Issue in Depth:
Afghanistan
Two weeks ago thousands of classified documents relating to the war in Afghanistan were released on the website WikiLeaks. Regardless of the intentions and motivations of the website's founder, Julian Assange, our commitment to this vital part of the world must be unwavering. The fact remains that the United States is fighting in Afghanistan to keep it from reverting to a safe haven for terrorists like those who struck on September 11. Efforts by the U.S. and its allies and partners in Afghanistan to facilitate and defend stable democratic governance are essential to reducing the terrorist threats to U.S. national security. With a new commander in place, a fresh set of counterinsurgency guidelines, as well as tens of thousands of more American troops entering the country, there is little reason to get caught up in "wikisteria." Please see our most recent research on the war in Afghanistan in this week's National Security Update.
Latest Research:The Heritage Foundation: Afghanistan: Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with the United States
The truth is that operations in Afghanistan—operations for which the Afghans themselves are paying a heavy price along with NATO and other Coalition forces—are a direct consequence of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. To withdraw prematurely would risk both creation of a security vacuum with the return of civil war and the destabilization of Pakistan, which could have unthinkable regional, and even nuclear, consequences.The Heritage Foundation: The Cameron-Obama White House Meeting: The U.S. and U.K. Must Reject a Timetable for the War in Afghanistan
On July 20, British Prime Minister David Cameron will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House in what will be Cameron's first visit to Washington as Prime Minister. Cameron and Obama have met on at least two previous occasions, most recently at the G-20 summit in Canada. However, this visit marks the most important meeting of the two leaders to date and comes amid heavy strain on the Anglo–American Special Relationship.The Heritage Foundation: Capture of Taliban Leader Hints Pakistan Reevaluating Afghan Strategy
The recent capture of the number two Afghan Taliban leader, Abdul Ghani Bahadur, in Pakistan is a blow to the Afghan Taliban and its ability to coordinate the insurgency in southern Afghanistan. Following months of quiet U.S. pressure on Pakistani officials to crack down on Taliban leaders in their country, Islamabad has come through by helping to capture Bahadur, who was critical in directing and organizing Taliban foot soldiers in Afghanistan.The Heritage Foundation: Expand NORAD to Improve Security in North America
To enable NORAD to better fulfill its mission, the United States and Canada should invite Mexico to join NORAD. Mexican participation would greatly enhance NORAD's aerial and maritime surveillance capabilities in North America and help to build a common strategic vision across North America.More Blogs:
The Foundry: Wikisteria: Don't Take the Anti-War Bait
The aim of releasing thousands of classified documents on the Afghanistan war on the WikiLeaks Web site was apparently to undermine American public support for the war. The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, said he wanted the world to see the "true nature of the war" and equated the WikiLeaks Afghanistan archive with the release of the secret files of the East German police following the fall of the Berlin Wall.The Foundry: Senate Hearing Cautions Administration on Timelines and Taliban Reconciliation
"Can we improve the Afghanistan Government? Maybe. Can we do it by July 2011? No." This statement came from Dr. David Kilcullen, an expert in counterinsurgency and former advisor to General Petraeus, during rigorous questioning at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) hearing last week.The Heritage Foundation: Petraeus Hearing: Obama Needs a Victory Plan, Not an Exit Plan
Gen. David Petraeus, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee today, demonstrated why he is a superb choice to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Petraeus gave a crisp, smooth, and tactful performance that exhibited the diplomatic skills that will serve him in good stead at his new job.
More Events: August 23 - 27, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
The Heritage Foundation: Homeland Security 2020
To carry out an attack on American soil, a terrorist only has to be right once. Thus, America's homeland security apparatus must keep up with the evolving nature of the terrorist threat. While homeland security has come a long way since 9/11, the question remains as to how DHS, state and local governments, and the private sector can ensure that the future homeland security enterprise can take on tomorrow's threats. Join us the during the week of August 23rd as Heritage analysts host a week long discussion dedicated to devising the right security policy agenda for the next decade.
August 24 -25, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
National Defense University: The Economic Element of National Power: Economic Security is National Security
This symposium seeks to illuminate and promote informed discussion on the ways in which government and commercial sector leaders must work together to reform and revitalize our national economy to support enhanced national security. Featured speakers include government officials and a wide range of private sector experts.The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400
Monday, August 9, 2010
Fwd: WikiLeaks or Not, Afghanistan is a War the U.S. Must Win
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