Undercut a deal: the threat to Afghan peace
Economist Podcasts
The Economist
4.3 • 5K Ratings
🗓️ 20 November 2020
⏱️ 20 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Peace talks continue in Doha but on the ground the Taliban are consolidating control. America’s rush to withdraw its forces could undo the good work of getting them to the negotiating table. As DoorDash heads to a public listing, we look at the rapidly shifting fortunes of the food-delivery business. And why golf has a long-shot problem.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer. Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world. |
| 0:17.2 | For years, food delivery startups failed to make any real money, but lockdowns have shifted their fortunes. |
| 0:24.6 | Those delivery middlemen are now raking it in. |
| 0:27.6 | Can they prosper with more scrutiny, regulation, and the end of the pandemic? |
| 0:32.6 | And there's a clear trend in golf. |
| 0:35.6 | The pros are smashing the ball farther and farther, |
| 0:39.3 | faster than course designers can keep up with. |
| 0:41.8 | That's costly in a number of ways, |
| 0:43.7 | and not just a little dispiriting to weekend duffers |
| 0:46.9 | who don't take such a long shot. |
| 0:57.0 | But first... Today, America's House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on the current situation in Afghanistan and on the country's future. |
| 1:09.0 | Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that America will cut its military presence there, |
| 1:14.6 | as well as in Iraq. |
| 1:15.7 | By January 15th, 2021, our forces, their size in Afghanistan will be 2,500 troops. |
| 1:26.5 | Our force size in Iraq will also... |
| 1:28.3 | By the time President Donald Trump leaves office in January, |
| 1:31.3 | the number of American soldiers in Afghanistan will have fallen by 2,000. |
| 1:36.3 | That has some officials worried, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. |
| 1:41.3 | A rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan now would hurt our allies and delight |
| 1:51.0 | the people who wish us harm. |
| 1:55.0 | Pulling America out of its forever wars has long been a goal of the outgoing president. |
| 2:00.0 | Great nations do not fight endless wars. |
... |
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