As fighting continues unabated in Iraq, Afghanistan has emerged as a surprise success story in the global war on terror. Contrary to widespread predictions, democratic elections have twice been held peacefully, while the Karzai government has expanded its control beyond Kabul and curbed the influence of warlords. At the same time, countless threats still loom—from a resurgent Taliban insurgency to the booming trade in opium.
What is responsible for the comparative success of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and what lessons does it offer for Iraq? What is the future of the U.S.-Afghan strategic relationship and the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda? What are the implications of the Bush administration’s plans to turn greater control of Afghanistan over to NATO next year and reduce U.S. troop levels? Are durable state institutions really being created in Kabul, or is the rule of the Karzai government more illusory than real?
These and other questions will be the subject of an all-day conference at AEI.
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