The Difference Two Years Make
Stephen Biddle discusses how domestic politics still clashes with strategic imperatives in U.S. Afghan policy.
See more in Asia, Afghanistan, Defense/Homeland Security, Wars and Warfare
Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy
U.S. national security policy; military strategy and the conduct of war; technology in modern warfare; recent operations in the war on terror.
Stephen Biddle discusses how domestic politics still clashes with strategic imperatives in U.S. Afghan policy.
See more in Asia, Afghanistan, Defense/Homeland Security, Wars and Warfare
The most realistic and acceptable alternative models of governance in Afghanistan are decentralized democracy and a system of internal mixed sovereignty.
See more in Afghanistan, Wars and Warfare
Stephen Biddle examines recent combat experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq and argues that the efficacy of U.S. air power is constrained by the proficiency of indigenous allies on the ground.
See more in Afghanistan, Iraq, Wars and Warfare
Stephen Biddle argues that the use of air power in Libya is "intervention on the cheap" that allows the United States to attempt to protect its values and interests in the region wihtout a serious commitment.
See more in Libya, Wars and Warfare, U.S. Strategy and Politics, Foreign Policy History
The Taliban needs to be convinced of a firm U.S. commitment in Afghanistan before it will negotiate a settlement, says CFR's Stephen Biddle, and any deal will have to also involve the Pakistani, U.S., and Afghan governments.
See more in Afghanistan, Wars and Warfare, International Peace and Security
Crucial to the success of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan is dealing with the country's "predatory misgovernance," says CFR's Stephen Biddle. Targeting U.S. contracting practices is a good place to start, he says.
See more in Afghanistan, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Stephen Biddle says that President Obama's incorporation of U.S. domestic politics into his Afghan war strategy is necessary.
See more in United States, Afghanistan, Wars and Warfare, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Stephen Biddle argues that troop withdrawal from Iraq should be slow and gradual.
See more in Balkans, Iraq, Wars and Warfare
The most realistic and acceptable alternative models of governance in Afghanistan are decentralized democracy and a system of internal mixed sovereignty.
See more in Afghanistan, Wars and Warfare
While senior military officials are urging support for Afghanistan operations, Afghans are fearful about the Kandahar offensive and uncertain about U.S. plans to start withdrawing troops in July 2011, says CFR's Stephen Biddle.
See more in Afghanistan, Defense/Homeland Security
President Obama's first National Security Strategy departs from Bush administration doctrine by redefining the war against terror groups and embracing multilateralism, and may expect too much from global partners, say CFR experts in an analytical roundup.
See more in United States, Defense/Homeland Security
After months of harsh words, the White House's conciliatory tone during the Afghan president's visit was calibrated to encourage Karzai to behave more like a "wartime leader and less like an innocent bystander," says CFR's Stephen Biddle.
See more in Afghanistan, Counterterrorism
Stephen Biddle argues that changing incentives is the way to make the Afghan government into an adequate partner to the United States.
See more in Afghanistan, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Stephen Biddle recounts two differing experiences with U.S. military convoys in Afghanistan.
See more in Afghanistan, Wars and Warfare, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Stephen Biddle discusses the perils of viewing the situation in Iraq as a "solved problem."
See more in Iraq, Wars and Warfare
Two key issues in Afghanistan are whether President Hamid Karzai will implement reforms and whether the American public is willing to invest the time it will take for a successful counterinsurgency, says CFR defense expert Stephen Biddle.
See more in Afghanistan, International Peace and Security
CFR's top defense policy expert Stephen Biddle says President Obama's announcement of a date for U.S. forces to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan could draw fire from wary Democrats, but also conveys that the U.S. "is uncomfortable with long stays."
See more in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Defense Strategy
Stephen Biddle argues that "there is no magic middle way between the McChrystal recommendation and total withdrawal that offers comparable odds at lower cost" in Afghanistan.
See more in Afghanistan, Wars and Warfare
Stephen Biddle testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services on the options before the U.S. in Afghanistan.
See more in United States, Afghanistan, Defense Strategy, National Security and Defense
Stephen Biddle testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the case for war in Afghanistan.
See more in United States, Afghanistan, Defense Strategy, National Security and Defense
As military planners review strategy in the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan, CFR Senior Fellow Stephen Biddle says victory will be dependent on improving the capacity of the beleaguered Afghan government.
See more in Afghanistan, Defense Strategy, U.S. Strategy and Politics
In the next military budget Congress must provide funding for a wholesale shift toward counterinsurgency to win two wars. At the same time, policymakers must be mindful of the need for another transformation to anticipate future wars.
See more in United States, Defense Policy and Budget, Counterterrorism
Stephen Biddle writes that the war in Afghanistan "is now poised to become perhaps the most controversial and divisive issue in U.S. defense policy."
See more in Afghanistan, Wars and Warfare, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Washington, District of Columbia 20006
CFR Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy and the author of Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle
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Dr. Stephen Biddle discusses President Obama's second-term challenges in South Asia on Warren Olney's "To the Point" program.
Dr. Stephen Biddle discusses problems on the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Stephen Biddle testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the case for war in Afghanistan.
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