+ to flip-flop is to be human US Edition - Today's top story: How US military planning has shifted away from fighting terrorism to readying for tensions and conflict with China and Russia [View in browser]( US Edition | 26 August 2024 [The Conversation]
[The Conversation]( Top headlines - [25 years of Putin: Less a protector, more protecting his image](
- [Wildfiresâ devastation of stream insect life serves as a warning](
- [SpaceXâs new mission is major test of commercial spaceflight]( Lead story When President Joe Biden recently approved a shift in the nationâs nuclear strategy to prepare for potential confrontations with Russia and China, it was just one piece of a long transition in American foreign and military policy. The White House and the Pentagon are always evaluating global events and adjusting plans and spending accordingly. As Eric Rosenbach, a former assistant defense secretary and Pentagon chief of staff, explains, after 9/11 the military transitioned from a Cold War footing to one better suited to fight small groups of insurgents and terrorists. Rosenbach is now a senior lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and describes the [steps the U.S. military is now taking to move away]( from that focus on the Taliban and the Islamic State group and toward what officials are calling a âgreat power competitionâ among the U.S., Russia and China. [ [The latest on philanthropy and nonprofits. Sign up for our weekly Giving Today newsletter](. ] Jeff Inglis Politics + Society Editor
Three nations are in a global competition for power and influence. Ruma Aktar/iStock / Getty Images Plus
[How US military planning has shifted away from fighting terrorism to readying for tensions and conflict with China and Russia]( Eric Rosenbach, Harvard Kennedy School The Pentagon is preparing for what it calls âgreat power competitionâ among the US, Russia and China. Science + Technology -
[The Polaris Dawn mission to Earthâs orbit will test SpaceXâs capabilities for a commercial space program]( Wendy Whitman Cobb, Air University The Polaris Dawn mission will test communications, perform research and conduct a spacewalk with SpaceX extravehicular spacesuits. -
[A third of the worldâs population lacks internet connectivity â airborne communications stations could change that]( Mohamed-Slim Alouini, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Mariette DiChristina, Boston University Network equipment riding on balloons, airships, gliders and planes could boost internet access, including in disaster zones, and improve scientific monitoring. -
[What is mental imagery? Brain researchers explain the pictures in your mind and why theyâre useful]( Lynne Gauthier, UMass Lowell; Jiabin Shen, UMass Lowell Hereâs how your brain visualizes scenarios that youâre not actually looking at with your eyes. International -
[From Kursk to Kursk: Putinâs attempt to project an image as Russiaâs âprotectorâ has been punctured throughout his 25 years in power]( Lena Surzhko Harned, Penn State From terrorist attacks to submarine disasters, Russiaâs longtime leader has shown to be vulnerable in the face of crises. Politics + Society -
[All politicians change their minds â and have been flip-flopping on positions for hundreds of years]( Shannon Bow O'Brien, The University of Texas at Austin Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are far from the first politicians to change their mind about topics, from the innocuous to important policy shifts. -
[In domestic violence cases, police are more likely to make arrests when pets are abused, too]( Lynn Addington, American University Victims of intimate partner violence regularly cite fear for the safety of their pet as a primary reason they do not leave an abusive situation. Environment + Energy -
[Urban wildfires disrupt streams and their tiny inhabitants â losing these insects is a warning of bigger water problems]( Lauren Magliozzi, University of Colorado Boulder After wildfires in California and Colorado cities, levels of harmful metals in the water jumped. Nature sent up a red flag. Health + Medicine -
[People with physical and mobility disabilities need to work out, but there are a lot of obstacles in their way]( Alexandra Jamieson, University of Texas at Arlington Whether âadaptiveâ equipment is expensive or affordable, expert guidance is essential for many people with disabilities. Trending on site -
[No, the world isnât heading toward a new Cold War â itâs closer to the grinding world order collapse of the 1930s]( -
[AI supercharges data center energy use â straining the grid and slowing sustainability efforts]( -
[Most young voters support Kamala Harris â but that doesnât guarantee they will show up at the polls]( Reader Comments ð¬ "I had an incident where I had purchased a $150 gift card from Target for my son as a gift...It was later found out that an internet security manager with a drug problem had been skimming off newly purchased cards. My point is: you donât have to be a confused elderly person to get scammed on a gift card." â Reader Jeff Reed on the story [Gift card scams generate billions for fraudsters and industry as regulators fail to protect consumers â and how one 83-year-old fell into the âfear bubbleâ]( -
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