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Friday November 20, 2009

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Afghanistan

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioVision for Victory in Afghanistan - Part II

Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 19, 2009, The Washington Times

Vision for Victory in Afghanistan - Part IIOn a recent weeklong visit to Afghanistan sponsored by the U.S. military, Michael O'Hanlon met with Afghan and U.S. officials whose assessments partially countered the current general outlook on the country's status and future. O'Hanlon's visit left him with guarded optimism about U.S. prospects for creating a safe and stable Afghanistan. Read More

Afghanistan, Terrorism, U.S. Military, NATO

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioCorruption Index Today, Election Tomorrow, Aid Revamp the Day After?

Daniel Kaufmann, November 18, 2009, The Brookings Institution

Corruption Index Today, Election Tomorrow, Aid Revamp the Day After?In reaction to news of brazen corruption in Afghanistan and the release of the new Corruption Perceptions Index, Daniel Kaufmann asks tough questions about the relationship between aid and corruption and suggests improvements in how development aid effectiveness is reviewed. Read More

Corruption, Foreign Aid, Governance, Afghanistan, Global Economics

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAfghanistan Victory Crucial for President Obama

Bruce Riedel, November 18, 2009, IBA News

Afghanistan Victory Crucial for President ObamaIn an interview with IBA News, Bruce Riedel discusses President Barack Obama's policy in Afghanistan, emphasizing that victory against Al Qaeda and the Taliban is crucial not only for the stability of Afghanistan itself, but also for Pakistan and the entire Islamic world. Read More

Afghanistan, Terrorism, Pakistan, Islamic World, International Relations

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioVision for Victory in Afghanistan - Part I

Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 18, 2009, The Washington Times

Vision for Victory in Afghanistan - Part IOn a recent weeklong visit to Afghanistan sponsored by the U.S. military, Michael O'Hanlon met with Afghan and U.S. officials whose assessments partially countered the current general outlook on the country's status and future. O'Hanlon's visit left him with guarded optimism about U.S. prospects for creating a safe and stable Afghanistan. Read More

Afghanistan, Terrorism, U.S. Military, NATO

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioPolice Reform a Reason for Hope in Afghanistan

Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 16, 2009, The Washington Post

Police Reform a Reason for Hope in AfghanistanLost in the ongoing Afghanistan debate is a promising effort to foster reform in building the Afghan police force, writes Michael O'Hanlon. Just back from a trip to the country, O'Hanlon notes several areas in which new efforts are encouraging and draws on lessons learned from reforms that occurred coincident with the 2007 surge in Iraq. Read More

Afghanistan, U.S. Military, Corruption

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioElection Boycotts Don't Work

Matthew Frankel, November 03, 2009, The Daily Beast

Matthew Frankel compares Abdullah Abdullah's withdrawal from Afghanistan's runoff election to other electoral boycotts over the years. Based on independent research of 100 boycotts since 1990, Frankel concludes that they rarely work and often fracture the party involved. Read More

Elections, Afghanistan, Politics

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioU.S. Options in Afghanistan and the Karzai Brothers

Vanda Felbab-Brown, November 02, 2009, Room for Debate Blog

U.S. Options in Afghanistan and the Karzai BrothersHamid Karzai was declared the winner of the presidential vote in Afghanistan on November 2 and he was quickly warned that he must crack down on rampant corruption. Vanda Felbab-Brown joined several other experts to discuss what should be done about President Karzai's brother, Wali Karzai, who has been linked to Afghanistan's narcotics trade. Read More

Afghanistan, Counternarcotics Policy, Corruption

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAbdullah's Withdrawal from the Runoff Election in Afghanistan

Michael E. O'Hanlon, October 31, 2009, The Brookings Institution

Abdullah's Withdrawal from the Runoff Election in AfghanistanMichael O'Hanlon discusses Abdullah Abdullah's withdrawal from Afghanistan's presidential election runoff that was scheduled for November 7. O'Hanlon argues that while Afghan President Karzai can now be viewed as legitimate, although tainted, he is hardly out of the woods. Read More

Afghanistan, Elections, Governance, Politics

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioThe Role of the Military in Climate Change and Security

Thursday, October 29, 2009
3:00 PM to 5:15 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Steve MarcusOn October 29, the Energy Security Initiative at Brookings, the Institute for Environmental Security, CNA, E3G and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted a discussion on the real dangers for conflicts and disputes resulting from resource shortages, water rights and natural disasters. Read More

Energy Security, Climate Change, Global Environment, Transnational Security Threats, Afghanistan

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNarco-belligerents Across the Globe: Lessons from Colombia for Afghanistan?

Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 28, 2009, Fundación Real Instituto Elcano

Increased insecurity in Afghanistan and the sense that the counterinsurgency is not being won have left many looking for comparisons that can shape future policy. Vanda Felbab-Brown examines similarities between the counternarcotics and counterinsurgency efforts in Colombia to draw conclusions on how to reverse recent trends in Afghanistan. Read More

Counternarcotics Policy, Colombia, Afghanistan, NATO

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioU.S. Counternarcotics Strategy in Afghanistan

Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 21, 2009, Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control

U.S. Counternarcotics Strategy in AfghanistanIn testimony before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Vanda Felbab-Brown discussed how narcotics production influences the security, political, and economic developments in Afghanistan. Felbab-Brown also examined the effectiveness of policies to mitigate these effects and offered recommendations for the future of U.S. policy on the issue. Read More

Counternarcotics Policy, Afghanistan, U.S. Military, Development

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioPakistan's Punjab: Bruce Riedel on the New Jihadists

