Afghanistan: A New Way Forward?

Rethinking US Strategy in Afghanistan

How do we redefine U.S. strategy in Afghanistan? By refocusing the mission to defeating terrorism, the original reason for invasion, promoting political reconciliation with both global and regional stakeholders, and emphasizing economic development, the report outlines a process of transition to a sovereign, autonomous Afghan state.

By realizing that suicide terrorism is correlated to foreign occupation, security is the building block for political and economic development, and the Afghan people by and large support the U.S. effort, the next phase of the war can diverge from the previous one. For eight years Afghanistan was placed on the backburner of U.S. foreign policy, but this dialogue demonstrates an active, constructive effort to redefine our purpose in the longest war in American history.

Participants

Featured Speakers
Paul Pillar
Director of Graduate Studies, Center for Peace and Security Studies, Georgetown University
Former National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia

Matthew Hoh
Former Afghanistan-based official with Department of State and US Marine Corps
Director, Afghanistan Study Group

Steve Coll
President, New America Foundation
Author, Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan and bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
Contributing Editor, The New Yorker

Brian Katulis
Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Charles Kupchan
Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Professor of International Affairs, Georgetown University
Author, How Enemies Become Friends

Darcy Burner
Director, American Progressive Caucus Policy Foundation

Robert Pape
Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago
Director, Chicago Project on Suicide Terrorism
Author, Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism
Co-author of the forthcoming, Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It

Moderator
Steve Clemons
Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation
Publisher, The Washington Note