“As we look toward the Chicago Summit and NATO’s coming decisions about Afghanistan it is important to understand how the war is going. And while some things seem worse than ever, we just don’t have a good idea of whether we are progress toward achieving President Obama’s strategy or not.”

U.S. and NATO forces will encounter the events listed below between now and the official 2014 full transition of security operations to the Afghan Forces. We present them in the spirit of informing a debate about planning for the future of U.S. policy in the region.

One year ago, Osama bin Laden was killed in a daring nighttime raid by Navy SEALs on his compound in a small military garrison town in Pakistan. Since then, how has the war on terror changed? Should we be looking at it more critically than we are? In this essay collection, we examine the war on terror from several angles not often found in the popular discourse.

This ASP “Perspectives” paper examines the causes of America’s soaring gasoline prices. The paper underscores that the price of gas is intimately interconnected with crude oil prices, which are set by global markets. America cannot look for short-term solutions to what is a clear long-term problem.The paper cautions that hasty responses like banning speculation or…

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The Iranian nuclear program is one of the most polarizing issues facing the international community since its public disclosure in 2002. Over the past decade, the program has significantly expanded and tensions over it have continually increased. Both Israel and the United States have declared that Iran will not be permitted to produce a nuclear weapon and that “all options are on the table” to prevent it from doing so.

Our second edition of the American Security Quarterly contains a plethora of original work by our board members, staff, and adjunct fellows. Topics range from engagement with Russia, Afghanistan and Syria, to energy choices, the euro crisis and to Iran and our nuclear security.