Afghanistan: Thinking Through The Basics.

AuthorAbrahamson, James L.
PositionUnited States military assistance in Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN: THINKING THROUGH THE BASICS www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/pab/NeumannPAB909.pdf

By Ambassador (ret.) Ronald E. Neumann, President, American Academy of Diplomacy

Reviewed by James L. Abrahamson, Contributing Editor

Drawing on the experience of a 37-year diplomatic career and his 2005-2007 posting to Afghanistan as ambassador, Neumann skillfully outlines and assesses the decision facing President Barack Obama. Acknowledging the shortcomings of the past eight years, Neumann nevertheless describes winning as the only acceptable option for Afghanistan and a strong counterinsurgency as the only strategy likely to bring success.

Limiting the U.S. and NATO effort to pursuit of such narrow goals as killing terrorists--never a strategy bringing long-term benefits--will lose the support of the Afghan people, who will opt for the stronger party, the widely hated Taliban. As a result, Afghanistan will fragment, ensuring Taliban control of much of its territory, enabling al Qaeda to reestablish itself there, and disrupting regional harmony as Afghanistan's neighbors seek advantage for themselves. Worse yet, a long-deferred but inevitable American defeat would mean an "incredible victory for jihad" and "real and numerous risks of further attack" on the U.S.

The...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT