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The Taliban must be confronted by Afghanistan itself; No more military action: US
If the Taliban had seized three provincial capitals in northern Afghanistan a year ago, like they did Sunday, the U.S. response would most likely have been ferocious. Fighter jets and helicopter gunships would have responded in force, beating back the Islamic group or, at the very least, stalling its advance.
But these are different times. What aircraft the U.S. military could muster from hundreds of miles away struck a cache of weapons far from Kunduz, Taliqan or Sari-i-pol, the cities that already had been all but lost to the Taliban.
The muted American response Sunday showed in no uncertain terms that America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan is over. The mismanaged and exhausted Afghan forces will have to retake the cities on their own, or leave them to the Taliban for good.
The recent string of Taliban military victories has not moved President Joe Biden to reassess his decision to end the U.S. combat mission by the end of the month, senior administration officials said Sunday. But the violence shows just how difficult it will be for Biden to extract America from the war while insisting that he is not abandoning the country in the middle of a brutal Taliban offensive.
In a speech defending the U.S. withdrawal last month, Biden said the United States had done more than enough to empower the Afghan police and military to secure the future of their people. U.S. officials have acknowledged that those forces will struggle, but argue they must now fend for themselves.
So far, the administration’s sink-or-swim strategy has not shown promising results.
Over the past week, Taliban fighters have moved swiftly to retake cities around Afghanistan, assassinated government officials, and killed civilians in the process. Throughout this, U.S. officials have publicly held out hope that Afghan forces have the resources and ability to fight back, while at the same time negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban that seems more unlikely by the day.
Leon Panetta, who served as defense secretary under President Barack Obama, said he had expected to see more U.S. air support Sunday, but he did not expect the situation would improve markedly even with the help of U.S. forces.
“Let’s face it,” Panetta said. “The most you can hope for now is some kind of stalemate” between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters, who have demonstrated little interest in reaching an accord since the U.S. troop withdrawal was announced.
At the Pentagon, where senior leaders have reluctantly cut off most military support to Afghanistan, officials were on phone calls Sunday about the unfolding events around Kunduz, a city of more than 350,000 people. The United States has twice in the past intervened to retake Kunduz from the Taliban.
But defense officials said there were no plans to take action this time beyond limited airstrikes. Over the past three weeks, the United States has used armed Reaper drones and AC-130 aerial gunships to target Taliban equipment, including heavy artillery, that threaten population centers, foreign embassies and Afghan government buildings, officials said.
One official acknowledged that with only 650 U.S. troops remaining on the ground in Afghanistan, a concerted air campaign was unlikely to undo the advances the Taliban had made.
Although the U.S. military mission will formally conclude at the end of this month, U.S. troops and their Western allies are mostly gone already. The U.S. handed over Bagram Airfield — once the military’s nerve center — to the Afghans last month, effectively ending major U.S. military operations.
Now, air support for the Afghan forces and overhead surveillance arrives from outside the country, from bases in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, or from an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.
Wesley Clark, the former top NATO general under President Bill Clinton, called the weekend’s events “a tragedy for the people of Afghanistan, and a consequence of American misjudgments and failures.”
Civilian casualties have skyrocketed. Nearly 2,400 civilians have been killed or injured between May 1 and June 30, according to a United Nations report released last month, the highest number recorded for that period since monitoring began in 2009.
When asked about the Taliban’s advances Friday, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, told reporters that Biden had long been prepared to make “difficult choices” as part of his commitment to disengaging from Afghanistan.
“The president made clear: After 20 years at war, it’s time for American troops to come home,” Psaki said. “He also feels and has stated that the Afghan government and the Afghan National Defense Forces have the training, equipment and numbers to prevail, and now is the moment for the leadership and the will in the face of the Taliban’s aggression and violence.”
Psaki’s comments echoed a prevailing view among the progressive national security wing of Biden’s party that Afghan troops would fight back if given no other option.
“Like in Iraq, at a certain point the training wheels have to come off,” said Jon Soltz, an Iraq War veteran and chair of the progressive veterans group VoteVets. “That’s when the Iraqi army stepped up, and it will be when the Afghan army does.”
“They may have their backs against the wall as things move closer to Kabul, but that’s precisely when they’ll fight the hardest and hold the line,” said Soltz, who helped to train the Iraqi army. “We have done all we can to prepare them for this moment.”
So far, no senior Pentagon official has expressed exasperation publicly with Biden over the Taliban surge, which Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III predicted this past spring, when he and Gen. Mark A. Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both counseled Biden against the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops.
“We’ve seen this movie before,” Austin told his boss, in a reference to the Obama-era withdrawal from Iraq, which was followed by the rise of the Islamic State group. The United States ended up returning to Iraq and launching five years of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria to help Iraqi security forces beat back that insurgent group.
