The War in Afghanistan: Is it Over? Did the United States Win? What’s Next?

When the Emergency Loya Jirga — or Grand National Council — convenes on June 10 in Kabul, the world will be watching and waiting to see whether the precarious peace that now exists in post-Taliban Afghanistan can be maintained and a stable government created.

Opinions are divided about the likely outcome of the Council and the prospects for the future of Afghanistan. A recent report by the International Crisis Group, titled “The Loya Jirga: One Small Step Forward?” for example, warns that expectations of the Loya Jirga are unreasonably high, and that international officials are devoting too much attention to procedural details and not enough to ensuring a broadly acceptable outcome that balances the interests of competing ethnic and regional groups.

At this Brookings Institution National Issues Forum, a joint panel of experts from Brookings and the International Crisis Group will examine the current situation and discuss prospects for the success of the upcoming Council and the ramifications for the region and broader anti-terrorism campaign.

The Forum will also examine a number of questions concerning the military dimension of the Afghanistan effort, such as: is the American military action really a success, given that many Al Qaeda fighters apparently escaped, and Osama bin Laden has not been killed or captured? In hindsight, did the Pentagon follow the correct strategy by relying on Afghan troops to handle much of the fighting?

The panel will also answer audience questions.