Ideas
A Terrific Deal—For the Taliban
The president should have to answer for the Afghanistan mess in the 2020 election.
Ideas
America’s Déjà-Vu Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Like Obama in Iraq, Trump wants to stop fighting before the war is done.
Threats
Once Again, Trump Lurches to End a War, But Troops Remain
The collapse of talks with the Taliban raises questions about the president’s willingness to bring troops home from costly engagements overseas.
Threats
The Writing Was on the Wall With Afghanistan
The latest bout of bloodshed may have played some role in the actions Trump just took, but it is also a convenient out for an administration that had gone all in on a floundering initiative.
Threats
Dunford: Peace Agreement With The Taliban Is ‘Worth Trying’
“I’m not using the ‘withdrawal’ word right now,” the Pentagon’s top uniformed leader said Wednesday.
Threats
US Army: No Afghanistan Withdrawal Plans Yet
“We have not received any direction to do anything at this point,” says Acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.
Ideas
How Does This War End? Afghanistan Endgame, Part 2
If the Haqqani network collapses the Afghan government, Pakistan threatens to make winning the next war even more difficult.
Ideas
It Matters Whether Americans Call Afghanistan a Defeat
The public’s judgment about whether the United States won or lost the war will affect civilian-military relations for years to come.
Ideas
In Afghanistan, Is Sirajuddin Haqqani Ready for Peace?
In peace talks with the Afghan Taliban, the United States should not fail to address the evolution of the Haqqani-al-Qaeda nexus.
Policy
Can US-Taliban Peace Talks End the War in Afghanistan?
U.S. officials say that they are close to reaching a deal with the Taliban, but peace in the country would still not be guaranteed.
Ideas
Don’t Peg Troop Withdrawals to the Political Calendar
Reductions in the U.S. presence should be tied to conditions on the ground in Afghanistan.
Ideas
The Missing Debate about Afghanistan
The president’s talk about “wiping” the country “off the face of the earth” highlights the need for a serious talk about U.S. goals and strategy.
Ideas
Don't Trust the Taliban With Afghanistan’s Cultural Preservation
The group continues to attack sites and antiquities. Here are five ways peace negotiators can ensure that Afghanistan’s past will contribute to its future.
Ideas
Trump Says US Troops Shouldn’t Be ‘Policemen’ in Afghanistan. So Why Are They There?
In a puzzling Oval Office press conference, the commander-in-chief throws his purported strategy into doubt.
Threats
It’s Getting Harder to Track US Progress in Afghanistan
Almost every metric “is now classified or nonexistent,” says the special inspector general for Afghan reconstruction.
Policy
In Win for Bolton, International Criminal Court Will Not Prosecute US Troops
“Today’s my second-happiest day,” he said.
Policy
The ‘Day After’ In Syria Finally Came. But What Comes Next?
If U.S. military commanders were unsure of their mission four years ago, it’s even muddier today.
Ideas
Escalating the US Air War in Afghanistan Isn’t Working
The dramatic increase in U.S. airstrikes that began last year has brought the country no closer to peace. In fact, Afghan soldiers, police, and civilians are dying at record rates.
Ideas
Who Are the Private Contractors Fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan?
An inside look at this invisible military force.
Threats