Afzal

International Relations, Diplomacy, Terrorist Ideology, Counterinsurgency, Airpower, New Confict - Ex-practitioner Academic. Views own. Retweets not endorsement

[Afzal @affikam]

@borealissaves Let’s pray there are many other people of good conscience in the USA.

[Afzal @affikam]

@MikeRStephens Yes it says a lot about the geopolitics of terrorism and regime change. Wheel hasn’t stopped turning yet….

[Afzal @affikam]

@Edward__Burke I can vouch for much of this. Racism, antisemitism, and other forms of bigotry never truly disappear—they don more respectable attire and adopt more defensible guises. Until we learn to love all and hate none, there will always be a group we can justify vilifying.

[Afzal @affikam]

Thrilled to have been part of this excellent project. Congratulations to @DrJamesRogers for making this happen and for including me with such superb contributors. Should be a useful guide for academics, military and enthusiasts everywhere e.g. @NATO CoE DAT etc.

[James Patton Rogers @DrJamesRogers]

Today marks the publication of a true first in the field; the first-ever Handbook on Drone Warfare

With 37 of the world's leading experts, we cross disciplines, exploring the truly global rise & implications of drone proliferation

50% off with: DGBSS24 https://t.co/uACxKqvOFv

[Afzal @affikam]

@LouiseSKettle Good point but not many people paying attention. I suppose it's considered unnecessary if policy is to confront Iran and not engage with it?

[Afzal @affikam]

@MikeRStephens Your experiance is sadly shared by many, including me. In a highly competative market for political influence, the UK appears to have scored an own goal (with BREXIT) to knock itself out of the tournament!

[Afzal @affikam]

@KatAdeney My understanding is that sacrificing animals or any other act of worship in homes is legal even under Pakistan's unjust laws. This recent targetting of Ahmadis is another political distraction strategy by the government and Mullahs to deflect from their own shortcomings.

[Afzal @affikam]

If success at top is based on narrow margins then failure too is based on narrow margins. But consequences of both are different. Great insight for our collaborative research into ideas and realities of Failure @LboroIAS @LboroIRPH

[Dylan Jardon 🌈 @DylanJardon]

"Perfection is impossible.

In the 1,526 singles matches I played in my career, I won almost 80% of those matches.

But what percentage of points did I win?

54%

In other words, even top ranked tennis players win barely more than half the points they play.

When you lose ever second point on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot.

You teach yourself to think:
'Okay, I double faulted...it's only a point.'
'Okay, I came to the net and I got passed again...it's only a point.'

Even a great shot, an overhead backhand smash that ends up on ESPN's top 10 playlist – that too is just a point.

Here's why I'm telling you this.

When you're playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world. And it is.

But when it's behind you, it's behind you.

This mindset is crucial – because it frees you to fully commit to the next point with intensity, clarity, and focus."

–@rogerfederer

[Afzal @affikam]

Great honour to be part of this panel and this excellent and necessary seminar

[Rwanda Ministry of Defence @RwandaMoD]

#NSS2024 Session1: Moderated by Mr Joel KIBAZO, panelists Amb Minata SAMATE CESSOUMA, Maj Gen J NZABAMWITA, Nickolay MLADENOV, Toulu AKERELE, Dr Afzal ASHRAF and Dr Zenebe BEYENE discuss “Youth radicalization and International Violent Extremism: Implications for African Security”

[James Karuhanga 🌍 @KarhangaJames]

Dr Afzal Ashraf: What most military people will know is that tactical success does not lead to success in an outcome of a conflict if the strategic and the grand strategic policy is flawed. #YouthRadicalisation #ViolentExtremism https://t.co/DENq6WzgEP

[Afzal @affikam]

“A historic day” and “A game changer in global politics”. Fascinating thread for lawyers, international relations and war students and ‘experts’.

[Heidi Matthews @Heidi__Matthews]

Today will go down in the history of international law. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu & Gallant and Sinwar, Deif & Haniyeh. It's a game changer in global politics & the Israel-Palestine conflict.🧵 https://t.co/VYgFUI3zWs

[Afzal @affikam]

@ProfJohnHorgan You need to offer the Dep Commissioner a crash course on Terrorism studies literature before he embarrasses himself further.

[Afzal @affikam]

@DrJamesRogers Unfortunately there are many people who benefit politically and economically from warfare especially when it results in mass destruction and instability. Hence the almost continuous string of needless, costly and failed wars over the quarter century.

[Afzal @affikam]

@KatAdeney Yep but it’s more than that. “My enemy’s enemy is my friend.” India’s conflict with China, coincides with the USA’s conflict with China. And there are other areas of common antipathy.

[Afzal @affikam]

@LouiseSKettle @UN @TimesofIsrael Is it because Isreal has not been bound by any of the many previous resolutions? (An exception to the general rule?).

[Afzal @affikam]

@RoryCormac @MTSavill Cos that's where all the foreign spies go....

[Afzal @affikam]

@RoryCormac @Dianabolsinger @SocIntelHist Richard and you must have paid them to do this to make even more money! Utterly bizarre otherwise.

[Afzal @affikam]

@RoryCormac Yes disruption & sowing discord is a coup but is it worth the Russians sacrificing this weak Op Sec "source" of intelligence. It can only be if they believe they have good alternative sources and back doors in the German Pol Mil Organisations?

[Afzal @affikam]

@RoryCormac Great example. Thanks for sharing. If I wanted to reference this (and your point about subjective secrecy) in an article I'm co-writing, how can I best do it?