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New Atlanticist

Aug 17, 2011

Ramazan’s Lost Chance for an Afghan Truce

By Maleeha Lodhi

A slew of questions were raised when a Chinook helicopter was shot down on 6 August in Afghanistan ’s Wardak province killing 30 US servicemen – most of them elite Navy seals – and eight Afghans. Will the heaviest loss of American lives in a single incident since 2001 heighten doubts about the Afghan mission […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Aug 15, 2011

NATO and the Afghan Surge

By William B. Caldwell IV

Five months ago, Senators Carl Levin and Jack Reed wrote in the Washington Post, “the best way to bring our troops home sooner while succeeding in Afghanistan is to build a stronger Afghan military and government.” Since we stood up the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan over 21 months ago, we can say that developing the Afghan […]

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Aug 4, 2011

Building the Afghan National Security Force under Fire

By William B. Caldwell IV

The first tranche of geographic transition is now complete in Afghanistan; geographic transition is a positive step, but it will not be risk-free. As recent media accounts have made clear, the Taliban, Haqqani Network, and other insurgent groups seek to regain lost territory. Over the past two years, approximately 2,800 Afghan police and 1,050 Afghan soldiers […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Aug 2, 2011

Afghanistan and Libya Point NATO to Five Lessons

By Kurt Volker

Both the wars in Afghanistan and Libya reveal serious flaws in the Alliance. If they can’t be fixed, perhaps it’s time for a ‘back to basics’ NATO and a return to coalitions of the willing. Whether it is a matter of weeks or months, Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi will probably fall from power, and opposition forces will likely gain […]

Afghanistan Libya

New Atlanticist

Aug 1, 2011

India-Israel: BFFs or Fair Weather Friends?

By Shikha Bhatnagar

Earlier this month, India experienced the first significant terrorist attack within its borders since the horrific events of November 26, 2008 (“26/11”). Although no conclusive evidence of perpetrators has been found to date and clues strongly suggest homegrown elements, the news clips, blogospheres, and twitter-universe were abuzz with conjectures on what India’s actions would and […]

India Israel

New Atlanticist

Jul 28, 2011

International Partnership and Transition in Afghanistan

By William B. Caldwell IV

Last week, Afghan security forces assumed lead security responsibility in areas across Afghanistan. This historic milestone is a testament to the sacrifice, hard work, and vision of the international community and the government of Afghanistan. Since the first tranche of transition areas was announced earlier this year, NATO and Afghan leadership have been working shoulder-to-shoulder […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 28, 2011

India-Pakistan Rivalry Afghanistan’s “Gordian Knot”

By Barbara Slavin

U.S. hopes to withdraw forces and leave behind a stable Afghanistan may rest on whether Pakistan and India can lower bilateral tensions and refrain from using Afghan territory for a new proxy war.

India Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 22, 2011

Heart of Transition in Herat

By William B. Caldwell IV

Yesterday, it was my honor to represent NATO and ISAF at the transition ceremony in the western Afghan city of Herat. Herat is Afghanistan’s third largest city and one of its oldest; founded 2,700 years ago, Herat still serves as an important link among the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Alongside landmarks of […]

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 19, 2011

Drop by Drop, A River is Formed: Transition Begins in Afghanistan

By William B. Caldwell IV

Over the next week, lead security responsibility in Afghanistan will shift from NATO to the Afghan Army and Police in seven areas: the provinces of Bamiyan, Panjshir, Kabul (minus Sarobi District) and the municipalities of Mazar e-Sharif, Herat, Lashkar Gah, and Mehtar Lam. President Karzai trumpeted this important decision earlier this year and offered a […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 19, 2011

Afghanistan’s Women Face a Dangerous and Uncertain Future

By Anna Borshchevskaya

As President Obama announced his decision to withdraw 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by next summer, the Taliban vowed to continue fighting and dismissed as “symbolic” Obama’s withdrawal announcement. “There is no negotiation with the United States or with any other countries and we deny any report about such kind of peace talks,” said Taliban […]

Afghanistan

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