Afghanistan's unfolding tragedy

+ why we crave touch US Edition - Today's top story: Afghan government collapses, Taliban seize control: 5 essential reads [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 August 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban, 20 years after the United States toppled their extremist Islamic regime following the 9/11 terror attacks. Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country Sunday as the Taliban seized the capital city of Kabul, including the presidential palace. The collapse of the Afghan government came just three months after the U.S. began to withdraw its remaining troops from the country. The two-decade-long U.S. war in Afghanistan killed at least 2,448 U.S. service members, nearly 4,000 U.S. military contractors and some 66,000 members of the Afghan national military and police forces. Many more Afghan security force personnel and civilians have died in recent months in the struggle to defend the country against the Taliban’s insurgency. That struggle has now failed. Whatever Afghanistan’s future Taliban-run government will look like, it may not be recognized by the world. As international editor at The Conversation U.S., I’ve been covering Afghanistan since 2016, from the bloody war there to former President Donald Trump’s “peace” accord with the Taliban and, now, its rapid deterioration. To help readers understand what’s likely to unfold next in Afghanistan, I wrote an analysis based on five experts’ articles we published in recent months. It explains who the Taliban are, what they believe – including about women – and [what life is like under their rule](, with a particular focus on the human suffering likely to unfold there. In personal news, this will be my last editor’s note for The Conversation, as I will soon be leaving this newsroom for a journalism fellowship. It has been a wonderful five years keeping you informed about the world. Thank you for reading. Also today: - [Time for another shot in the arm?]( - [How conservators swindled Native Americans]( - [Those ice spikes in the freezer? Not good]( Catesby Holmes International Editor | Politics Editor U.S. personnel were evacuated from the U.S. embassy in Kabul, the Afghan capital, as Taliban insurgents broke through the city’s defensive line, Aug. 15, 2021. AP Photo/Rahmat Gul [Afghan government collapses, Taliban seize control: 5 essential reads]( Catesby Holmes, The Conversation The Taliban ‘expect a complete handover of power.’ Experts explain who the Taliban are, what life is like under their rule and how the U.S. may bear responsibility for Afghanistan’s collapse. 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Afghanistan coverage from our international editions - [As the Taliban returns, 20 years of progress for women looks set to disappear overnight]( Azadah Raz Mohammad, The University of Melbourne; Jenna Sapiano, Monash University The Taliban have given every indication women and girls will face violence and repression as they back control of Afghanistan. - [As Afghanistan falls, what does it mean for the Middle East?]( Tony Walker, La Trobe University Every corner of the Middle East and North Africa will be touched in some way by the failure of American authority in Afghanistan. - [Afghanistan: Taliban victory inevitable despite the trillions the US poured in]( Natasha Lindstaedt, University of Essex Afghanistan’s strategic location, and the support for the Taliban from neighbouring countries, means the current Taliban advances were unavoidable. Trending on site - [The Taliban are megarich – here’s where they get the money they use to wage war in Afghanistan]( Hanif Sufizada, University of Nebraska Omaha Because the Taliban’s insurgency is so well financed, the Afghan government must spend enormous sums on war, too. A peace accord would free up funds for basic services, economic development and more. - [How effective is the first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?]( William Petri, University of Virginia An immunologist explains that you get some protection from the first dose of the mRNA vaccines but you need two to build up strong immunity, particularly to newer coronavirus variants. - [Is drinking good for you in any way? If not, why is alcohol legal for adults?]( Margie Skeer, Tufts University Consuming alcohol makes accidents more likely and it can harm your heart, your liver and even change your brain. But making the sale of beer, wine and hard liquor illegal flopped. 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