Leslie H. Gelb says President Obama's yet unrevealed plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan should satisfy those pushing for a quick exit and the diehards determined to stay the course.
U.S. drone strikes and "kill/capture" missions against al-Qaeda operatives, particularly in Pakistan and Yemen, have gained new attention and notoriety this spring. Four experts debate the legality and efficacy of the controversial counterterrorism strategy.
Interviewer: Jonathan Karl Interviewee: William B. Caldwell IV
Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell, head of NATO training efforts in Afghanistan, says 9 out of 10 Afghan security recruits are illiterate, and emphasizes the education role that has become a major component of NATO training. Caldwell expects NATO and U.S. forces to remain in Afghanistan well after 2014, when Afghan forces are planned to take on security leadership in the country.
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon says all eyes are on General Petraeus when it comes to translating what the news of Osama bin Laden's death means for Afghanistan.
James M. Lindsay argues that an indictment of Moammar Gadhafi by the International Criminal Court could actually make it harder to bring Libya's civil war to a quick end.
The Economist's Kabul and Khost desks find the U.S. Military "cautiously optimistic", attributing recent successes in the war against Afghan insurgents to the 2009 troop surge.
James M. Lindsay says that the role of the troops that remain in Afghanistan after a withdrawal will reveal the nature of America's continued commitment there.
Leslie H. Gelb says the United States must remove itself from Afghanistan because al Qaeda is no longer based there and the Taliban must be beaten by Afghans themselves.
Osama bin Laden's killing by U.S. forces in Pakistan raises questions about the U.S. relationship with Pakistan and the war in Afghanistan. CFR Senior Fellows Stephen Biddle and Daniel Markey discuss the implications of bin Laden's death on U.S. policy and the continued challenges in the region.
While U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan won't be directly affected, bin Laden's death could result in an expedited draw-down schedule, leaving the country open to a Taliban takeover and leading to upheaval in Pakistan, says CFR's Stephen Biddle.
The Council on Foreign Relations' David Rockefeller Studies Program—CFR's "think tank"—is home to more than seventy full-time, adjunct, and visiting scholars and practitioners (called "fellows"). Their expertise covers the world's major regions as well as the critical issues shaping today's global agenda. Download the printable CFR Experts Guide.
Special operations play a critical role in how the United States confronts irregular threats, but to have long-term strategic impact, the author argues, numerous shortfalls must be addressed.
The author analyzes the potentially serious consequences, both at home and abroad, of a lightly overseen drone program and makes recommendations for improving its governance.
Two experts argue that despite myriad development strategies, only one can succeed in alleviating poverty in India: the overall growth of the country's economy. More