Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
Abstract
Upon taking office, the Obama Administration faced a deteriorating security environment in Afghanistan, despite a build-up of U.S. forces there in preceding years. Signs of deterioration have included an expanded militant presence in some areas, increasing numbers of civilian and military deaths, Afghan and international disillusionment with corruption in the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and the ease of infiltration of Taliban militants from safe havens in Pakistan. Building on assessments completed in the latter days of the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration conducted a "strategic review," the results of which were announced on March 27, 2009. The outcome of the review leaned toward those in the Administration who believe that adding combat troops is less crucial than building governance, although the review did announce an increase of 21,000 U.S. troops by October 2009. The strategy emphasized non-military steps such as increasing the resources devoted to economic development, building Afghan governance primarily at the local level, reforming the Afghan government, expanding and reforming the Afghan security forces, and trying to improve Pakistan?s efforts to curb militant activity on its soil. Still, the Administration decided that more innovative counter-insurgency tactics that limit civilian casualties and holds territory cleared of insurgents was needed to promote those goals, and in May 2009, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, was replaced by Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal. On August 30, 2009, McChrystal submitted his review of the military strategy in Afghanistan, which recommends pursuing a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in order to avoid mission failure, and reportedly recommends that about 44,000 additional U.S. combat forces are needed to be reasonably sure of success for that strategy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 10, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA511125
Entities
People
- Kenneth Katzman
Organizations
- Library of Congress