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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

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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Syria
commentary
What Does Mission Accomplished in Syria Really Mean?
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Apr 30, 2018
United Press International
The use of chemicals cannot be allowed to become an acceptable form of warfare either in Syria or anywhere else. Mission accomplishment in Syria, just like in chemical weapon nonproliferation, will require far more than missile strikes alone.
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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
Stabilization Is Essential to Accomplishing the Mission
Linda Robinson @RobinsonL100
Apr 24, 2018
The RAND Blog
There's good reason to hope that the forthcoming policy on stabilization in places like Iraq will get the United States to the right middle road. But this new effort will fall short if Congress doesn't maintain the necessary funding for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
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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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Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

Afghan Ceasefires Offer Hope for a Peaceful Future

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

What Does Mission Accomplished in Syria Really Mean?

Is America Ready for a Peace Deal in Afghanistan?

Stabilization Is Essential to Accomplishing the Mission

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

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