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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

Turkey
commentary
Turkey's Double Standard: How Ankara's Actions Contradict Its Claims of Opposing the Islamic State
Ahmet S. Yayla, Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Apr 13, 2018
Foreign Policy
Turkey wants to take credit for the demise of the Islamic State, insisting that Turkey's actions in northern Syria have helped lay the groundwork for a sustainable peace. But the evidence clearly suggests otherwise.
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Syria
commentary
Conditioning American Withdrawal from Syria
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Jeffrey Martini
Apr 9, 2018
Al-Monitor
U.S. forces will soon withdraw from Syria, and the U.S. State Department put a hold on further stabilization assistance to areas liberated from the Islamic State. The U.S. and its partners should offer stabilization and reconstruction help, particularly in regions where much of the damage was the result of American-supported military operations.
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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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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
If We Don't Get the Peace Right, Iraq Will Slide Back into the Morass
Linda Robinson @RobinsonL100, Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Feb 12, 2018
Newsweek
Actions taken now by the United States, the Iraqi government, and private parties could determine the war-torn country's future. The message the Sunnis receive in these next six months will determine whether Iraq is on the path to stability.
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Iran
commentary
Counteracting Iran's Gray Zone Strategy in Syria
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Jan 25, 2018
Lawfare
Iran is extending its influence throughout Syria as the Islamic State's influence declines. To counter Iranian efforts and the inevitable similar actions of other countries, the United States should dedicate significant resources to crafting its own strategy to prevent Tehran from taking advantage of the current conflict and humanitarian crisis.
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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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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
Russia Trapped in Syria
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Dec 20, 2017
The Cipher Brief
Russia alone can neither guarantee the future security of Syria nor mobilize the resources to enable it to recover and rebuild. Only by linking arms with the international community to edge out Iran, forge broader-based governance and spur economic growth can Russia hope to achieve lasting success in Syria.
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Syria
commentary
The Future of Counterterrorism Efforts in Syria
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Nov 15, 2017
Sada
It is time for the U.S.-led coalition to figure out what its next counterterrorism steps should be, even as it continues to work toward stabilizing the country and navigating the path toward a political settlement with the other major powers involved.
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Syria
commentary
How to Help Syrians — Without Helping Assad
Philip Gordon, James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins, Jeffrey Martini
Nov 3, 2017
The Washington Post
The U.S. and others have a major interest in ending the Syrian civil war, helping the millions of displaced Syrians, and preventing the re-emergence of the Islamic State. But they are naturally reluctant to assist rebuilding a country run by Assad and supported by Russia and Iran. What are their options?
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Security Cooperation
commentary
U.S. Helping Niger Halt Spread of Terror in Region
Michael Shurkin @MichaelShurkin
Oct 25, 2017
The Hill
Niger is at the epicenter of the war on terror, with local and regional violent groups based there and entering the country from nearly every side. U.S. troops are there to train Niger's security services and not to fight. They are also assisting French forces who are fighting there.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
The Rorschach Test of New Nuclear Powers: Analogies for North Korean Command and Control
Austin Long
Oct 6, 2017
War on the Rocks
Is Pyongyang more like modern Islamabad or Soviet Moscow? The answer must draw on the expertise of scholars of civil-military relations as well as nuclear strategy. Even then analogy is only a starting point—North Korea may be more or less like previous cases, but will certainly be unique.
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Migrants
commentary
Addressing Europe's Migrant Crisis Takes More Than Stopping the Boats from Libya
Amanda Kadlec @alidraak, Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Sep 25, 2017
Foreign Policy Concepts
Treating migration from Libya as a border security issue has reduced migration across the Mediterranean. But efforts to keep migrants in Libya are fraught with risks, exacerbate a massive human rights problem, and do not address Libya's long-term economic and political stabilization.
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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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Political Reform Movements
q&a
The Post–Arab Spring Experience: Q&A with Shelly Culbertson
Aug 23, 2017
It's too early to say whether the Arab Spring will turn out to be a success or not. The Arab Spring was about people deciding what they did not want and rising up against it, but they hadn't worked out what they did want. Many of them still have hope.
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Military Acquisition and Procurement
commentary
Privatizing the Military Unlikely to Be a Viable Solution in Afghanistan
Molly Dunigan @MollyDunigan
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

Turkey's Double Standard: How Ankara's Actions Contradict Its Claims of Opposing the Islamic State

Conditioning American Withdrawal from Syria

In Afghanistan, A Protracted Stalemate

If We Don't Get the Peace Right, Iraq Will Slide Back into the Morass

Counteracting Iran's Gray Zone Strategy in Syria

The United States and Pakistan: Best Frenemies Forever?

Russia Trapped in Syria

The Future of Counterterrorism Efforts in Syria

How to Help Syrians — Without Helping Assad

U.S. Helping Niger Halt Spread of Terror in Region

The Rorschach Test of New Nuclear Powers: Analogies for North Korean Command and Control

Addressing Europe's Migrant Crisis Takes More Than Stopping the Boats from Libya

What Afghanistan Needs to Move Forward: A Political Solution

The Post–Arab Spring Experience: Q&A with Shelly Culbertson

Privatizing the Military Unlikely to Be a Viable Solution in Afghanistan

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

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