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New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2009

Afghanistan Debate Over, Now Time to Execute

By James Cook

Although perhaps delivered with less emotion than some would like from such a gifted orator, President Obama delivered his Afghanistan strategy.  We can expect additional strategic and operational details to emerge in the coming weeks but the speech outlined some broad guidelines that military and other planners can use as strategic direction. 

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2009

Obama Afghan Plan: A Wing and A Prayer

By Don Snow

On Tuesday night, President Obama announced his new “strategy” for Afghanistan. It held few surprises, just disappointments. The President’s rhetoric soared, as usual. The content did not. Instead, he sent the country down the road with a series of assumptions and plans that can be called, at best, a wing and a prayer.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2009

Behind Obama’s Afghanistan Decision

By Kurt Volker

All of Washington – and much of the world – was waiting to hear President Obama’s Tuesday night speech about the war in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2009

Who’s Really Running Pakistan?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

From his former incarnation as strategic adviser to Pakistan’s politico-religious parties, the one-time Pakistani intelligence chief Hamid Gul has resurfaced as de facto minister of propaganda and disinformation for the Taliban insurgents. In a dramatic reincarnation for the “meray mutabiq” (“my opinion”) program on Geo television, Gul said the Taliban has 88,000 troops and 35,000 […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 2, 2009

Missing Tools for the Afghan Job

By Harlan Ullman

U.S. President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan speech Tuesday, well advertised in advance and delivered at West Point for added effect, provoked predictable criticism from both the left and right.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2009

Obama Faces Ghost of LBJ in Tonight’s Speech

By Don Snow

President Obama has apparently reached his decision on Afghanistan, which he will explain to the public on Tuesday night. If early leaks intended to get us more used to–and presumably comfortable with–the content are correct, he is going to give General McChrystal most of what he wants, although with some time constraints (the “off ramps”) […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2009

Obama’s Afghanistan Speech: What to Look For

By James Joyner

President Obama’s speech tomorrow night, in which he finally announces his Afghan strategy and responds to General McChrystal’s September request for more troops, will be closely watched by the American public, our NATO Allies, foreign leaders, and the people of Afghanistan and the region.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2009

OSCE’s Role in Afghanistan

By Borut Grgic

On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of 56 participating states in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will gather in Athens to review the security developments in a region spanning from Vancouver to Vladivostok.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 25, 2009

Is Pakistan Serious about the U.S.?

By Harlan Ullman

Convened for the first time by the Canadian Ministry of National Defense and the German Marshall Fund – a think tank established by the German government in honor of Gen. George Marshall and the plan for European recovery that bore his name – the Halifax International Security Forum met over the weekend.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 23, 2009

Obama and Afghanistan: No Good Choices

By Don Snow

Within the next several days, President Obama will likely announce his decision regarding American strategy in Afghanistan. He has kept his counsel close to the vest on this, and I have no idea good enough to bet on what he will decide. One thing I do know for certain: regardless of what his decision is, […]

Afghanistan

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