Biden has argued for pulling out of Afghanistan for years. In 2009, while serving as vice president, he argued for a minimal force, only to be overruled as Obama ordered a surge of forces, then a rapid drawdown.
But a dozen years later, as president, he made the decision to withdraw, one of the most significant decisions of his presidency so far. And despite the likelihood that the White House will confront terrible images of human suffering and loss in the coming weeks and months, Biden has vowed to press ahead regardless of the conditions on the ground.
Polls show that large numbers of Americans in both parties support leaving Afghanistan.
Biden, declaring that the United States had long ago accomplished its mission of denying terrorists a haven in Afghanistan, said in April that all U.S. troops would leave the country by Sept. 11. That date has since been moved up to Aug. 31, giving the Pentagon — and Afghan forces — under a month to slow the Taliban surge.
Administration and military officials have voiced conflicting views on whether the United States will continue airstrikes after Aug. 31 to prevent Afghan cities and the Afghan government, led by President Ashraf Ghani, from falling. But even if the airstrikes continue, they can only do so much; the bulk of the effort will have to come from Afghan forces on the ground.
In any event, Kunduz was never going to be the Afghan city that might prompt Biden to rethink his strategy, two U.S. officials said Sunday on condition of anonymity.
His hand might be forced if Taliban forces are on the verge of overrunning Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city, or even Kabul, where the United States maintains an embassy with some 4,000 people.
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തങ്ങള് വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നത് ദൈവകൃപയില്, അവിടുത്തെ ഹിതം നിറവേറ്റുവാന് ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു : യുഎസ് വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ് വാന്സ്
ന്യൂയോര്ക്ക്: ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കൃപയിലാണ് തങ്ങൾ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നതെന്ന സാക്ഷ്യവുമായി അമേരിക്കന് വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ് ജെഡി വാന്സ്. ഫെബ്രുവരി 20-ന് മേരിലാൻഡിലെ നാഷണൽ ഹാർബറിൽ നടന്ന 2025 കൺസർവേറ്റീവ് പൊളിറ്റിക്കൽ ആക്ഷൻ കോൺഫറൻസിൻ്റെ (CPAC) പ്രധാന വേദിയിലെ അഭിമുഖത്തിനിടെയാണ് അദ്ദേഹം ഇക്കാര്യം പറഞ്ഞത്. ദൈവത്തിൻ്റെ കൃപയിൽ തങ്ങള് വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നുവെന്നും അവിടുത്തെ ഇഷ്ടം നിറവേറ്റുവാന് തങ്ങൾ പരമാവധി ശ്രമിക്കുന്നുണ്ടെന്നും വാൻസ് പറഞ്ഞു.
ധാർമ്മിക തത്വങ്ങളുടെ ഒരു കൂട്ടം മാത്രമല്ല ക്രൈസ്തവ വിശ്വാസത്തിൻ്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനം, മറിച്ച് വിശ്വാസമാണ്. ദൈവപുത്രൻ മനുഷ്യനായിത്തീർന്നു, അവൻ മരിച്ചവരിൽ നിന്ന് ഉയിർത്തെഴുന്നേറ്റു എന്നതാണ് ക്രൈസ്തവ വിശ്വാസത്തിൻ്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനം. ഇതില് നിന്ന് മനസിലാക്കേണ്ട പാഠങ്ങളില് ഒന്ന്, മരണത്തെ ഭയപ്പെടേണ്ടതില്ല എന്നതാണ്. ഒരാളുടെ ജീവൻ നഷ്ടപ്പെടുക എന്ന് പറയുമ്പോള് പ്രധാനമായി ഒരാളുടെ ആത്മാവ് നഷ്ടമാകുമെന്ന് ഞാൻ കരുതുന്നു.
ഗർഭധാരണ കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളെ പിന്തുണച്ചും, കുടുംബങ്ങളെ വളർത്തിയെടുക്കാൻ ആളുകൾക്ക് താങ്ങാനാകുന്ന ചെലവുകൾ കുറയ്ക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള നയങ്ങൾ നടപ്പാക്കിയും, ഭ്രൂണഹത്യയെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ധാരണകൾ മാറ്റിയും, ജീവന് തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കാൻ ആളുകളെ പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിച്ചും ജീവന്റെ സംസ്കാരം മുന്നോട്ട് കൊണ്ടുപോകാമെന്നും വാൻസ് അഭിമുഖത്തില് പറഞ്ഞു. പ്രസിഡൻ്റ് ഡൊണാൾഡ് ട്രംപിനെ “അമേരിക്കൻ ചരിത്രത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും പ്രോ-ലൈഫ് പ്രസിഡൻ്റ്” എന്ന് വാൻസ് വിശേഷിപ്പിച്ചു. അടിയുറച്ച കത്തോലിക്ക വിശ്വാസിയായ വാന്സ് ഭ്രൂണഹത്യയെ അതിശക്തമായി എതിര്ക്കുന്ന നേതാവ് കൂടിയാണ്.
