Location: The Heritage Foundation's Allison Auditorium
Afghanistan is a crucial front in the global struggle against
the al-Qaeda terrorist network and Islamic radicalism. The United
States-led coalition has been unable to transform an overwhelming
military victory against the Taliban in 2001 into a stable postwar
political situation for a variety of reasons, including
Afghanistan's fractious politics; the country's shattered economic,
state, and civil society infrastructures; a minimalist American
approach to committing military forces and foreign aid; and
Pakistan's failure to decisively crack down on Taliban forces who
have taken refuge in Pashtun tribal areas along its border with
Afghanistan. Despite the challenges, most observers believe that
with a revitalization of the international effort, the goal of a
stable and secure Afghanistan remains achievable. What steps does
the U.S. need to take to turn the corner in Afghanistan and ensure
that the country does not again fall sway to Taliban influence and
become a safe haven for global terrorists? Join us for a discussion
of these vital issues with a distinguished panel of experts.
More About the Speakers
Peter Bergen
Schwartz Senior Fellow,
New America Foundation
Lisa Curtis
Senior Research Fellow for South Asia,
Asian Studies Center,
The Heritage Foundation
C. Christine Fair
Former Political Officer for the United Nations Assistance
Mission to Afghanistan
Ali Jalali
Distinguished Professor,
Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies,
National Defense University