News & Insights
From 300,000 to a Few Hundred: What Happened to Afghanistan’s Army
President Joe Biden told the American people on July 8 that the U.S. and its partners in Afghanistan had “trained and equipped nearly 300,000 current serving members of the military”…
Many Facets Contributed to the Taliban’s Takeover of Afghanistan
NPR’s A Martínez talks with former U.S. CENTCOM Commander Gen. Joseph Votel about the military failures that led to the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s blitz offensive…
The Painful Lessons of Afghanistan
The Cipher Brief: Did you ever envision that the U.S. would pull out so quickly or completely leaving the Afghan military on its own without U.S. air support? General Votel:…
Taliban Sweep in Afghanistan Follows Years of US Miscalculations
President Biden’s top advisers concede they were stunned by the rapid collapse of the Afghan army in the face of an aggressive, well-planned offensive by the Taliban that now threatens…
US Deserves Big Share of Blame for Afghanistan Military Disaster
As one provincial capital after another has fallen to the Taliban, the message from Washington to the Afghans facing the onslaught has been that their survival is in their own…
Episode 4: Dr. Suzet McKinney, Principal and Director of Life Sciences, Sterling Bay
General Votel interviews BENS Chicago member Dr. Suzet McKinney, Principal and Director of Life Sciences for commercial real estate developer Sterling Bay. In this role, McKinney helps create urban campus…
The Future of US Cooperation with Pakistan
The United States and Pakistan have had a complex and often disappointing “love-hate” relationship since 1947 — one severely tested during the 20-year U.S.-led intervention in Afghanistan. We believe the…
Episode 3: Nate Morris, Founder and CEO of Rubicon
General Votel speaks with Nate Morris, founder and CEO of Rubicon, a software company focused on waste and recycling. The conversation highlights the innovative approach Morris and his company have…
Episode 2: Raj Shah, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Resilience
General Votel interviews California member Raj Shah, the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Resilience, which provides insurance and tools to help mid-market companies manage cybersecurity threats and recovery. The conversation…