Skip to content
Afghanistan

U.S. ’Winning’ Unpopular War in Iraq, but ’Losing’ Popular War in Afghanistan

Anthony H. Cordesman, an expert on military affairs, says that “substantial progress” has been achieved in Iraq but that political questions leave the future open to question.

By experts and staff

Published
  • Anthony H. Cordesman
    Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at Center for Strategic and International Studies, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy, the Center for International and Strategic Studies in Washington; Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at Center for Strategic and International Studies
  • Bernard Gwertzman
    Visiting Fellow

Barack Obama

John McCain

As the United States heads toward its presidential election, both sides are talking about Iraq. What is your evaluation of the situation there now?

al-Qaeda in Iraq

Muqtada al-Sadr

Can you see a military victory? And has this translated into political progress?

Sons of Iraq

Iraqi Security Forces

Do you think the local elections will ever be held? There are supposed to be held this fall, aren’t they?

Let’s come back to the political debate here. You have been very consistent in saying that the United States should stay long enough so that when it does leave it is leaving a stable Iraq behind. What are your views now? There has been considerable political activity; the Iraqis seem to want a deadline of 2011 for the U.S. withdrawal. The candidates say different things. What do you make of all this?

But hasn’t there been signficiant progress?

McCain talked last night of the United States being on the “cusp” of victory.

You are not affiliated with either candidate?

What about the story of a U.S. brigade being pulled out of Iraq next year and the equivalent sent to Afghnistan?

You think that will be a continuing trend that as forces are reduced in Iraq, there will be increases in Afghanistan?

This is really frustrating, isn’t it?