Over 45 Afghan Air Force aircraft were flown out of the country in mid-August, likely to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Taliban. Satellite imagery acquired on September 1 of Bohktar (Qurghtnteppa) International Airport in Tajikistan revealed that 16 of the utility/transport attack aircraft have been transferred to Tajikistan following a stop in Uzbekistan. The fate of the remaining aircraft and all the helicopters originally seen in Uzbekistan is unclear.

SOURCE: "Afghan Military Aircraft Land in Uzbekistan, Move to Tajikistan (Updated)" by CSIS's Matthew Funaoile, and Joseph Bermudez.

On September 3, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan announced that he will not run for reelection as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), effectively ending his term as prime minister less than a year since he took office. While Prime Minister Suga's approval rating started off strong, public frustration with the Covid-19 crisis, a poor communications strategy, and delayed vaccination campaign plummeted his support rate to below 30 percent in some polls.

SOURCE: "Japan’s Prime Minister Steps Aside" by CSIS's Mike Green and Nicholas Szechenyi.

In 2020, gas and coal provided 59 percent of power in the United States. To meet the Biden administration's goal of a power sector that is 80 percent carbon free by 2030, electricity generation from coal and gas must shrink from 59 to 20 percent in 10 years.

SOURCE: "The Next Decade in U.S. Power Sector Decarbonization" by CSIS's Nikos Tsafos.

Long before the government collapse began in July 2021, roughly half the Afghan population lived in poverty, some 20% of children lacked adequate food, and youth unemployment was almost certainly over 20%. To prevent compounding what already is a very real human tragedy, the United States may now need to deal with the Taliban as a means to moderate its behavior, protect Afghans, and prevent the rise of an extremist threat.

SOURCE: "Living with the Taliban?" by CSIS's Anthony Cordesman.