“The decision making process that led to the surge in Iraq began with a review of the assumptions upon which our strategy had previously been based. It found that most of those assumptions were no longer valid and therefore it pointed to the necessity of changing the strategy in some fundamental ways. Today I would say President Obama has to look at these assumptions and determine the relationships between certain realities on the ground.”

Meghan O’Sullivan, Kirkpatrick professor of the practice of international affairs and member of the Belfer Center’s board of directors, was interviewed for Harvard Kennedy School Insight, which is currently featured on the HKS homepage.

For the full interview, go to: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/publications/insight/international/meghan-osullivan

“I think that if we have a situation where the Taliban comes into power in Afghanistan, it’s going to be very difficult to deter them from somehow hosting Al Qaida elements….”

-Thomas Hegghammer, associate of the Belfer Center’s Initiative on Religion in International Affairs and International Security Program

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0911/15/ampr.01.html

“The United States ambassador to Afghanistan, who once served as the top American military commander there, has expressed in writing his reservations about deploying additional troops to the country, three senior American officials said Wednesday. The position of the ambassador, Karl W. Eikenberry, a retired lieutenant general, puts him in stark opposition to the current American and NATO commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who has asked for 40,000 more troops.”

Karl Eikenberry, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and former Harvard Kennedy School national security fellow (1992-93), was featured in “U.S. Envoy Urges Caution on Forces for Afghanistan,” which the New York Times published on November 12, 2009.

For the full article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/politics/12policy.html?scp=2&sq=eikenberry&st=cse

“The lessons from Waziristan do not neatly prescribe an obvious course of action, but they will help us to make better judgments about the costs, benefits, and means of success, and they deserve to be considered carefully. Most of all, they will remind us that Afghanistan is neither Vietnam nor Iraq — it is Afghanistan.”

William Tobey, a Belfer Center senior fellow, wrote “Afghanistan is Neither Vietnam Nor Iraq,” which Foreign Policy published on November 10, 2009.

For the full oped, go to: http://belfercenter.org/publication/19692/

“In fact, a significantly smaller U.S. presence in Afghanistan may paradoxically generate more anti-Americanism outside Afghanistan and ultimately more anti-Western terrorism than a more conventional military approach. This is because jihadi propaganda today relies on visually powerful symbols to mobilize people, and intermittent “surgical” strikes, and the casualties they cause, may create more such symbols than continuous conventional warfare.”

Thomas Hegghammer, an associate of the Belfer Center’s Initiative on Religion in International Affairs, wrote “The Big Impact of Small Footprints,” which Foreign Policy published in the November 11, 2009 issue.

For the full oped, go to: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/19691/

“No one is talking about leaving Afghanistan, or even standing pat. We are increasing our commitment.”

-Michele Flournoy, under secretary of defense for policy

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ht83_HM4xuTLmtOrA2ml8UqYTV3AD9BQJH4G0

“The terrain in Afghanistan is different from Iraq. It’s more uneven, the roads are difficult to traverse. That’s why we’ve had to create an all-terrain version.”

Ashton Carter, on leave from the Belfer Center’s board of directors to serve as under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics, was quoted in “Pentagon hopes new M-ATV is ‘life-saver,’” which CNN published on November 4, 2009.

For the full article, go to: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/11/04/afghanistan.military.vehicle/index.html

“On the bottom line question - yes or no on McChrystal’s request - Kerry says no. He argues that McChrystal reaches ‘too far, too fast.’ Kerry recommends that further troop increases must meet three conditions: reliable Afghan troops to partner with American forces, local political leaders, and civilian advisers to speed development. Truth be told, none of these three will be in place soon.”

Belfer Center Director Graham Allison wrote “In Afghanistan, Kerry Keeps US Goals Modest,” which the Boston Globe published on November 4, 2009.

For the full oped, go to: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/19673/

“While there is certainly a role for the United States and other nations in moving forward a political agenda in Afghanistan, a partisan intervention, concealed only half-heartedly, that selects one candidate over another subverts all notions of democracy and, more important, begs for trouble.”

Paul Fishstein, a joint fellow with the Belfer Center and Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, wrote “US Prod Against Karzai Reckless, Counterproductive,” which the Boston Globe published on October 29, 2009.

For the full letter to the editor, go to: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2009/10/29/us_prod_against_karzai_reckless_counterproductive/

“Our ‘democracy’ is about accountability, citizen participation and leaders serving at the discretion of the people. But unfortunately, many Afghans perceive ‘democracy’ as impunity, abuse of power and a new political and business class exploiting its position to enrich itself. Above all else, many perceive ‘democracy’ as something foreign.”

Paul Fishstein, a joint fellow with the Belfer Center and Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, wrote “Afghans Need to Find a New Model of Democracy,” which the Financial Times published on October 28, 2009.

For the full oped, go to: http://belfercenter.org/publication/19651/