Tag: pakistan

Hawks Divided: AfPak or Iran?

A potentially major clash appears to be developing between powerful factions inside and outside the U.S. government, pitting those who see the Afghanistan/Pakistan ("AfPak") theater as the greatest potential threat to U.S. national security against those who believe that the danger posed by a nuclear Iran must be given priority. The Iran hawks, concentrated within … Continue reading “Hawks Divided: AfPak or Iran?”

Officials Admit Pakistanis Reject US Priorities

The advances of the Taliban insurgents beyond the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in recent weeks and the failure of the Pakistani military to counter them have brought a rare moment of truth for top national security officials of the Barack Obama administration. Accustomed to making whatever assumptions are necessary to support ambitious administration policies … Continue reading “Officials Admit Pakistanis Reject US Priorities”

Af-Pak Troubles Coming to a Head

Despite an overhaul of policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan, it appears that the U.S. strategy there is running into obstacles as varied as the U.S. Congress and the leaders of those countries, who are both visiting Washington this week. Before their arrival, President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan were … Continue reading “Af-Pak Troubles Coming to a Head”

‘Democracy at Gunpoint’ Strategy Guarantees Defeat

An account from the Taliban side of the Afghanistan war, which was published in the New York Times on May 5, provides devastating evidence of the failure that almost certainly will eventually overtake the United States and NATO. It is a long interview with a young Taliban "logistics tactician" who has been speaking with Jane … Continue reading “‘Democracy at Gunpoint’ Strategy Guarantees Defeat”