We strive to examine issues important to U.S. national security from a post-partisan perspective, meaning we try to break through the spin to find ideas we can use to encourage fresh thinking and build genuine consensus.
Important Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan
posted by Louis McCoy on July 31, 2009 at 11:01 am
From the NYT: U.S. Adviser’s Blunt Memo on Iraq – Time ‘to Go Home’ Prepared by Col. Timothy R. Reese, an adviser to the Iraqi military’s Baghdad command, the memorandum details Iraqi military weaknesses in scathing language, including corruption, poor management and the inability to resist Shiite political pressure. Extending the American military presence beyond…
We Can't Want it More than They Do
posted by Louis McCoy on July 8, 2009 at 2:45 pm
From the New York Times: Allied Officers Concerned by Lack of Afghan Forces General Nicholson and others say that the long-term success of the operation hinges on the performance of the Afghan security forces, which will have to take over eventually from the American troops. General Nicholson said the American force of almost 4,000 had…
Assessing al Qaeda
posted by Louis McCoy on June 1, 2009 at 9:33 am
From today’s Washington Post: Strikes Have Disrupted Al-Qaeda: Drone-launched U.S. missile attacks and Pakistan’s ongoing military offensive in and around the Swat Valley have unsettled al-Qaeda and undermined its relative invulnerability in Pakistani mountain sanctuaries, U.S. military and intelligence officials say. This sounds promising. But unfortunately, the article provides no evidence or details. All we…
McChrystal, COIN, and Drones
posted by Louis McCoy on May 18, 2009 at 9:37 am
The firing of General McKiernan in Afghanistan and his replacement with General McChrystal has prompted some interested debate and discussion. Three of the arguments that emerged are of particular interest and deserve further comment. First, posting at Foreign Policy, analyst Kori Schake argues provocatively that “McKiernan may become the General Shinseki of Afghanistan.” She writes:…
“Are We Winning?” – Interim Report Released
posted by Louis McCoy on April 29, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Today, the American Security Project released an interim update as part of its ongoing “Are We Winning?” study, which found several discouraging trends, including an increase in worldwide Islamic violence and a dampening of the so-called “Obama Effect” in the Muslim world, among other issues. Click here to listen to audio of a conference call…
[INTERIM REPORT] Are We Winning? Measuring Progress in the War on Terror: An Interim Update
posted by megan on April 29, 2009 at 12:34 pm
An American Security Project mid-year update to their annual report on global terrorism trends today showed several trends that raise serious concerns about U.S. counterterrorism policy, including a dramatic increase in Islamic violence in the Middle East, a worsening situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, new “hot spots” of violence in Somalia and Russia, as well as a dampening of the initial “Obama effect” in the Muslim world.
