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Afghanistan

Afghanistan
commentary
The Risks of Permanent War
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Sep 28, 2018
Just Security
Why are we in Afghanistan? What interests justify our sacrifices? How will the war end? If the U.S. finds it challenging to answer such questions after nearly two decades, the coming years are unlikely to provide clarity. If a campaign has no end, it can have no objective; if it has no objective, it cannot be won.
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Afghanistan
commentary
Afghan Ceasefires Offer Hope for a Peaceful Future
Laurel E. Miller
Jun 25, 2018
The Hill
Parallel ceasefires in Afghanistan by the Afghan government and the Taliban for the end of the holy month of Ramadan brought a short respite from the violence. This was an unprecedented development, but was it an opening for resolution of the conflict?
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Afghanistan
q&a
A Way Forward in Afghanistan: Q&A with Laurel Miller
Jun 21, 2018
As the United States approaches its 17th year of military involvement in Afghanistan, Laurel Miller, a senior foreign policy expert at RAND, describes the current situation and hopes for the future.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Is America Ready for a Peace Deal in Afghanistan?
Laurel E. Miller, Stephen Watts
Apr 27, 2018
The National Interest
The Trump administration appears to be following its predecessor in imagining a political endgame in Afghanistan. It is focused on military efforts to try to turn the tide of the conflict, in hopes of negotiating from a stronger position. But if all sides continue to seek military advantage, negotiations will never commence.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
In Afghanistan, A Protracted Stalemate
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Feb 26, 2018
The National Interest
The United States has been at war in Afghanistan for over 16 years, at a cost of over $1 trillion. But the Taliban now controls more territory than at any point since the U.S.-led invasion. This should give pause to observers who believe that the United States is, or will soon be, poised to turn the tide in Afghanistan.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Where Will ISIS Seek to Establish Its Next Safe Haven?
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Feb 19, 2018
The Jerusalem Post
Many of ISIS's surviving fighters will seek out new battlefields to continue waging jihad. By coordinating with its allies around the globe, the U.S. could work to help alleviate the conditions that lead states to fail, making them less appealing as sanctuaries where terrorists can rest, rearm, and recuperate.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
The United States and Pakistan: Best Frenemies Forever?
Laurel E. Miller
Jan 16, 2018
The National Interest
A realistic approach to dealing with Pakistan does not mean selling out Afghanistan or taking a loss on the substantial U.S. investment in the region. Rather, it is necessary for giving Afghanistan a better shot at a more stable future than the current approach is likely to produce.
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Threat Assessment
commentary
Where Is Assad Getting His Fighters from? (It's Not Just Lebanon and Iraq)
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke, Phillip Smyth
Jan 4, 2018
The National Interest
The Assad regime's defense against insurgents in Syria's ongoing civil war is being provided by forces imported from Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as Lebanon and Iraq. Most of these fighters are being trained and equipped by Iran. Could this network of foreign fighters help Iran establish a greater presence beyond the Middle East?
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Counterinsurgency
commentary
Mali Is France's Afghanistan, but with a Difference
Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard, Michael Shurkin @MichaelShurkin
Dec 1, 2017
War on the Rocks
At first glance the comparison between the French military operations in Mali and America’s involvement in Afghanistan is compelling, and in some important ways, accurate. It also presents some fundamental differences that give reason for optimism in France.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Despite Tillerson, U.S. Won't Abandon Pakistan for India
Jonah Blank
Oct 27, 2017
The Indian Express
There is no new U.S. policy towards Pakistan and there won't be one soon. As long as the U.S. has troops in neighboring Afghanistan, it will be reliant on Pakistan for logistical support, transit, and Islamabad's influence with both the Taliban and its affiliated Haqqani Network.
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Nation Building
commentary
President Trump's Recommitment to Nation-Building in Afghanistan
Laurel E. Miller
Aug 30, 2017
Newsweek
In his speech on Afghanistan, President Trump maintained his stance against nation-building. But like President Obama's policy, the refreshed approach hinges on the U.S. developing Afghan government capabilities to fight the Taliban, provide for the country's long-term security, and serve as a counterterrorism partner.
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Politics and Government
commentary
What Afghanistan Needs to Move Forward: A Political Solution
S. Rebecca Zimmerman @_rebeccaz
Aug 24, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
Although the U.S. military's role in maintaining stability has been crucial, a real solution needs to consider Afghan politics first. The United States and the international community should push for parliamentary elections to build confidence between the government and the people.
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Afghanistan
commentary
Trump's New Afghanistan Strategy: Governing from the Center?
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 22, 2017
The Hill
The president has embraced a national security establishment strategy for Afghanistan with a veneer that does not alter its essence. The result is likely to disappoint some of his supporters and to be criticized by his opponents, but it will also secure a measure of bipartisan support.
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Military Acquisition and Procurement
commentary
Privatizing the Military Unlikely to Be a Viable Solution in Afghanistan
Molly Dunigan
Aug 14, 2017
The National Interest
Operational contractors are now an entrenched part of the Department of Defense’s total force and are here to stay. But replacing U.S. military personnel with contractors is not likely to be a militarily effective solution for the Afghanistan problem.
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Military Acquisition and Procurement
commentary
Is It a Good Idea to Privatize the War in Afghanistan?
S. Rebecca Zimmerman @_rebeccaz
Aug 4, 2017
Newsweek
The CEO of the Blackwater Corporation has suggested that the U.S. should privatize the war in Afghanistan, and the administration is reportedly giving it some thought. It is important not to dismiss this plan categorically, but to consider it on the merits. Doing so highlights the risks of such a plan.
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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
While Americans Fight the Taliban, Putin Is Making Headway in Afghanistan
Arturo Munoz
Jul 31, 2017
Newsweek
The Russians are ramping up political, economic, and propaganda activities to improve their image and reestablish their influence amid pervasive corruption that is impeding progress in Afghanistan.
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Afghanistan

The Risks of Permanent War

Afghan Ceasefires Offer Hope for a Peaceful Future

A Way Forward in Afghanistan: Q&A with Laurel Miller

Is America Ready for a Peace Deal in Afghanistan?

In Afghanistan, A Protracted Stalemate

Where Will ISIS Seek to Establish Its Next Safe Haven?

The United States and Pakistan: Best Frenemies Forever?

Where Is Assad Getting His Fighters from? (It's Not Just Lebanon and Iraq)

Mali Is France's Afghanistan, but with a Difference

Despite Tillerson, U.S. Won't Abandon Pakistan for India

President Trump's Recommitment to Nation-Building in Afghanistan

What Afghanistan Needs to Move Forward: A Political Solution

Trump's New Afghanistan Strategy: Governing from the Center?

Privatizing the Military Unlikely to Be a Viable Solution in Afghanistan

Is It a Good Idea to Privatize the War in Afghanistan?

While Americans Fight the Taliban, Putin Is Making Headway in Afghanistan

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