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)https://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3m7msy4ed5k2wOp 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. https://open.substack.com/pub/ceesroels/p/amerikaanse-sigar-fileert-bijna-twintig?r=36gaqt&utm_medium=ios10 Dec 2025 10:10 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7msy4ed5k2whttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3lo3wub3a522zDe Slag om de Herdenking Waarom 4 mei geen podium mag zijn voor politieke slogans https://open.substack.com/pub/ceesroels/p/de-slag-om-de-herdenking?r=36gaqt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false01 May 2025 08:56 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lo3wub3a522zhttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3l3jdcwmb2r2n 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. https://medium.com/@Cees2024/the-afghan-silence-and-the-wests-naivety-247f28cf3af306 Sep 2024 21:44 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3l3jdcwmb2r2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3l33fizbsfi2xhttps://open.substack.com/pub/ceesroels/p/afghanistan-viering-van-drie-jaar?r=36gaqt01 Sep 2024 08:46 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3l33fizbsfi2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3l33fi3g5im2ahttps://open.substack.com/pub/ceesroels/p/appeasement-wensdenken-en-strategisch?r=36gaqt01 Sep 2024 08:46 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3l33fi3g5im2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3ktiupgyirg2f 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 https://open.substack.com/pub/ceesroels/p/future-support-to-afghanistan-wishful?r=36gaqt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true27 May 2024 22:02 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3ktiupgyirg2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3kr24xixnlx2k 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. https://ceesroels.substack.com/p/world-state-of-affairs-forgotten?r=36gaqt26 Apr 2024 14:29 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3kr24xixnlx2khttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3kpw47uiz5e2gIran 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. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/irans-order-chaos-suzanne-maloney?utm_medium=newsletters&utm_source=twofa&utm_campaign=The%20Only%20Way%20for%20Israel%20to%20Truly%20Defeat%20Hamas&utm_content=20240412&utm_term=FA%20This%20Week%20-%2011201712 Apr 2024 06:40 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3kpw47uiz5e2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3kmvpsfcvev2f20 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. https://open.substack.com/pub/ceesroels/p/international-humanitarian-aid-in?r=36gaqt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true04 Mar 2024 22:42 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmvpsfcvev2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3klzjg4ocb72zPrediction 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 https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/russland-angriffskrieg-litauens-aussenminister-warnt-vor-europaeischem-pearl-harbor-moment-a-8ad0e082-0f9a-4ae5-93c3-3b909dd6e29c?sara_ref=re-xx-cp-sh22 Feb 2024 17:33 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3klzjg4ocb72zhttps://bsky.app/profile/darknessatnoon2024.bsky.social/post/3klvcvuivbe26Inspired 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. https://medium.com/@Cees2024/war-is-a-series-of-catastrophes-that-leads-to-victory-cba2b439ebb721 Feb 2024 01:26 +0000at://did:plc:danoqym36wbcyll7kcemfhyj/app.bsky.feed.post/3klvcvuivbe26