Afghanistan's Elections: How Dr. House Can help

Gerard Russell, 12.21.2009

Former British and United Nations Diplomat

Likewise, in foreign policy. Let's say there are two diagnoses for Afghanistan -- one means it has a chance if we do things right. The other means that there's no hope whatever we do.

Afghanistan's Anti-Corruption Efforts Should Begin with Election Reform

Peter M. Manikas, 12.07.2009

Senior Associate and Regional Director of Asia programs, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

If yet another election fails the Afghan people, prospects for establishing a credible, stable government will be severely damaged -- perhaps beyond repair.

Gentlemen, Failure Is an Option

William S. Lerach, 12.04.2009

Lecturer, Writer and Investor advocate

By escalating the war to support a corrupt government in a land that has expelled every other invading power, Obama has made sure that its inevitable failure will be that much more spectacular.

Why I Changed My Mind On Afghanistan

Cenk Uygur, 12.01.2009

Host of The Young Turks

We don't have a viable partner in Afghanistan and we don't have the legitimacy that is essential to rebuilding the country. The Afghans don't view us as their saviors. They view us as the latest intruder in their valley.

Finding an End to a Costly War

Peter Lems, 11.20.2009

Program Director, American Friends Service Committee

The cost of war in in dollars alone requires a choice not only to stop sending troops but also to withdraw all U.S. military forces and invest in civilian-led development of Afghanistan's devastated communities.

Fiasco Royal in Afghanistan/Humiliation in the Mideast

Eric Margolis, 11.05.2009

Veteran journalist and Author

Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, kept squabbling and trading charges of fraud until the election pre-rigged by Washington fell apart. The real ruler of most of Afghanistan remains the US military and Obama.

Runoff Rituals

Nick McDonell, 11.02.2009

Author and journalist

Here, in Afghanistan, the election has been in crisis since it took place. And though so many are ready for it to finally be over, no one could move on until Abdullah made his withdrawal official.

Abdullah May Boycott the Afghan Runoff Vote

Derrick Crowe, 10.30.2009

Five-year Capitol Hill veteran, Creating a Culture of Peace nonviolence facilitator

Talks between Hamid Karzai and Abdullah broke down today, October 30, according to CNN, meaning there will be no power-sharing arrangement to head off a highly problematic runoff vote.

Afghanistan and Historical Watersheds

Bennett Ramberg, Ph.D., 10.26.2009

Nuclear proliferation and terrorism expert

As Washington plots its course for Afghanistan, it would do well to test alternatives against America's 20th-century chronicle of victories, defeats, stalemates and what-ifs.

Afghanistan: Fraud, Opium, and Taliban

Jamal Dajani, 10.23.2009

Senior Director and Producer of Mosaic News, Link TV

Why isn't Mr. Karzai being held responsible for this blatant act of election fraud? And who can guarantee that a repeat of the fraud won't happen? Or that all hell won't break loose during the run-off?

Call a Jirga Not a Runoff in Afghanistan

Patricia DeGennaro, 10.22.2009

If the U.S. and international community are serious about this intervention and having any kind of political success (and less war) in Afghanistan, it should call a Loya Jirga, or a "grand assembly".

Afghanistan: An Election Without Results

Abdulhadi Hairan, 10.19.2009

Afghan Author, Journalist, and Research Analyst

Everyone here is impatient to know the outcome of the much-discussed, controversial Afghan elections, but two months have passed and still no one has a clue about the real situation.

For a Solution in Afghanistan, Look South...and In the Past

Dagobert L. Brito, 10.13.2009

Through a combination of wise leadership and some fortunate historical accidents, the problems stemming from the Mexican Revolution in the 20th Century were solved with only limited American intervention.

A War of Absurdity

Robert Scheer, 10.07.2009

Veteran Journalist and Editor of Truthdig.com

It's time to declare victory and begin to get out of Afghanistan rather than descend deeper into an intractable civil war that we neither comprehend nor in the end will care much about.

Push Into Helmand Triggered Severe Spike in Civilian Death Rate, Failed its Objectives

Derrick Crowe, 10.06.2009

Five-year Capitol Hill veteran, Creating a Culture of Peace nonviolence facilitator

More troops are not the answer in Afghanistan. We need to lower the overall level of military conflict as quickly as possible, and the only way to do that is to sharply reduce the number of U.S. troops.

My Hamid Karzai Daydream

Jamie Metzl, 12.01.2009

Just back from Afghanistan, I began to daydream about Karzai speaking directly to the American people to take responsibility for his government's failings and seek support for U.S. engagement in the country.

Lessons From Afghanistan

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, 11.22.2009

Congressman from Hawaii

I do not believe that military victory in Afghanistan is simply a matter of reappearing with enough troops and the right military strategy.

More Troops to Afghanistan?

Richard A. Clarke, 11.11.2009

Former Advisor to the President on Cyber Security

Afghanistan is not a numbers game. The issue is whether we are pursuing a strategy that defines our goals and tailors our means to them.

Losing Ground: Taliban Cover 97% of Afghanistan: Report

Virginia M. Moncrieff, 11.10.2009

International Correspondent

New research indicates that 80% of Afghanistan now has a permanent Taliban presence and that 97% of the country has "substantial Taliban activity."

How Afghanistan Can Avoid Becoming Another Vietnam

Mark Juergensmeyer, 11.10.2009

Recently we convened a workshop of senior scholars of South Asia studies and asked them to evaluate the US role in the region. They agreed upon the following five principles as the bases for formulating a new policy

Afghanistan is Obama's Vietnam

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, 09.30.2009

Political Analyst and Social Issues Commentator

Public distaste for the Afghanistan War can easily make it Obama's Vietnam -- history should serve as a warning for him.