Cees Roels
@darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social
Dutch veteran diplomat, was often in warzones, believes in political endgames, strategic clarity and patience. Nothing ruins a good war story like an eye witness. Contributions about the dystopian world, Darkness at Noon on Substack (Dutch/English)
Op 4 december 2025 bracht SIGAR zijn eindrapport uit over twintig jaar inzet in Afghanistan. Het oordeel is vernietigend: structureel falen en wijdverbreide corruptie. Waarschuwingen die niet pasten in het gewenste narratief werden genegeerd.
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
Amerikaanse SIGAR fileert bijna twintig jaar betrokkenheid in Afghanistan
De illusie van wederopbouw en stabilisatie
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Op 4 december 2025 bracht SIGAR zijn eindrapport uit over twintig jaar inzet in Afghanistan. Het oordeel is vernietigend: structureel falen en wijdverbreide corruptie. Waarschuwingen die niet pasten in het gewenste narratief werden genegeerd.
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
De Slag om de Herdenking
Waarom 4 mei geen podium mag zijn voor politieke slogans
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
Waarom 4 mei geen podium mag zijn voor politieke slogans
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
De Slag om de Herdenking
Waarom 4 mei geen podium mag zijn voor politieke slogans
open.substack.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
De Slag om de Herdenking
Waarom 4 mei geen podium mag zijn voor politieke slogans
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
Waarom 4 mei geen podium mag zijn voor politieke slogans
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
As global focus on Afghanistan wanes again, the silence is deafening. Recent discussions in the media on Afghanistan have highlighted both insightful and dangerously naive perspectives, and it’s time to separate the two.
Read my full editorial contribution.
medium.com/@Cees2024/th...
The Afghan Silence and the West’s Naivety
How the Taliban erased women from public life
medium.com
September 6, 2024 at 9:44 PM
As global focus on Afghanistan wanes again, the silence is deafening. Recent discussions in the media on Afghanistan have highlighted both insightful and dangerously naive perspectives, and it’s time to separate the two.
Read my full editorial contribution.
medium.com/@Cees2024/th...
September 1, 2024 at 8:46 AM
September 1, 2024 at 8:46 AM
The negative impact of Taliban restrictions will affect future generations: boys internalise the subordination of women, and girls lose hope for their future. Afghan women urgently request the international community not to recognize the Taliban open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
Future Support to Afghanistan: Wishful Thinking Revisited?
The Taliban's radicalisation of education based on an extremely conservative interpretation of Sharia law is leading to severe and far-reaching consequences.
open.substack.com
May 27, 2024 at 10:02 PM
The negative impact of Taliban restrictions will affect future generations: boys internalise the subordination of women, and girls lose hope for their future. Afghan women urgently request the international community not to recognize the Taliban open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
While all attention is focused on Ukraine and Gaza, there are numerous forgotten crises worldwide that pose a significant threat. These conflicts, often overlooked by the international community, can escalate into broader regional crises if left unaddressed.
ceesroels.substack.com/p/world-stat...
World state of affairs: forgotten conflicts
A brief contribution on forgotten conflicts, focusing on geopolitical tensions, humanitarian crises, and the rise of authoritarian regimes and increasing terrorist threats.
ceesroels.substack.com
April 26, 2024 at 2:29 PM
While all attention is focused on Ukraine and Gaza, there are numerous forgotten crises worldwide that pose a significant threat. These conflicts, often overlooked by the international community, can escalate into broader regional crises if left unaddressed.
ceesroels.substack.com/p/world-stat...
Iran now has the default advantage over the United States because it does not actually have to achieve anything material in the near term. Chaos itself will constitute a victory. By contrast, the bar for U.S. success is high. www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/irans-o...
April 12, 2024 at 6:40 AM
Iran now has the default advantage over the United States because it does not actually have to achieve anything material in the near term. Chaos itself will constitute a victory. By contrast, the bar for U.S. success is high. www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/irans-o...
20 million people need humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. We must prevent humanitarian aid from being misused to strengthen autocratic rule or promote radicalisation as we have seen in Gaza. Addressing Taliban's repressive policies is paramount.
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
March 4, 2024 at 10:42 PM
20 million people need humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. We must prevent humanitarian aid from being misused to strengthen autocratic rule or promote radicalisation as we have seen in Gaza. Addressing Taliban's repressive policies is paramount.
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
open.substack.com/pub/ceesroel...
Prediction should never take the place of preparedness!
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis warned against a possible Russian surprise attack: We cannot wait for a second, our Pearl Harbour moment. We cannot wait for every European country to be attacked by Russia
www.spiegel.de/ausland/russ...
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis warned against a possible Russian surprise attack: We cannot wait for a second, our Pearl Harbour moment. We cannot wait for every European country to be attacked by Russia
www.spiegel.de/ausland/russ...
February 22, 2024 at 5:33 PM
Prediction should never take the place of preparedness!
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis warned against a possible Russian surprise attack: We cannot wait for a second, our Pearl Harbour moment. We cannot wait for every European country to be attacked by Russia
www.spiegel.de/ausland/russ...
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis warned against a possible Russian surprise attack: We cannot wait for a second, our Pearl Harbour moment. We cannot wait for every European country to be attacked by Russia
www.spiegel.de/ausland/russ...
Inspired by television series depicting air raids during World War II and interview with former GDR dissident Wolf Biermann, I delve into ethical dilemmas and human costs associated with Gaza war - a domain of moral gray areas and uncomfortable truths.
medium.com/@Cees2024/wa...
medium.com/@Cees2024/wa...
February 21, 2024 at 1:26 AM
Inspired by television series depicting air raids during World War II and interview with former GDR dissident Wolf Biermann, I delve into ethical dilemmas and human costs associated with Gaza war - a domain of moral gray areas and uncomfortable truths.
medium.com/@Cees2024/wa...
medium.com/@Cees2024/wa...