February 14, 2017
Focused engagement: A realistic way forward in Afghanistan
The United States can succeed in Afghanistan, but only by letting go of the fantasy that destroying the Taliban is the only way to win.
In his February 9 Congressional testimony, General John Nicholson described the war as a stalemate. He requested additional troops for advising the Afghan army. The Trump administration should meet this request, but only with a serious change in strategy.
The war is stalemated but not at a standstill. Neither the Taliban nor the Afghan government are going to force the other to capitulate, provided external support continues for each.
Read the full article at The Hill.
More from CNAS
-
Transatlantic Security / Middle East Security
The Russia-Iran Partnership: A Geopolitical Balancing ActIt has been almost a year since Russia and Iran signed their comprehensive strategic partnership. That deal established a 20-year partnership between the two countries coverin...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
-
Transatlantic Security / Middle East Security / Energy, Economics & Security
Sanctions Aren’t Enough to Shut Down the Moscow-Tehran Black Market for WarThe geographic scope and extent of Iranian-Russian cooperation highlights the failure of traditional sanctions to prevent Moscow and Tehran from seeking key components like ch...
By Delaney Soliday
-
How a Peace Deal Between Hamas and Israel Will Reshape the Middle East
Rachel Brandenberg joins NPR to discuss how the region will change if Israel and Hamas continue to abide by the peace deal President Trump brokered. Listen to the interview o...
By Rachel Brandenburg
-
Donald Trump’s Gaza Plan Skips Step One
The White House proposal attempts to solve too many distinct issues all at once, without enough input from Palestinians....
By Delaney Soliday