Afghanistan Strategy: The Way Forward

AEI Event: "Afghanistan Strategy: The Way Forward," November 4, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100165

In March 2009, President Obama laid out the foundation for a comprehensive policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, tailored to the mission of defeating al Qaeda and its allies in the region. As part of this policy revamp, the president also replaced General David D. McKiernan as the commander of U.S. and NATO forces, appointing General Stanley A. McChrystal to lead the coalition effort. A summer 2009 assessment of the war conducted by General McChrystal reinforced the need for a fully resourced counterinsurgency strategy to achieve the president's stated objectives. Since then, a series of White House strategy reviews have brought the administration to a critical decision point that will shape the conduct and outcome of the mission in 2010 and beyond. The culmination of this process will be watched closely by all stakeholders--allies and enemies alike. Confronted by a hardening insurgency that is poised to regroup in the coming winter, the United States now faces choices certain to impact the prospects for success in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the broader struggle against extremist forces.

AEI hosted a timely discussion on the next steps in Afghanistan and their implications for the interests at stake. AEI resident scholars Frederick W. Kagan and Thomas Donnelly were joined by Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Stephen Biddle and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior associate Ashley J. Tellis. AEI vice president for foreign and defense policy studies Danielle Pletka moderated the discussion.

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