Join us this Wednesday at 7:30 pm in SMG 304 to discuss NATO strategy in Afghanistan.
The situation in the Graveyard of Empires is deteriorating, 2009 being the deadliest year for NATO forces since the war began. This statistic, President Karzai’s corrupt Kabul government and an emboldened Taliban are all forcing NATO leaders and policy analysts to rethink the alliance’s strategy. Some favor a counterinsurgency method that requires hundreds of thousands of troops to fight the Taliban, hold territory and protect the civilian population. Others favor a counterterrorism method that focuses fewer troops on hunting isolated Al Qaeda fighters. Still others propose negotiating with the Taliban in hopes of alienating Al Qaeda. The debate continues to rage in North America and Europe, with rising death-tolls, billion-dollar costs and general war fatigue in the back of everyone’s mind.
US President Obama has ordered a review of US tactics in the country, and it is not entirely clear in which direction he will head. His top general Stanley McChrystal is calling for 40,000 more troops, but American ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry opposes this request. Other countries seem to side with Eikenberry. UK Prime Minister Brown has recently called for a NATO summit to discuss transferring security responsibility to the Afghan government. Canada, Finland and the Netherlands have set withdrawal dates and already pulled some soldiers. Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden and most other International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) members have said they will not commit more troops. Turkey has actually pledged additional manpower, but only noncombat personnel.
Which strategy or amalgamation of strategies will allow forces to succeed in Afghanistan? Is success even possible, or should NATO just cut its losses? Does “success” mean a functioning democracy or merely the absence of an Al Qaeda stronghold? If more troops are indeed necessary, should President Obama convince other NATO states to contribute more forces? Can the UN play a role? Help us answer these questions on Wednesday at 7:30 pm in SMG 304.
For more information, check out:
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14857213
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14877970
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8361634.stm
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j9_7k8qJTNQhlZw3eFUA8mNiiWwAD9BU77802
