8:55AM
WPR's The New Rules: Long-Term U.S. Presence in Afghanistan a Mistake
Monday, April 25, 2011 at 8:55AM
The Obama administration has begun talks with Afghanistan designed to quell the Karzai government's fears about being abandoned by the West come 2014. Those talks are said to involve negotiations for long-term basing of U.S. troops involved in training Afghan security forces and supporting future counterterrorism operations. This can be seen as a realistic course of action, given our continuing lack of success in nation-building there, as well as our inability -- although perhaps unwillingness is a better term -- to erect some regional security architecture that might replace our presence. But there are good reasons to question this course.
Read the entire column at World Politics Review.
tagged Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Obama Administration, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, US | in WPR Column | Email Article | Permalink | Print Article
Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Obama Administration, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, US | in WPR Column | Email Article | Permalink | Print Article 
Reader Comments (1)
I like the strengthening position versus long-term basing as well. It will be 5 years of commitment from 2009 to 2014, enough to get Afghanistan to $3000 gdp/capita and give the people a fighting chance for business ventures with China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran. That is worth those 5 years since this is the 2nd and last time the US spend time in Afghanistan. A third time would be just embarassing for the US and aweful for the Afghans.
Hopefully, an arms ban is imposed on Pakistan with continuing drone assaults and continued economic/education assistance.
Thanks.
Derek