20 August 2024

Reuters | Blinken in Egypt seeking progress towards Gaza ceasefire deal

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed for progress towards a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal as he visited Egypt on Tuesday, but major areas of dispute are still to be resolved in talks planned for later this week.

‌

POLITICO | Germany to halt new Ukraine military aid: Report
The German government will stop new military aid to Ukraine as part of the ruling coalition's plan to reduce spending, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported on Saturday.

‌

Washington Post | Russia closes in on eastern city despite Ukraine’s successes elsewhere

The successes Kyiv has announced in its two-week-old incursion into Russia have not stopped the steady drive of Moscow’s forces into the eastern part of Ukraine, threatening a key logistical hub.

‌

Newsweek | Why JD Vance and Tim Walz Need to Pay Attention to Veterans

Veteran Jim Whaley explained to Newsweek on Saturday why vice presidential candidates Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz should pay attention to veterans in the upcoming election.

‌

Wall Street Journal | Rheinmetall Shares Fall on Reports of German Military Aid Cut to Ukraine
Rheinmetall’s shares fell Monday on reports that Germany might be halting new military aid to Ukraine.

‌

BBC | Ukraine orders evacuation of city as Russia gains
Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of a key city in the Donbas region as Russian forces continue to make gains in the east of the country, despite Ukraine's ongoing offensive into Russia's Kursk region.

‌

Military.com | The VA Withheld $84M from Eligible Disabled Veterans. Now Nonprofit Legal Clinics Are Stepping In

A new report revealing more than $84 million in underpayments to qualified veterans is a sign the Department of Veterans Affairs needs to improve its training for employees. That's the conclusion of a congressional committee looking into the massive error.

‌

Military Times | Vets may see only a small cost-of-living boost in benefits next year

Recipients of Social Security checks and veterans benefits payouts could see a cost-of-living adjustment of less than 3% in 2025, the lowest mark since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an independent watchdog group.

The Hill | Ukraine’s Kursk offensive is a huge strategic error
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proven himself a master of the political stage, a gifted orator capable of stirring emotions and garnering global support. However, his recent military incursion into Russia marks a departure from the realm of diplomacy and into the territory of strategic blunder.

‌

The National Interest | Urgently Needed: A Europeanized NATO
European allies see the 100,000 U.S. troops on the continent as a battle-ready core force for any initial fighting. They will count on additional troops being later transferred from the United States in the event of a conflict as well. They believe that the mutual assistance Article 5 of the NATO charter creates an obligation for America to go to war to defend them. And while many in America agree. There are also other perspectives.

‌

Foreign Affairs | America’s Missed Chance in Afghanistan
For many Americans, the dominant image of the United States’ 20-year war in Afghanistan came at the very end: terrified Afghans storming the Kabul airport, clinging to departing planes, some falling to their deaths, desperately trying to flee the country as Taliban insurgents closed in on the capital.

‌

Responsible Statecraft | The hazards of Ukraine's incursion into Russia

Should Americans regard Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region as a turning point in the war, one that could bring Kyiv important new leverage in bargaining over a settlement, if not outright victory? As tempting as it is to believe that the Ukrainian military can aspire to more than stalemate and compromise, there is little about the Kursk offensive that justifies such hopes.

CVA has been out in the media on the war between Russia and Ukraine and escalations abroad.

‌

Last week, Jason Beardsley joined Ana Cabrera on MSNBC to discuss the balancing act currently taking place in the Middle East and what needs to happen to protect the American troops currently deployed in the region. Watch Jason’s full interview here.

‌

Jason also joined Hill TV to analyze the recent developments in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia and the broader implications for American foreign policy. Beardsley offers a critical analysis of Ukraine’s surprising offensive into Russian territory, the risks of escalation in the Middle East, and the growing call among American veterans to end endless wars. He underscores the importance of strategic decision-making as the U.S. navigates an uncertain geopolitical landscape. Tune in to hear his expert insights on the challenges facing American foreign policy today.