Islamic countries vow to work with UN to address growing crisis in Afghanistan

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20211219-islamic-countries-gather-to-plan-response-to-growing-emergency-in-afghanistan

Taliban facing grumbles over pay from rank-and-file troops as fighting for God is no longer enough

https://news.yahoo.com/taliban-facing-revolt-over-pay-201719369.html

The Afghan Exodus Is a Story of Civil Disobedience

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/afghan-exodus-story-civil-disobedience-198051

DRDO conducts flight demonstration of CADS-500

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2021/12/drdo-conducts-flight-demonstration-of-cads-500/

Iran inspects new IAEA cameras for nuclear site allegedly targeted by Israel

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-inspects-new-iaea-cameras-for-nuclear-site-allegedly-targeted-by-israel/

New cyberespionage campaign discovered, possibly linked to Iran

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/53046

Iran’s nuclear breakout time is now ‘really short, unacceptably short’ – US official

https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-nuclear-breakout-time-now-really-short-us-official/

C-RAM Defenses Shoot Down Rocket Fired at US Embassy in Baghdad

https://sofrep.com/news/c-ram-defenses-shoot-down-rocket-fired-at-us-embassy-in-baghdad/

China signs deal to build 1,000 schools in Iraq as Beijing pushes for greater role in Middle East after US withdrawals

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3160306/china-signs-deal-build-1000-schools-iraq-beijing-pushes

Yemen: 100 Houthis killed, vehicles destroyed in coalition air raids in Marib

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1989651/middle-east

Turkey to train its pilots on Qatar’s French-made jets to counter Greece’s Rafale fleet

https://nordicmonitor.com/2021/12/turkey-to-train-its-pilots-on-qatars-french-made-rafael-jets-to-counter-greek-air-force/

Russian Pantsir Systems Shot down 40 Turkish Drones over Syrian, Libya

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/31022/Russian_Pantsir_Systems_Shot_down_40_Turkish_Drones_over_Syrian__Libya#.Yb_l31mIZPY

Report: Ex-Mossad chief had affair, shared state secrets with woman and her husband

https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-ex-mossad-chief-had-affair-shared-state-secrets-with-woman-and-her-husband/

On Ukraine’s front, a real war overshadows worries about a possible future one with Russia

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/19/russia-ukraine-front-fighting/

What Ukraine Can Learn From Finland

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/19/ukraine-finland-russia-ww2-soviet-union/

Russia Alone Did Not Destabilize Ukraine

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/russia-alone-did-not-destabilize-ukraine-198065

Russia's Ambassador Talks 'Red Lines' on Ukraine, Ties With China and More

https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-russia-ambassador-red-lines-ukraine-ties-china-interview-1660663

Russians Have Suddenly Stopped Buying Putin’s Anti-American Propaganda

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russians-have-suddenly-stopped-buying-putins-anti-american-propaganda

Overlooked And Underfunded: Armenia’s S-125 SAM Upgrade

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/12/overlooked-and-underfunded-armenias-s..html

NATO mulls deploying troops to Bulgaria, Romania — Der Spiegel

https://www.dw.com/en/nato-mulls-deploying-troops-to-bulgaria-romania-der-spiegel/a-60182693

Greece: Revived hopes for buying the F-35 aircraft

https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1174098/revived-hopes-for-buying-the-f-35-aircraft/

After taking in Afghan commandos, the British military may try to build another elite special-operations force

https://www.businessinsider.com/british-army-considering-gurkha-style-unit-with-afghan-special-forces-2021-12

China: Huawei Network Spyware

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htecm/articles/20211219.aspx

Pro-Beijing candidates sweep 'patriots'-only Hong Kong vote amid low turnout

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-patriots-only-election-draws-record-low-turnout-2021-12-19/

An End of War Declaration in Korea Won’t End the Korean War

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/12/an-end-of-war-declaration-in-korea-wont-end-the-korean-war/

Japan finalizing policy on jointly developing engines with Britain for its F-X fighter

http://alert5.com/2021/12/20/japan-finalizing-policy-on-jointly-developing-engines-with-britain-for-its-f-x-fighter/

And the Year’s Top UFO Story is

https://medium.com/on-the-trail-of-the-saucers/and-the-years-top-ufo-story-is-b5d57cf8dfe7

Retired US army generals warn of insurrection or civil war in 2024 if rogue military units pledge loyalty to a 'Trumpian' loser

https://www.yahoo.com/news/retired-us-army-generals-warn-111254086.html

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates ‘Proximity Round’ Drone Killer in Recent Test

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/northrop-grumman-demonstrates-%E2%80%98proximity-round%E2%80%99-drone-killer-recent-test-198173

Build Expeditionary ASW Air-Combat Elements

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2021/december/build-expeditionary-asw-air-combat-elements

What Might War in Space Even Look Like? Think fewer missiles and more radio jammers and cyber attacks:

https://spectrum.ieee.org/space-cyberwar