Monday February 13, 2012

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Afghanistan

UPCOMING EVENT

Save to My PortfolioCampaign 2012: Afghanistan and Pakistan Policy

Wednesday, February 15, 2012
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Shamil ZhumatovThe winner of this year’s presidential election will be faced with crafting a foreign policy strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries beset by development, governance, and security challenges as well as a tense relationship with each other. The increasing political influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the continued existence of al-Qaeda sanctuaries in volatile border areas, and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities pose an international security threat that extends beyond south Asia. On February 15, the Campaign 2012 project at Brookings will hold a public discussion on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the second in a series of forums that will identify and address the 12 most critical issues facing the next president. Read More

Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Asia, Terrorism, National Security

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioRemembering the Tet Offensive in Vietnam

Marvin Kalb, February 01, 2012, The Brookings Institution

Ngo Toai, 87, a Viet Cong veteran, looks at his medals and a portrait of Ho Chi MinhOn the 44th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, Marvin Kalb reflects on the Vietnam War and considers its implications on Obama's defense policies, particularly in Afghanistan. Read More

South Asia, Asia, U.S. Military, U.S. Department of Defense, Afghanistan

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioGOP Candidates Are Wrong to Urge a Second Front War in Iran

Bruce Riedel, January 30, 2012, The Brookings Institution

U.S. soldiers patrol in AfghanistanTop Republican presidential candidates are calling President Obama's stance on Iran weak and threatening to use force in the region if elected. Bruce Riedel explains why again taking on a second war before finishing in Afghanistan would be a disaster, and could imperil stability in the region. Read More

Afghanistan, Iran, Middle East, U.S. Military, U.S. Department of Defense

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioObama's "Oops" in Afghanistan

Marvin Kalb, January 23, 2012, The Brookings Institution

A U.S. soldier walks as he keeps watch at the site of an explosion in KandaharMarvin Kalb assesses several major roadblocks that President Obama is facing in his efforts to conclude the Afghan War. Kalb argues that with a decisive military victory now out of reach, President Obama now must negotiate with the Taliban to create a stable, coalition government, similar to how President Nixon ended the war in Vietnam. Read More

Afghanistan, Middle East, The Presidency, U.S. Military, U.S. Department of Defense

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Crucibles and Dilemmas of U.S. State Building in Afghanistan

Vanda Felbab-Brown, January 2012, South Asia Journal

Vanda Felbab-Brown assesses the effects of U.S. policies adopted in Afghanistan on the quality of governance there. Felbab-Brown highlights key policy challenges, including widespread ambivalence over fighting corruption. Read More

Afghanistan, Middle East, South Asia, Democracy Assistance, The Presidency

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhy Eradication Won’t Solve Afghanistan’s Poppy Problem

Vanda Felbab-Brown, January 03, 2012, PBS Frontline

Why Eradication Won’t Solve Afghanistan’s Poppy ProblemIn an interview with PBS Frontline, Vanda Felbab-Brown discusses the widespread effects of opium production in Afghanistan and the outcome of international and domestic efforts to curb it. Read More

Afghanistan, Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Corruption, South Asia

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioStates Of Conflict: A Final Update on Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Ian Livingston and Michael E. O'Hanlon, December 19, 2011, The New York Times

As U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq, Michael O'Hanlon and Ian Livingston offer a look at gains and challenges in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the final "States of Conflict" installment. Read More

Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Middle East, South Asia

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAfghan Strategy Begins to Make Gains

Michael E. O'Hanlon and John Nagl, December 07, 2011, POLITICO

Despite negative domestic sentiments relating to the war in Afghanistan, Michael O'Hanlon and John Nagl argue that there is progress. According to the authors, the odds of attaining core U.S. strategic goals are reasonably good if U.S. forces work to build up and support Afghan troops over the next three years. Read More

Afghanistan, U.S. Military, U.S. Department of Defense, Middle East, South Asia

PAST EVENT

Save to My Portfolio"From Responsibility to Response" Report Launch

Monday, December 05, 2011
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC

It is a tenet of international law that states are responsible for protecting the rights of persons within their borders, including the internally displaced. On December 5, 2011, the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement held a private launch event for its report, From Responsibility to Response: Assessing National Approaches to Internal Displacement, which examines government response to internal displacement in fifteen of the twenty countries most affected by internal displacement due to conflict, generalized violence and human rights violations. 

