How the Georgian government, once our ally, became our adversary, and what the US should do to deter it from further repressions against their people. My latest with David Kramer

justsecurity.org/95658/georgia-…

Thank you Amu TV for inviting us to discuss the Taliban's corruption and kleptocracy, its devastating impact on Afghan women and children, and the role of foreign enablers, which we documented in the Captured State report series George W. Bush Presidential Center with Natalie Gonnella-Platts

Afghan and Iranian women are a force in the fight for freedom. New George W. Bush Presidential Center policy brief by Natalie Gonnella-Platts and Valerie Dowling International Republican Institute on what we should do to support their work and amplify their voices: bushcenter.org/publications/a… #WomenLifeFreedom

“Given the scale of the challenges we face, it’s probably not surprising that some Americans are choosing, once again, to turn their faces inward. But ignoring the world would be a dangerous mistake – one neither the United States nor other countries can afford.”
— Jonathan…

🚨 BREAKING

240 organizations and individuals have signed a letter to authorities in #Azerbaijan demanding the unconditional release of #GubadIbadoghlu and immediate guarantees for his health.

#FreeGubad

bit.ly/4aZYdDo 🧵 1/4

'Ukrainians are holding the line between democracy and dictatorship. They are not asking for our soldiers, only our support.' Why the US and our allies must continue to support Ukraine, by Igor Khrestin George W. Bush Presidential Center and Elizabeth Hoffman CSIS bushcenter.org/publications/t…

Gubad Ibadoghlu was released to house arrest last week, but the recent arrests of Anar Mammadli and Imran Aliyev don't inspire confidence that Ibadoghlu's May 20 hearing will be fair. It's time for Azerbaijan to unconditionally release those unjustly held. bushcenter.org/publications/t…

A 95-second reminder that US assistance to Ukraine =
(1) replenishing and upgrading US weapons supplies
(2) American jobs
(3) defending Ukraine's freedom
(4) defending our freedom, and
(5) sending a clear message to Vladimir Putin and other aggressive autocrats worldwide.

China, Russia, and other authoritarian actors use different means to the same ends: undermining other countries’ democratic development. IRI’s new report “The Authoritarian Nexus” illustrates this with 9 case studies: iri.org/resources/the-…

“The more countries that are turning autocratic that are willing to close the space for their own citizens, the less safe we are. Those are not countries that we are eager to trade with, to go into military or security agreements with. Those are the countries that are less likely…

“It is important for the US to send a clear message about who we stand with around the world,” says Mark Green The Wilson Center about Ukraine and other democratic allies during George W. Bush Presidential Center Forum on Leadership

Today George W. Bush Presidential Center, our annual Forum on Leadership focuses on The Call of Freedom. Amazing lineup of speakers to remind us why our commitment to democracy at home and abroad matters. You can watch live here: bushcenter.org/events-and-exh…

'Afghan women and children bear the majority of the fallout from the Taliban’s human rights abuses and manipulation and exploitation of Afghanistan and its people.' — Natalie Gonnella-Platts (Natalie Gonnella-Platts), Director of Global Policy at the George W. Bush Institute

Watch the full…

Is it engagement or is it enabling? A new study explores how Taliban cruelty towards women is perpetuated through foreign finances and indifference
George W. Bush Presidential Center
rukhshana.com/en/is-it-engag…

The George Bush Institute, in a report referring to the Taliban's ties with terrorist groups and continued violation of women's rights, has urged the United States and the international community to officially designate the Taliban as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.

Corruption and kleptocracy are not victimless crimes; in Afghanistan under the Taliban, women and children bear the brunt. The international community has the tools to fight back on their behalf: target Taliban $$$ streams Natalie Gonnella-Platts American Purpose americanpurpose.com/articles/the-g…

'The Bush Institute paper is one of the few comprehensive studies of the impact of the Taliban’s return to power to publicly call for the group to face consequences for its actions. It suggests, for instance, the enforcement of international travel bans on #Taliban leaders, which…

Al Qaeda is profiting from an ongoing relationship with senior Taliban leaders, who provide them with 'everything they need.' Thank you Lynne O'Donnell for highlighting our reports on the Taliban's destabilizing corruption George W. Bush Presidential Center in Foreign Policy foreignpolicy.com/2024/03/22/al-…

Afghan women and girls are being married off at younger ages due to real and perceived threats under Taliban control. The individual impact of underage and forced marriage is devasting; the collective impact undermines security in Afghanistan. New report: DROPS ODI

“Urgent action is required to save my life in prison.” Baku's ongoing mistreatment of economist Gubad Ibadoghlu and wrongful imprisonment of independent journalists are a stain on Azerbaijan ahead of it playing host to COP29 conference in November. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/…