about the health care workforce crisis. As president of UNE, Maines largest provider of health care professionals, Herbert said immigrants serve a dual purpose in the health care workforce.

These dreamers are going to be our future doctors, nurses, dentists, and other medical professionals. It is also important to consider that, in order to really provide the access to health care that Mainers need, we need more health care providers who look like the populations they serve, he said. I urge our federal Congressional delegation to strongly consider supporting the reconciliation process and the inclusion of these protections.

Additionally, Herbert and Dlugos, who is president of the Maine Independent Colleges Association (MICA), released a letter signed by the association to Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, urging them to renew their previous ardent support for DACA permit holders and Dreamers in current congressional discussions on immigration reform.

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UNE President James Herbert calls for inclusion of immigration reform in Budget Reconciliation Package at virtual press conference - University of New...

GRAND RAPIDS It's an effort to create a portrait of America one individual picture at a time. And on Monday, the Inside Out Project made a stop in Grand Rapids.

The Inside Out 11M project is part of a nationwide, participatory art initiative to create a portrait of America that includes immigrants and their descendants.

"Grand Rapids is an incredible city to promote art with ArtPrize, and I totally agree with this project. So I wanted to come out and support it," said participant Robert Amaya.

The photo project, which allowed people to take their pictures in Grand Rapids Monday, is part of the larger Inside Out Project, which focuses on various actions such as climate change and education.

"So Inside Out project was created in 2011, when JR, the French artist was granted a wish, and his wish was that art could change the world. So basically, he is giving the world the use of paper, and black white photography, so anyone can stand up for what they believe using their their portraits," said project manager, Jaine Scatena.

In the 10 years since the project's inception, they've printed more than 400,000 portraits in 138 different countries.

Organizers say the 11M project highlights the need for immigration reform, and supports the 11 million undocumented people wanting to make America home.

The issue is a timely one, with Congress set to vote on immigration legislation this fall, which would enable millions to earn citizenship.

"The reason why we're doing efforts like this, because right now, we believe that it might be possible to pass a pathway to citizenship to the for the undocumented community that has been working tirelessly to keep America running through the pandemic," said Danny Caracheo Teniente, an immigrant rights organization with the Michigan People's Campaign.

After photos were taken at a special truck Monday, they were placed on the Blue Bridge.

"I'm really glad, again, that efforts like this are happening, because art has power to, you know, open up people's minds," said Caracheo Teniente.

The project will be in Lansing on Tuesday and in Metro Detroit later in the week as part of a 16-city tour.

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Portraying America through the use of photos - Fox17