PAST EVENT
Monday, January 25, 2010
1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Washington, DC
For many policymakers, counterinsurgency and counternarcotics policy are two sides of the same coin. However, eradication-focused counternarcotics campaigns typically fail to bankrupt belligerent groups and may even strengthen insurgents. On January 25, the 21st Century Defense Initiative hosted Vanda Felbab-Brown and Dr. Wendy Chamberlin for a discussion of Felbab-Brown’s new book Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, January 12, 2010, The Brookings Institution
In this installment of the Status Report, a series of policy assessments of the Obama administration’s first year, Vanda Felbab-Brown gives the Obama administration a B for its leadership in confronting the challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan. She applauds the president for his commitment of more troops to the Afghan war, while lamenting lost opportunities. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, December 15, 2009, The Daily Beast
According to Bruce Riedel, the recent arrest and trial of David Headley - a Pakistani American who was allegedly involved in a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India last year - could have grave implications in the global fight against terrorism. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen P. Cohen, December 11, 2009, The Brookings Institution
In a December 11 address to a visiting team from the U.S. Marine Corps War College, Stephen Cohen examined the future of South Asia in the larger context of violent Islamic extremism. Cohen outlined a range of policies that America might consider in dealing with Pakistan – a central player in the Afghan war – and in Pakistan's longstanding conflict with neighboring India. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Stephen P. Cohen, December 10, 2009, Routledge
As Pakistan undergoes a prolonged internal crisis, Stephen Cohen writes that many analysts both in United States and in other countries have misperceptions about the link between the current crisis and Pakistan's previous involvement in the Cold War. Cohen examines the motives and consequences of Pakistan's Cold War involvement, and its relationship with the United States and other Western allies. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, November 28, 2009, Outlook India
On a recent visit to Washington, DC, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivered a strong message to the United States: "Don't go wobbly on Afghanistan." Bruce Riedel agrees, indicating that a victory for the Afghan Taliban and its collaborators could have disastrous repercussions worldwide. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Washington, DC
Too often the debate on education development in Pakistan is focused on the possible role of madrassahs in provoking violent extremism and sectarian conflict. However, this narrow focus serves to overshadow other factors that contribute to the country's educational system. On November 10, the Center for Universal Education hosted a discussion with leading Pakistani experts about the current status and future of the country’s education system. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Urjit R. Patel, November 02, 2009, The Brookings Institution
There is an emerging consensus among governments that aggressive climate change mitigation would be desirable, though they remain divided about how the associated burden should be shared. Urjit Patel argues that a burden sharing criterion which involves emissions permit allocation to each developing country would be a fair deal and discusses how this would affect India. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, October 29, 2009
3:00 PM to 5:15 PM
Washington, DC
On 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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, October 21, 2009, Newsweek
Political 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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elizabeth Ferris and Diane Paul, September 22, 2009, Protecting People in Conflict and Crisis: Responding to the Challenges of a Changing World
People affected by natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other calamities often face urgent protection needs that may not be immediately visible to humanitarian actors caught up in trying to provide water, food, shelter, medical care and other lifesaving assistance. In this paper, Elizabeth Ferris and Diane Paul provide an overview of protection challenges confronting those affected by natural disasters. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
David J. Kilcullen, September 10, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Leading counterinsurgency expert David Kilcullen argues that Pakistani security forces have performed inadequately against insurgents in the frontier with Afghanistan because poor governance and societal weaknesses have been exacerbated by decades of violence and lawlessness. Heavy-handed military tactics by the army have resulted in a perpetuation of violence, and have only further undermined local governance. A fundamental rethink of Pakistan’s political strategy is therefore necessary. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Abdul Malik, August 21, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Pakistan has historically received large volumes of aid but it has also faced an increasingly difficult task of aid coordination. Abdul Malik examines aid quality and discusses its implication for the coordination and effectiveness of aid. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove and Anthony Bubalo, July 28, 2009, The Australian Financial Review
Though there have been increased attacks, growing casualties and falling popular support, Michael Fullilove and Anthony Bubalo write that Afghanistan is still winnable. They believe the Obama administration has done well by increasing resources and refocusing on what can be achieved, and say there is too much at stake for the West to conclude Afghanistan is the graveyard of foreign armies and depart. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, July 23, 2009, The National Interest
Bruce Riedel warns not to be fooled by some of the positive news from Pakistan, because the Taliban and their allies have gained significant power there recently. Riedel says we face the potential of a nuclear-armed state run by Islamic extremists, shows the devastating consequences of such and offers ideas to keep it from occurring. Read More