Read More

Internal Displacement, Human Rights, Afghanistan, Georgia, Iraq

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAmerica's Pakistan Mess Gets Worse With Alleged NATO Strike

Bruce Riedel, November 27, 2011, The Daily Beast

America's Pakistan Mess Gets Worse With Alleged NATO StrikeAmerica’s relationship with Pakistan is crashing, says Bruce Riedel. In the wake of Saturday's NATO airstrikes, which allegedly led to the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers, Riedel offers perspective on the failing U.S.-Pakistan relationship and explains what this means for U.S. policy in Afghanistan and the region. Read More

Pakistan, South Asia, Afghanistan, Middle East, U.S. Military

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioIs Afghanistan More Violent?

Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 21, 2011, POLITICO

Michael O'Hanlon assesses current levels of violence in Afghanistan, arguing that the NATO troop drawdown over the next three years must be handled carefully in order to achieve stability in the region. Read More

Afghanistan, Terrorism, Middle East, South Asia, U.S. Military

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhy Afghanistan Shouldn’t Turn to India over Pakistan

Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 16, 2011, The Wall Street Journal

Why Afghanistan Shouldn’t Turn to India over PakistanAfghan President Hamid Karzai went to New Delhi last month and signed a long-term security agreement. Michael O’Hanlon argues that if Afghanistan chooses India over Pakistan as a strategic partner in the region, the most probable outcome would be Islamabad waging a full-blown proxy war. Read More

Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, International Relations, Diplomacy

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioAfghanistan Ten Years Later: Opportunities and Challenges for Development

Wednesday, November 02, 2011
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Ahmad MasoodThe tenth anniversary of the war in Afghanistan is an opportunity to take stock of the humanitarian and development situation in the country. Although today’s headlines are focused on the military transition, there are serious development and governance challenges which need to be addressed to ensure the country's stability and the well-being of its citizens. On November 2, the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement and Save the Children hosted a discussion on the challenges and opportunities for development during this crucial transition period. Read More

Afghanistan, Development, Governance, Internal Displacement, South Asia

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioFrom Responsibility to Response: Assessing National Approaches to Internal Displacement

Elizabeth Ferris, Erin Mooney and Chareen Stark, November 01, 2011, The Brookings Institution

It is a tenet of international law that states are responsible for protecting the rights of persons within their borders, including the internally displaced. Elizabeth Ferris, Erin Mooney and Chareen Stark examine government response to internal displacement in fifteen countries affected by internal displacement due to conflict, generalized violence and human rights violations.

Read More

Internal Displacement, Human Rights, Afghanistan, Georgia, Iraq

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioUsing the Colombia Model in Afghanistan

Michael E. O'Hanlon and Paul Wolfowitz, October 28, 2011, Foreign Policy

Using the Colombia Model in AfghanistanMichael O'Hanlon and Paul Wolfowitz argue that the Colombia model—which included involvement by the Colombian military and U.S. military advisors, U.S. monetary assistance, and strong national leadership—could be applied to successfully combat drug trafficking and terrorism in Afghanistan. Read More

Afghanistan, Colombia, Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Corruption

In Brief

Ten years after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, public support for the U.S. mission there continues to be uneven, while Afghanistan itself remains far from stable—this, as the Obama administration continues with plans to begin troop withdrawals by the end of 2011. Brookings scholars continue to assess and debate many of the issues related to the war in Afghanistan. 

See the Afghanistan Index »

Upcoming Events

Afghanistan Save to My Portfolio Campaign 2012: Afghanistan and Pakistan Policy

February 15, 2012

The Brookings Institution

View All Events »

Featured Experts

Michael E. O'Hanlon

Michael E. O'Hanlon

Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, 21st Century Defense Initiative
The Sydney Stein, Jr. Chair

Michael O’Hanlon specializes in national security and defense policy and is senior author of the Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Index projects. Before joining Brookings, O'Hanlon worked as a national security analyst at the Congressional Budget Office. His current research agenda includes military strategy and technology, Northeast Asia, U.S. Central Command, defense budgets, among other defense/security issues.
Read More

Bruce Riedel

Bruce Riedel

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

Bruce Riedel joined Brookings in 2006 after 30 years service at the Central Intelligence Agency including postings overseas in the Middle East and Europe. Riedel was a senior advisor on South Asia and the Middle East to the last four presidents of the United States in the staff of the National Security Council at the White House.
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 the author of Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs (Brookings Institution Press, 2009).
Read More

View All Experts on Afghanistan »

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