Skip to content
DUFFEL BLOG

Free military brief. No CAC required.

For more than a decade, we've deployed pitch perfect satire to service members around the world.

Join thousands of troops, veterans, and defense insiders who read Duffel Blog before breakfast.

“A must-read for national security nerds.”

—The Daily Beast
Subscribe form

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

14years publishing
4,200+dispatches filed
17,000+readers briefed

The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 127 · Saturday, 24 October 2026

Pentagon

Trump announces sale of Patriot missiles to Russia

White House says deal will help Moscow defend itself from Ukrainian aggression

Hegseth consults God via dumpster fire behind Pentagon

US to livestream execution of Ukraine

Three editions a week, paid for by our subscribers

Vol. 15 · No. 127

Worldwide edition

Reader supported

Delivered 3× weekly

America's most trusted military news source

Duffel Blog

Established 2012 · Deployed worldwide

Vol. 15 · No. 127 · Deployed worldwide

Saturday

24 October 2026

0809 Zulu

Next edition Monday

← Front page
· Page 2

The Taliban don't have video games. So why are they so violent, US wonders

Filed · 1552

KABUL – US Gen. Scott Miller, Commander of the international coalition in Afghanistan, expressed confusion in the wake of the latest bombing in Farah province, which destroyed a bus and killed 32 civilians, including children.

“Our intelligence has been trying to determine why the Taliban have continued to inflict violence upon innocent civilians despite not having access to video games, which, as we all know is the leading cause of violent behavior,” Miller told reporters.

Miller continued, “I know that, on the surface, it might seem like a failure when the Army Corps of Engineers grossly mismanaged a $60 million program designed to bring electricity to Afghan towns,” said Miller, pointing to a 2018 report from the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction. “But actually, it was part of our brilliant counterinsurgency program. By tackling the root cause of violence in Afghanistan—you can't play video games without electricity—we hoped to completely quell violence in the region. But unfortunately, they’ve been blowing up civilians faster than you can say Red Dead Redemption 2.”

Also on this page

Your Cart

Your cart is empty

Browse the shop to find something you like.

Continue Shopping →
Subtotal

Add more for free shipping.

✓ You qualify for free shipping!