NPR news covering veterans. Also climate and national security. Former Bureau Chief in Baghdad and Kabul. Signal: QuilNPR.10

Joined December 2011
Quil Lawrence retweeted
I asked Pakistan's military spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Chaudhry whether Pakistani forces stationed in Saudi Arabia will be involved in operations across the border in Yemen Reporting with @SophiaSaifi : cnn.com/2026/10/07/middleeas… #Pakistan
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
Why is #Pakistan at war with the Taliban?  @SophiaSaifi @KunalSehgal92 and I explore the tortured history that led to this deadly conflict Watch the whole show: youtu.be/eGgNFNRItXM?si=UKH-…
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
Quite a chronology in the FT. In May, Putin’s associate Umar Kremlev paid for Donald Trump Jr’s wedding party in the Caribbean. In August, Trump Jr went to hunt endangered species with Kremlev in Mongolia. He also allegedly auctioned access to the trip for $225,000. In September, Propublica broke the wedding reception story. giftarticle.ft.com/giftartic…
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
You need to insert “Russia” where you’ve placed “Ukraine” in this post. Would love to sit and discuss Starshield/Starlink with you, Mr. Musk.
What’s actually going on in Ukraine is that there is a massive incentive difference between the elites and the people. The former have grown very rich off the hundreds of billions flowing to Ukraine, while the latter’s children are conscripted to die in trenches.
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
“Whoever is handing Putin the gift of a more vulnerable Ukraine should at least have the guts to put their name on it.”
The shifting explanations from Musk and the administration sound like Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First?” Except the consequences for Ukrainian civilians are deadly. Musk says he didn’t do it. The administration says it didn’t either. Yet someone in the administration reportedly told Musk to undo it, and Ukraine reports only partial restoration. Are we supposed to believe Hegseth and the Pentagon don’t know the status of a capability critical to U.S., Ukrainian and allied security? Whoever is handing Putin the gift of a more vulnerable Ukraine should at least have the guts to put their name on it. Hiding behind denials while innocent people pay the price is cowardice. Meanwhile, Putin keeps murdering civilians and trying to starve and freeze Ukraine into submission. Americans deserve answers. Ukrainians deserve the means to defend themselves.
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
Firefighters in Ukraine battled multiple fires after Russian strikes hit Kyiv and several other locations early Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using cluster munitions in the strikes that came hours after Russia released American Stephen Hubbard, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and called him a “humanitarian.” At least four people were killed, according to Ukraine's foreign ministry. Another 34 people were injured, including five children, Zelenskyy said.
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
SCOOP: Jill Buria, who’s married to Pete Hegseth chief of staff Ricky Buria, on Sunday registered to lobby the Pentagon as part of her new K Street job. After I asked her, her firm told me she will no longer work to influence the Defense Department. politico.com/newsletters/pol…
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer said Thursday he had concerns about Elon Musk’s influence over national security matters after Ukraine was blindsided by a disruption of a satellite communications service developed by Musk’s SpaceX. politico.com/live-updates/20…
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
Voters who Googled how to donate to Talarico got an AI answer that led them to give to someone else. A network of fake news sites seeded messaging about state and local candidates that AI answers picked up on. My story on how the AI midterms are going: theatlantic.com/technology/2…
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
Working in the Pentagon
Replying to @DanLamothe
A group dispatched by Hegseth's team in February attempted to move the historic globe, said to be used by Eisenhower during World War II. They lifted it from its home in an Army office in the Pentagon ... and dropped it.
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West LA vets know the Hon. David Carter...
Replying to @rgoodlaw
2/2 Update: "Case transferred from Judge John W. Holcomb ... to Judge David O. Carter ... for all further proceedings."
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Of course, we are not losing this war. But we are losing people. Because of the Russian attacks, we're losing people and time. It's such a pity, because our children don't have a real life and childhood. Not only children, but all people. That's why we need to end this war as quickly as possible. I hope that our partners, Americans and Europeans, will help us. God bless, our strong soldiers stay strong on the battlefield. It helps me stay strong during any kind of negotiations.
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
Trump on Camp Lejeune water contamination claims: "If we win the House and Senate, I am directing the Department of Justice to settle all remaining legitimate claims as soon as possible ... if we don't win, there's no money."
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
Witkoff to Putin: “You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian — you are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.”
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
New - Zelensky says that U.S. intel sharing with Ukraine has been restored: “I’m speaking about early warning. What is very important for our people, for children, adults, civilians, because we can hear when (a) ballistic (missile) is coming. So we are thankful to American side. Now it works. It’s great,”
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
Zelensky says that, despite denials from Washington, the throttling of Starlink/Starshield in Ukraine continues. Remarkable how nobody wants to own a clear policy choice, but also doesn’t want to reverse it. American allies are taking note of what may happen to them in case of war.
I held a coordination call on the situation in Ukraine's regions following another wave of Russian attacks. Unfortunately, 28 substations and other critical energy facilities were hit. Restoration work is underway everywhere, and electricity is gradually being restored to people. I am grateful to every repair crew and everyone working for energy companies. The Prime Minister of Ukraine reported on preparing infrastructure for the heating season. We outlined in detail the key areas requiring attention from government agencies and energy companies, as well as regional and local authorities. Ukraine's Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Presidential Office team have been given urgent tasks regarding contacts with partners who can swiftly strengthen our air defense. There are political agreements that have not been implemented at the working level. There are also delays in certain types of vital supplies at the level of the U.S. Department of War. This evening, we will hold an additional meeting to review the results of all the contacts that must take place throughout the day. I expect concrete results. Together with the Minister of Defense, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Commander of the Air Force, we set additional production capacity for turrets, which have proven highly effective against “shaheds.” We are increasing orders, and it is important to accelerate every process as much as possible – organizational, financial, and production-related. Instructions have been given to engage with the Baltic states on support for our logistics. I expect a report from Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this. There was also a separate report from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on information received from units using Starlink/Starshield services. Unfortunately, we have established that the equipment stops functioning at speeds of 130–161 kilometers per hour in various sectors of the front. This is slowing down our frontline logistics and limiting the use of various types of drones, particularly mid-strike drones and interceptors of jet-powered “shaheds.” This must be raised again with our partners at every level today – speed matters when it comes to protecting lives. I thank everyone who is helping! Glory to Ukraine!
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
It's been a good week for Putin. In recent days, Trump has: * Struck a diesel deal lifting some sanctions * Restricted Starshield for Ukraine * Cut intel warnings of Russian missile launches against Ukraine for several days * Canceled Lindsey Graham sanctions * Demanded Ukraine dump Zelensky * Absolved Russia for helping Iran fight the US * Pushed Europe to resume buying Russian gas
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Quil Lawrence retweeted
“However, after what was described as a “night of carnage” in Kyiv because of the blackout, a senior source said Mr Musk had been alarmed about the possibility of adverse consumer reaction in Europe.” telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2…
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