Backgrounder posted April 26, 2012 by Lisa Curtis
The U.S. Must Move Cautiously on Taliban Reconciliation
Abstract: While President Obama is drawing down U.S. troops in Afghanistan, he is attempting to negotiate with the Taliban—despite the fact that the Taliban has renounced neither terrorism nor its support for al-Qaeda. If the Taliban is able to regain influence in Afghanistan without breaking ties with international terrorism, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups could…
Issue Brief posted March 1, 2012 by Lisa Curtis
U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan: Costs of Accelerating Troop Withdrawal Too High
The situation in Afghanistan has spiraled downward over the past 10 days, but before making hasty decisions on next steps in Afghanistan, U.S. policymakers need to consider what has contributed to this ominous turn of events and what options there are for adjusting the U.S. strategy to avoid further such incidents. U.S. policymakers should also be aware that leaving…
WebMemo posted May 17, 2011 by Lisa Curtis
After bin Laden: Do Not Retreat from Afghanistan
The killing of Osama bin Laden should strengthen U.S resolve to stabilize Afghanistan and ensure that it does not return to serving as a safe haven for terrorists intent on attacking the U.S. homeland. While the death of bin Laden marks a turning point in the fight against global terrorism, al-Qaeda and its affiliate organizations will not dissolve immediately.
U.S.…
WebMemo posted May 11, 2011 by Sally McNamara, Morgan Lorraine Roach
After bin Laden: NATO’s Resolve Against Terrorism Must Not Waver
Earlier this month, U.S. military personnel dispatched one of the world’s most wanted terrorists and marked a significant victory in the war on terrorism. The death of Osama bin Laden was warmly welcomed by NATO leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has rightly warned that…
Backgrounder posted March 15, 2011 by Lisa Curtis, Sally McNamara
Afghanistan: Time for Political Strategy to Capitalize on Military Gains
Abstract: The U.S. faces difficult and ongoing challenges in Afghanistan. There have been setbacks, delays, and stumbling blocks in the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, but now is not the time to begin large-scale troop withdrawals or to cut civilian aid programs. By deploying 30,000 additional troops last year, the U.S. has begun to achieve military gains,…
WebMemo posted December 17, 2010 by Lisa Curtis, James Phillips
Afghan Review Shows Troop Surge Working
The White House review on Afghanistan released Thursday demonstrates that the 30,000 additional U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan this year are beginning to make a difference in the direction of the war.
In order to build on these tentative gains, the Administration should take a stronger leadership role in driving political reconciliation inside Afghanistan,…
Lecture posted July 7, 2010 by The Right Honorable Liam Fox, MP
Afghanistan: Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with the United States
Abstract: This is a time of testing in Afghanistan. The price being paid is high, the mission complex, and progress not always obvious to the eye. The truth is that operations in Afghanistan—operations for which the Afghans themselves are paying a heavy price along with NATO and other Coalition forces—are a direct consequence of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. To withdraw…
Backgrounder posted April 17, 2008 by James Phillips, Lisa Curtis
The War in Afghanistan: More Help Needed
As the spring snowmelt signals the onset of Afghanistan's
traditional fighting season, the United States has begun to deploy
an additional 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan, raising the total U.S.
force level to about 32,000.1 These reinforcements will help to
blunt the expected spring offensive by the Taliban-led
insurgency, which has grown stronger in recent…
Backgrounder posted October 15, 2007 by Lisa Curtis, James Phillips
Revitalizing U.S. Efforts in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a crucial front in the global struggle against
the al-Qaeda terrorist network and Islamic radicalism. The United
States-led coalition was unable to transform an overwhelming
military victory in 2001 into a stable postwar political situation
because of Afghanistan's fractious politics and shattered economic,
state, and civil society infrastructures; a…