Council on Foreign Relations

"A country rarely fights the same war twice in one generation, especially from opposite sides." Yet Bruce Riedel writes that in many ways the idea describes the United States' current role in Afghanistan. Pakistan's role as a safe haven is remarkably consistent in both conflicts, but that similarity fails to account for the fundamental differences between the two wars. Riedel addresses the differences, and assesses how Pakistan's role is impacting the possibilities for success today.

This New York Times online feature displays a multiplicity of opinions on what steps are necessary to reverse backsliding in Afghanistan. Kori Schake, Andrew Exum, Bruce Riedel, John Nagl, and Parag Khanna provide commentary.

The Brookings Institution's Bruce Riedel lays out a new U.S. policy agenda toward Pakistan for the next president. He says the United States has failed democratic forces in Pakistan, and must change course in order to better support the country on its "torturous path to democracy." He also says the United States must "greatly intensify efforts to ensure the security of Pakistan's weapons arsenal."

Bruce Riedel traveled to India in February to meet with business leaders, government officials, and members of the media. Riedel notes that much of the conversations revolved around Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities and the Iran-India relationship. Some in the United States have strongly criticized India for maintaining strong economic relations with Iran and for having exchanges of low-level military delegations. Riedel notes that although India opposes a nuclear Iran, its ties with Iran will lead it to oppose use of a military option against Iran.

Lawrence Wright and Bruce Riedel discuss the continuing influence of al-Qaeda as both an ideology and an organization, and where and why the U.S. has not fully understood or not adequately combated the threat of global terrorism.

Listen to Bruce O. Riedel, senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, and Lawrence Wright, staff writer for the New Yorker, discuss the continuing influence of Al-Qaeda and whether the United States has fully understood and adequately combatted the threat of global terrorism.

In this Foreign Affairs-sponsored call, Al-Qaeda Strikes Back author Bruce Riedel argues that al-Qaeda is trying to lure the United States into a war with Iran and that Osama Bin Laden's group now has more bases, more partners, and more followers today than it did on the eve of 9/11.

By rushing into Iraq instead of finishing off the hunt for Osama bin Laden, Washington has unwittingly helped its enemies: al Qaeda has more bases, more partners, and more followers today than it did on the eve of 9/11. Now the group is working to set up networks in the Middle East and Africa -- and may even try to lure the United States into a war with Iran. Washington must focus on attacking al Qaeda's leaders and ideas and altering the local conditions in which they thrive.