കടപ്പാട് :പ്രവാചക ശബ്ദം
U.S. Vice President JD Vance advocated for government policies and cultural values that encourage Americans to “choose life” and “start families” during an interview on the main stage of the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 20 in National Harbor, Maryland.
“[People need to] stop thinking about babies as inconveniences to be discarded,” Vance said in a Thursday morning interview with Mercedes Schlapp, a senior fellow at the American Conservative Union Foundation and the wife of ACU chairman and CPAC organizer Matt Schlapp.
“We’ve got to start thinking of them as blessings to cherish,” Vance said.
During the interview, Vance noted that the United States Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade completely changed the abortion debate in the country by allowing the “will of the people to speak on the life issue” and removing it from “unelected bureaucrats” and “unelected judges.”
Vance suggested advancing a culture of life by supporting pro-life pregnancy centers, enacting policies to bring costs down so people can afford to raise families, changing perceptions about abortion, and encouraging people to choose life.
“Maybe they’ll start thinking of babies as the blessings that we all know that they are,” Vance said.
Vance referred to President Donald Trump as the “most pro-life president in American history” for nominating three of the justices who joined the majority opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade. However, he did not address the concerns pro-life advocates have raised with Trump’s recent executive order to expand and reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization , a fertility treatment in which human embryos are routinely destroyed.
Discussing his faith, the vice president, who is a convert to Catholicism, described himself as “very pro-life” and “a devout Christian.”
I just marvel at how real, and exceedingly impressive this guy @JDVance is. We are so blessed to have him as our VP.
“We put our faith in God above, we put our faith in the grace of God, and we try our best to do his will,” Vance said.
Vance discusses immigration, the economy, and energy
During the interview, Vance said the 2024 election gave Trump a “historic mandate on a few issues,” specifically on his efforts to deport immigrants who entered the country illegally, his plans to expand domestic energy and improve the economy, and his actions to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse within the government.
“The American people gave us a window to save the country and that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” the vice president said.
Vance spoke about Trump’s deportation efforts, his restrictions on border crossings, and his decision to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. He said his message to drug traffickers is for them to “get the hell out of our country.”
“Your free ride is over because President Trump is back in the Oval Office,” Vance added.
The vice president said Trump intends to “unleash American energy” with policies such as more drilling for oil on American land. This, he said, will “do more than anything” to help the economy because high costs of fuel increase costs for other things.
He also said Trump will ensure “other countries stop taking advantage of us,” extend his tax cuts, and end taxes on tips. He praised the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to stop “wasting [taxpayer money] on garbage.”
“We want your children and grandchildren to be able to raise a family in security and comfort in the country we all love,” Vance said.
Schlapp’s interview with the vice president kicked off CPAC’s three-day conference. Other figures scheduled to speak at the annual event include Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Republican lawmakers and administration officials, foreign leaders, and various conservative media personalities.
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Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a city once thriving as a booming steel town, now faces significant economic challenges, including one of the nation’s highest poverty rates. Yet, in the midst of hardship, faith-based programs are stepping in to inspire the next generation, offering truth, purpose, and hope for the future.
The view here in Johnstown is excellent—it’s a city with a rich past, but it has fallen on some difficult times. That includes a series of devastating floods, beginning with the infamous 1889 disaster. Then the economy took a serious downturn after Bethlehem Steel pulled out, and now, in its wake, there’s a lingering sense of hopelessness.
But even a city in a dark valley can shine a light. Programs like Bible2School are bringing faith to the next generation, teaching children about Jesus and instilling a sense of purpose.
“People kind of expect bad things,” says Pastor Doug Black of Liberty Grace Church. “They’ve grown up in this generational expectation that nothing good’s going to happen in Johnstown. So, it’s hard to give them hope because it’s not what they’ve experienced.”
Local pastors are meeting weekly for prayer, seeking spiritual renewal for their city. This week, they gather on a rooftop, standing in the gap for Johnstown. “God, the gospel is good news, Lord,” prays Pastor Terry Knipple. “The city of Johnstown is struggling, and they need good news.”
Their prayers may be finding an answer in the next generation. While student engagement can be a challenge for public schools, children in Johnstown are eagerly skipping lunch and recess to learn about the Bible through Bible2School.
