Strategic thinking/planning

General David Petraeus has taken over of command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan at a time when many are questioning the success of the ongoing U.S. mission. Attacks on U.S. forces this summer have reached record highs and the number of military casualties continues to rise, while corruption remains a serious problem within the Afghan government. However, Pakistan has made progress against extremists on its side of the Afghan border and General Petraeus has built on some of the reforms initiated by General Stanley McChrystal. Afghan army forces are strengthening and signs of progress are emerging even in Afghanistan’s most challenging regions.

On August 24, Foreign Policy at Brookings will host a discussion assessing the state of the U.S. mission and the future of international involvement in the military and civilian effort in Afghanistan. Vali Nasr, senior advisor to the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the State Department and Steve Coll, president of the New America Foundation and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Ghost Wars (Penguin Press, 2004) will join Brookings Visiting Fellow General Jehangir Karamat (Ret.), former Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistani Army and Brookings Senior Fellow Michael O’Hanlon, co-author of Toughing it Out in Afghanistan (Brookings Press, 2010). O’Hanlon will discuss his new article, “Staying Power,” which appears in the current edition of Foreign Affairs.

Vice President Martin Indyk, director of Foreign Policy at Brookings, will provide introductory remarks and moderate the discussion. After the program, panelists will take audience questions.

Introduction and Moderator

Martin Indyk
Vice President and Director, Foreign Policy

The Brookings Institution

Panelists

Steve Coll
President
New America Foundation

Vali Nasr

Senior Advisor to the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan

United States Department of State

Michael O’Hanlon
Senior Fellow and Director of Research, Foreign Policy

The Brookings Institution

Gen. Jehangir Karamat (Ret.)

Visiting Fellow

The Brookings Institution

      To RSVP for this event, please call the Office of Communications at 202.797.6105 or click here.

The Mathew B. Ridgway Center for International Security Studies in conjunction with the U.S. Army War College will host a two-day conference on Sept. 16 and 17 entitled “Violent Armed Groups: A Global Challenge.”  This conference will explore the challenges posed by violent armed groups to security and stability in many parts of the world. While some of these challenges seem to be in areas peripheral to U.S. interests, others involve strategic areas, while yet others raise questions about the security of the global commons.

This conference seeks:

• to examine the rise of a wide variety of armed groups operating in key parts of the world, including areas of responsibility of the combatant commands;

• to identify key characteristics of these groups including their ability to mobilize support and raise funds;

• to assess the challenges posed by these groups to national security of various states, including key United States allies as well as the U.S. itself; and

• to examine the implications of these groups and their activities for U.S. strategy, doctrine, and force posture. 

To register and for hotel information, please click here, or to download an event flyer, click here.

Draft agenda

Event Details

8:30 – 9:00am
Complimentary coffee/tea

9:00 – 9:15am
Welcoming Remarks: Michael Van Dusen, executive vice president, Woodrow Wilson Center

9:15 – 11:00am
PANEL 1: Political Perspective

Wu Bingbing, The Sultan Qaboos Professor in Arabic Studies, Department of Arabic Language and Culture, Peking University, China

Emile Hokayem, political editor, The National (UAE) and senior fellow for regional security, International Institute for Strategic Studies-Middle East, Bahrain

Jean-François Seznec, visiting associate professor, Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University

Chair: J. Stapleton Roy, director, Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, Woodrow Wilson Center

11:00 – 11:15am
Coffee break

11:15am – 1:00pm
PANEL 2: Economic Perspective

Yang Guang, professor and senior research fellow, Institute of West Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China

Afshin Molavi, senior research fellow, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation

Jon B. Alterman, director and senior fellow, Middle East Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Chair: Robert Hathaway, director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson Center

The various conflicts, which have plagued the African continent for the past decades, have been characterized in most instances by the involvement of non-state actors, such as mercenaries and recently, private military/security companies (PMSCs). The use of PMSCs has extended to peacekeeping missions, where they are contracted to carry out non-core (military) functions. The burgeoning private security industry’s involvement in peacekeeping missions presents a critical point of departure from the past for enhanced peacekeeping operations through non-state actors.

There have been tentative attempts to control and regulate the services offered by PMSCs, due to double-edged-sword scenario presented by their presence especially in volatile situations. On the one hand they are criticized due to the lack of any effective oversight, regulatory or accountability mechanisms to monitor their services, while on the other hand they are seemingly indispensable, as their expertise and efficiency creates great demand for their use.

Event from America Abroad Media: The US, NATO and the War in Afghanistan: What Next?

America Abroad Media (AAM), WDR German Television and Afghanistan’s Tolo TV host an international town meeting on Afghanistan with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor Zu Guttenberg.

Frank Sesno, Director of The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, and WDR’s Tina Hassel moderate a prime time program for broadcast in Germany and Afghanistan.

EVENT: As the Obama administration finalizes its new policy in Afghanistan, the German parliament confronts a key vote on that country’s commitment to the war. With growing public concern in both countries, AAM joins with WDR and Tolo TV to host an exclusive international town meeting on the critical issues affecting Afghanistan, NATO and the transatlantic alliance with two key policymakers: U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Amb. Richard Holbrooke and German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor Zu Guttenberg.

WHEN: Monday, November 23rd, 1p.m. Doors open 12p.m., close 12:30p.m.

WHERE: Newseum, Knight Studio, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, C Street entrance, Washington, DC. Metro: Judiciary Square or Archives/Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Stations

MEDIA: Media coverage is open to print, online and broadcast journalists with no embargo. The program will be taped for broadcast by AAM, WDR and Tolo TV. AAM, WDR and Tolo TV have exclusive rights to air the program in its entirety. No other television cameras will be permitted. News organizations who wish to record audio/video studio output should contact Emily Simon, and may use up to four minutes of content. All use must include an on-screen or verbal credit for “America Abroad Media”. A still photo opportunity will be available prior to the beginning of the program. Media check-in begins at 12p.m. Doors close 12:30p.m. Credentials required. All media must pre-register with Emily Simon @ 202-457-8050 or esimon@americaabroadmedia.org

AUDIENCE: Guests must RSVP and check-in upon arrival.

For more information, visit AAMTV.tv