Bruce Riedel, October 21, 2009, Newsweek

Pakistan's Punjab: Bruce Riedel on the New JihadistsPolitical violence in Pakistan is at its highest level in decades, with insurgent attacks on the rise and intensive government clashes with the Taliban in the country’s western provinces. In recent weeks in particular, attacks by Punjabi militant groups have increased dramatically. Bruce Riedel spoke with Newsweek's Andrew Bast and outlined this increasingly precarious situation in Pakistan as well as the prospects for future stability. Read More

Pakistan, Afghanistan, Civil War, Terrorism, South Asia

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioMake American Resources Conditional on Afghan Progress

Michael E. O'Hanlon and Stephen J. Solarz, October 19, 2009, The Washington Times

Congressional leaders and the Obama administration discussing "intermediate options" in Afghanistan, but could such an approach prove successful? Michael O’Hanlon and Stephen Solarz offer insight into what middle-ground steps General Stanley McChrystal is already taking and explain how an active U.S.-Afghan partnership is essential to providing security, safety and success in Afghanistan. Read More

Afghanistan, U.S. Military, Terrorism, NATO, Corruption

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioAssessing the President’s Policy Options in Afghanistan

Friday, October 16, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC

President Obama's decision on whether to send more troops to Afghanistan is being portrayed as the most momentous of his young presidency. On October 16, Brookings hosted a discussion of the president's policy options for Afghanistan, drawing on experts with a diverse range of views. Read More

Afghanistan, U.S. Military, Foreign Policy, Terrorism, The Presidency

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioIt's All or Nothing in Afghanistan

Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 12, 2009, The Daily Beast

It's All or Nothing in AfghanistanAs the Afghanistan strategy debate continues, Vanda Felbab-Brown says policymakers should not be fooled by options that lie “in the middle” of a beefed-up counterinsurgency mission and a scaled-back counterterrorism operation. Felbab-Brown believes the United States and NATO must decide how important the stakes are, and either properly resource the current mission or cut losses now rather than later. Read More

Afghanistan, U.S. Military, NATO, Corruption

In Brief

Over eight years after a U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban regime, Afghanistan is still far from stable. A resurgent Taliban and rampant drug trade are among numerous problems facing Hamid Karzai’s government and an increased U.S. military effort. NATO-led attempts at establishing security and development have suffered setbacks, and an international military presence is expected to remain there for the foreseeable future. 

See the Afghanistan Index »

Featured Experts

Michael E. O'Hanlon

Michael E. O'Hanlon

Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy
The Sydney Stein, Jr. Chair

Michael O’Hanlon specializes in U.S. national security policy. He is senior author of the Iraq Index. A former defense budget analyst who advised members of Congress on military spending, he specializes in Iraq, North Korea, homeland security, the use of military force and other defense issues.
Read More

Bruce Riedel

Bruce Riedel

Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Saban Center for Middle East Policy

A former CIA officer, Bruce Riedel focuses on political transition, terrorism and conflict resolution. He was a senior advisor to three U.S. presidents on Middle East and South Asian issues. At the request of President Obama he chaired an interagency review of policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan for the White House that was completed in March 2009.
Read More

Jeremy Shapiro

Jeremy Shapiro

Director of Research, Center on the United States and Europe

Jeremy Shapiro is an expert on civil-military relations, Europe, France, military operations and National Security, and was previously a political and defense analyst at the RAND Corporation. In June and July 2009, Shapiro served on a civilian assessment team in Afghanistan, contributing to U.S. commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal's strategic review process.
Read More

Vanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown

Fellow, Foreign Policy, 21st Century Defense Initiative

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Read More

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Q&A with Vanda Felbab-Brown

Crucial Election in Afghanistan

"Persuading [Afghans] that, however the election comes out, the international community had nothing to do with it—that it was the will of the people—will be critical."

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Spotlight

TopicEducation

The economic and political well-being of any society requires a well-educated citizenry. Brookings’s work extends beyond the K-12 bookends to include pre-school interventions, higher education and the challenges of education in developing countries.

Research ProjectBrookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement

The Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement monitors displacement problems worldwide, works with governments, regional bodies, international organizations and civil society to create more effective policies and institutional arrangements for Internally Displaed Persons.

TopicHealth Care

Brookings is committed to producing innovative policy solutions to our nation’s most difficult challenges. The country may face no more important domestic policy challenge than the much-needed reform of our health care system. Through an institution-wide effort, Brookings delivers new ideas and offers policy solutions to improve health care both at home and globally.

ExpertMwangi S. Kimenyi

Mwangi S. Kimenyi is a senior fellow with the Africa Growth Initiative. He focuses on Africa's development, including institutions for economic growth, the political economy, and private sector development.

Policy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.

ExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ExpertMark McClellan

Mark McClellan works on promoting high-quality, innovative and affordable health care. Once commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dr. McClellan now directs the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers.

ExpertFederiga Bindi

Federiga Bindi is a leading expert on European political integration. She has a broad experience in government and held a number of posts in international organizations. Bindi currently serves as an advisor to the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Her research focuses on the EU, transatlantic relations; EU states foreign policies, global governance issues.

ExpertIsabel V. Sawhill

A nationally known budget expert, Isabel Sawhill focuses on domestic poverty and federal fiscal policy. She is also co-director of the Center on Children and Families at Brookings.

ExpertAmy Liu

Amy Liu is deputy director of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program. Her policy studies include economic competitiveness, metropolitan growth and development, governance reforms, urban reinvestment, and social equity.

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertTed Gayer

Ted Gayer is the co-director of the Economic Studies program and the Joseph A. Pechman Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He conducts research on a variety of economic issues, focusing particularly on public finance, environmental and energy economics, housing, and regulatory policy.

ExpertDomenico Lombardi

As president of the Oxford Institute for Economic Policy, Domenico Lombardi’s work at Brookings focuses on the international financial crisis and the reform of the IMF and the World Bank. He is an expert on G-20 and G8 Summits.