“And who or what is the rock? That firm foundation? What does that rock represent?” asks a teacher in one of the classes.
“Jesus! The Bible!” the students respond enthusiastically.
“So many of the kids have never been told that Jesus loves them,” says Stacy Novak, Executive Director of Bible2School Laurel Highlands. “We have conversations with them, ‘Do you know that you are valued, and do you know you are loved?’ It’s like they’re hearing this for the very first time.”
Bible2School, a nonprofit organization, offers off-campus Bible classes to students in grades two through four in an area where less than 20% of residents regularly attend church. The program has seen remarkable growth, expanding from 82 registered students in 2018 to 850 today—an increase of 900 percent.
“We know a handful of families who’ve started going to church as a result of their children participating,” Novak says. “So, it doesn’t just reach the children. It reaches their siblings, their parents, grandparents.”
For students like Anhori, the program is life-changing. “It’s helping me learn more about Jesus and God and how I can grow closer to Him,” she says, telling CBN News her family is thinking about finding a church.
Katie Green, Johnstown Site Director for Bible2School, knows the struggles of the community firsthand. Growing up in a single-parent household, she relates to the challenges many of these children face. “I have always felt very strongly that within our program, we have little Davids and little Esthers—that God is rising up for a time like this,” Green says.
Yet, for many of these children, the challenges continue after school. Unstable housing, hunger, and loneliness are realities for many families. That’s where New Day, another faith-based program, steps in.
“I can tell you the kids are their spiritual leaders in their households,” says Chris Plaza, leader and facilitator of New Day’s afterschool children’s programming. “We have a lot of parents who can’t read or write—so it’s almost like their children are their educators.”
New Day provides a safe space for children after school, offering a warm meal, the gospel message, and time together. Without it, many kids would end up on the streets.
“I’m excited about Johnstown,” says Pastor Ray of Journey Church. “For years, everybody was down on it because of the drugs, the lack of jobs, things like that. And it was all just gloom and doom. I thought, why not Johnstown? Why can’t we be the epicenter of revival for our country and for our state?”
In a city scarred by economic setbacks and natural disasters, Bible2School and New Day stand out as beacons of hope. With each prayer and each family touched, a new layer is added to this young generation’s foundation of faith.
“We believe this rooftop is our watchtower,” says Josh Knipple of New Day. “Seeing what God sees in the city, seeing what’s to come… Instead of seeing poverty, we see hope.”
As the children pray, “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory… forever and ever—amen,” it’s clear that in Johnstown, faith is lighting the way to a brighter future.
Sources:CBN News
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Nearly 2,000 Students Choose Christ in 1 Night at Ohio State: ‘God Is Moving in This Generation’
Thousands of college students gathered at Ohio State University on Tuesday night to seek the hope that’s found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and nearly 2,000 of them made decisions to give their hearts to God.
It was the second massive revival event of 2025 organized by the Unite US movement, and this time students braved sub-freezing temperatures down in the teens to get baptized in the backs of U-Haul trucks.
“We’ve been in awe of how God has already been moving on this campus over the past year, and He met us here again tonight,” Unite US said in a social media post. “Over 6,500 students gathered in The Schott to lift the name of Jesus and almost 2,000 responded to the altar call – experiencing the freedom only He can bring.”
“God is moving in this generation, and we know that He’s just getting started!” the post exclaimed.
Tonya Prewett, the founder and visionary behind Unite US, also posted to Instagram saying, “What a night at The Ohio State University! …close to 2,000 students made a decision to go all in with Jesus! I am in awe of how God is moving on college campuses!”
The Ohio State revival follows a Unite US outreach held last week at the University of Kentucky where more than 2,000 students gave their lives to Jesus Christ and many were baptized as well.
The next Unite US outreach will be held at Purdue University in Indiana on March 5. Since September of 2023, the ministry’s events have reached more than 70,000 college students across multiple campuses.
Sources:CBN News
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തങ്ങള് വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നത് ദൈവകൃപയില്, അവിടുത്തെ ഹിതം നിറവേറ്റുവാന് ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു : യുഎസ് വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ് വാന്സ്
ന്യൂയോര്ക്ക്: ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കൃപയിലാണ് തങ്ങൾ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നതെന്ന സാക്ഷ്യവുമായി അമേരിക്കന് വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ് ജെഡി വാന്സ്. ഫെബ്രുവരി 20-ന് മേരിലാൻഡിലെ നാഷണൽ ഹാർബറിൽ നടന്ന 2025 കൺസർവേറ്റീവ് പൊളിറ്റിക്കൽ...
Bible Lessons for School Kids Are Shining Hope in Challenged Cities
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a city once thriving as a booming steel town, now faces significant economic challenges, including one of the...
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