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来源类型 | Op-Ed |
规范类型 | 评论 |
After 16 Years of War, the United States and Afghanistan Ponder Next Steps | |
Marc Grossman; Tom West | |
发表日期 | 2017-07-20 |
出处 | Yale Global Online |
出版年 | 2017 |
语种 | 英语 |
摘要 | Sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan is a risk worth taking in the U.S. national interest, so long as it is as part of an integrated strategy for Central and South Asia. |
正文 | WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is the third US commander in chief in 16 years to consider a surge of American forces into Afghanistan. He has delegated authority to Secretary of Defense James Mattis to decide whether – and if so, how many – more US troops should join the approximately 8,400 already in Afghanistan. As Mattis contemplates this decision, he must recall the observation of baseball legend Yogi Berra – “It’s déja vu all over again.” In deciding whether to deploy additional troops, Mattis will take as his starting point recommendations of US commanders in the field and surely consider the following questions:
The authors believe Secretary Mattis should commit up to 5,000 additional US troops, without setting a timeline for ending their deployment, to do two jobs: First, keep Afghanistan and the region from again becoming the platform for an attack on the US homeland, or US interests abroad including its friends and allies. And second, train, equip and support the Afghan security forces in their struggle with the Taliban. The fight against the Taliban should remain the Afghans’ fight, but the United States should have the patience and courage to support them. Much could go wrong, and quickly. For example, sustained attacks on US forces by Taliban infiltrators – the so-called “green on blue killings” – could undermine American public support for an increased US presence. If Mattis decides to deploy additional troops, he should make clear to his cabinet colleagues that an increase in military effort requires a national, “whole of government strategy.” Diplomats, US Agency in International Development specialists and others in the government must keep doing their part to support those in Afghanistan committed to maintaining gains and making more progress while keeping the region focused on its responsibilities toward Afghanistan. For example, the US agencies involved must structure policies, including specific disincentives if required, to end Pakistan’s toleration of Taliban safe havens on Pakistani territory and to keep the Kabul government from devolving into an endless and unproductive struggle for power and patronage, especially leading up to the 2019 presidential election. Finally, to return to a theme highlighted by Marc Grossman in YaleGlobal, the United States can work with China on Belt and Road Initiative projects that support a sustainable Afghan economy. The Trump administration was right to send a delegation to the Belt and Road Initiative Summit in Beijing in May. A good next step would be for the United States to join the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. The authors have both worked to support US goals in Afghanistan and the region, but this is a close call even for us. We are not slaves to the “credibility” argument, especially when so many lives are put at risk. There are consequences for action or inaction. It is not in America’s interests to leave Afghanistan to its current trajectory, with the Taliban controlling ever larger swaths of the country, seeking to topple the Kabul government and allowing growing safe havens for both ISIS and al Qaeda. On a visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan in early July, US senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham expressed support for additional troops, but added that “throwing more bombs” is not enough. The United States must engage and influence regional leaders, rallying them to provide more support to the struggling government in Kabul. The senators are right. Sending more US troops is a risk worth taking in the US national interest, so long as it is as part of an integrated strategy for Central and South Asia – Yogi Berra’s warning notwithstanding. This article was originally published in Yale Global Online. |
主题 | Americas ; United States ; South Asia ; Afghanistan ; Defense and Security ; Foreign Policy |
URL | https://carnegieendowment.org/2017/07/20/after-16-years-of-war-united-states-and-afghanistan-ponder-next-steps-pub-75690 |
来源智库 | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (United States) |
资源类型 | 智库出版物 |
条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.153/handle/2XGU8XDN/423338 |
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Marc Grossman,Tom West. After 16 Years of War, the United States and Afghanistan Ponder Next Steps. 2017. |
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