Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : World Outlook -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Les H who wrote (47798)	9/19/2025 10:27:05 AM
From: Les H	Respond to of 48964

US seeking to regain control of Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase, says Trump US president suggests he is negotiating with Taliban for American forces to once again occupy base Pippa Crerar Political editor Guardian Thu 18 Sep 2025 13.29 EDT The United States is seeking to retake control of Bagram airbase from the Taliban, Donald Trump has said, bringing back a key strategic asset that was surrendered during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The US president suggested he was negotiating with the Taliban for American forces to once again occupy the base, formerly the largest US military site in the country, and an important regional foothold because of its proximity to China. His comments about China will alarm western allies, who have been watching the relationship between the two superpowers carefully, amid fears that heightened tensions could lead to further economic turbulence, and even military skirmishes. During a joint press conference with Keir Starmer at Chequers on Thursday, as he wrapped up a visit to the UK, the US president said: “One of the biggest airbases in the world. We gave it to them for nothing. We’re trying to get it back, by the way. “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us. We want that base back. But one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.” Trump has criticised his predecessor, Joe Biden, over the tumultuous US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, claiming that it left American weapons and other military assets, including bases, in the hands of the Taliban. In February at his first cabinet meeting after his re-election, Trump said that in his previous Afghanistan withdrawal plan, “we were going to keep Bagram … not because of Afghanistan but because of China because its exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles”. He went on to say that Bagram was one of the biggest airbases in the world, with one of the biggest runways constructed of heavy concrete and steel. The airfield has an 11,800ft (3,600-metre) runway capable of serving bombers and large cargo aircraft. Trump also claimed at the time that China was occupying the airfield. The Taliban have since rejected Trump’s claims. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the airfield was controlled by Afghanistan, not China. According to reports, the Taliban have been interested in normalising ties with the US after they were geopolitically isolated as a result of human rights abuses and the ongoing terror threat. Guardian 🇺🇸 Trump says the U.S. wants to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan because it is just an hour away from China’s nuclear weapons production sites. pic.twitter.com/s74wnXd8to — DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) September 18, 2025 Also, he wants to use the base to support jihadist rebels inside Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Georgia. Afghanistan needs to destroy the base.

To: Les H who wrote (47798)	9/19/2025 1:12:05 PM
From: Les H	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 48964

'Deeply Harmful and Dangerous': Trump's Attempt to Undermine Jewish Studies at U.S. Colleges Haaretz, September 19, 2025 New York University professor Lila Corwin Berman has a warning for her colleagues. Corwin Berman, along with two fellow academics, recently penned a provocative piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education headlined "Jewish Studies Scholars, Beware: Trump's Deal Will Corrupt You." On the Haaretz Podcast, Corwin Berman explains how, in her view, the agreements that the Trump White House has hammered out with Ivy League universities, making their federal grant money dependent on investing in Judaic Studies and developing cooperation with Israeli universities, will result in turning them into "court Jews." What the White House is doing, she said "is not about free academic scholarship or inquiry, but is really about serving a particular kind of master. And I think that that is deeply, deeply dangerous for universities for Jewish Studies and for American Jews." Corwin Berman and host Allison Kaplan Sommer also discussed the atmosphere on campuses under the shadow of the Gaza War, and what Hannah Einbinder's remarks at the Emmy Awards says about the young generation of American Jews. Haaretz A Court Jew, or court factor, was a wealthy and well-connected Jewish banker, merchant, or financier who served European rulers and nobility from the late 16th century to the early 19th century, particularly in Central Europe. They provided vital financial services like lending and minting silver, supplied goods such as food and munitions, and facilitated international trade networks in exchange for special privileges and protection from the ruler. These individuals often faced public hatred and jealousy from rivals but were crucial to the growth of the absolutist state and the development of proto-modern banking. Key Aspects of a Court Jew Financial Services: They were instrumental in managing state finances, providing loans to rulers, and arranging credit transfers. Suppliers and Contractors: Court Jews supplied various goods, including food, fodder, horses, and munitions, to the courts and armies. International Networks: Their connections to other Jewish communities across Europe and the Ottoman Empire allowed them to function as vital links in international finance and trade. Special Privileges: In exchange for their services, they received special privileges, such as legal protection, the right to reside in certain cities, and certain freedoms from the harsh restrictions placed on other Jews. Role in the State: Court Jews were essential to the functioning of absolutist states, helping to centralize administration and facilitate the economic policies of mercantilism. Risks and Consequences: Despite their privileged positions, they were vulnerable to the ruler's personal whims, political shifts, and the envy of rivals, often leading to tragic ends or the increased persecution of their communities after their downfall.