Isabel Ivanescu

“The inability to predict revolution poses an existential threat to the Chinese regime. Surveillance and high-tech analytics offer an enticing, but ultimately illusory solution.” @bocarlson1 and I propose in @Diplomat_APAC thediplomat.com/2021/04/chinas…

@McFaul’s Twitter account has been hacked. A timely reminder for all of us to practice good Twitter hygiene and to note discrepancies in usually-consistent sources. You can find his alt account here:

On a topical issue : It wasn’t NATO seeking to go East - it was former Soviet satellites and republics wishing to go West.

I am increasingly convinced that adulthood is just perpetually waiting for the next available customer service representative...I hate it here.

I just watched a man in a full Hazmat suit buy a Rolex in the Helsinki airport. It may be the apocalypse, but he’s thriving anyway.

Can’t think of a more high-profile or potentially telling case of Western tech giants bowing to Russian state pressure than this. mobile.twitter.com/MoscowTimes/st…

Reports that the last US flight has departed from Kabul. Skies are quiet and I can hear and see what appears to be celebratory gunfire from the Taliban.

BREAKING: 4 U.S. Marines killed, 3 wounded in suicide bombing outside Kabul airport: U.S. officials

We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US & civilian casualties. We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update.

As chaotic and awful as the scene has been in Kabul this past week, there's reason to believe the worst is yet to come. Why? The Taliban did not just win a war. They also won a hostage: Kabul International Airport, and everyone who is trying to get there. (thread)

Follows SASC Chair @SenJackReed and Senate Intel Chair @MarkWarner.

I can’t help but point out, to all those of you bent on emphasizing how the Afghan National Army “didn’t even fight” that, since 2001, nearly 66,000 brave Afghan soldiers have given their lives so that their country and government might live. Maybe show a little respect.

The United States has a moral obligation. Admit as many Afghan refugees as possible.

🚨NEW, thread: Pentagon confirms to me the Department of Defense is preparing to house thousands of Afghan refugees on American military installations, immediately including Fort McCoy in Wisconsin and Fort Bliss in Texas.

I'd like to see a lot of resignations.

@PascallPatrick Not arguing that it wasn’t—simply that even if you believe it was a mistake, that’s not cause to blindly support a withdrawal, particularly a haphazard and disastrous one.

@IsabelIvanescu The invasion was justified.

Remarkable how many fail to look past the “original sin” of invading Afghanistan in 2001 when evaluating the wisdom of withdrawing, even in a poorly-timed and poorly-executed manner. It almost seems like intentional deflection...?

@MMissiles2 I absolutely agree with you—hence the quotes around “original sin.” My point was simply that even if you regard it as such, it isn’t cause to blindly support a withdrawal, particularly a haphazard and disastrous one.

BREAKING: Afghan President Ghani has fled the country. “That’s it. It’s over,” U.S. official says

A lot of the arguments I’m seeing about Afghanistan right now amount to: “If someone can’t survive without your help, you shouldn’t help them.”