05-06-2009, 10:51 PM
X-posted...
<!--QuoteBegin-"Prem"+-->QUOTE("Prem")<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009/04/16/story_16-4-2009_pg3_4
analysis: Obamaâs AfPak quandary âAshley J Tellis
Whether explicitly admitted or not, these propositions indicate that the United States will not abdicate state building in Afghanistan; will not recognise the Taliban as an acceptable Islamist group in contrast to, for example, Al Qaeda; and will not exit Afghanistan either as an end in itself or to better focus on Pakistan, as some analysts have suggested.
The administrationâs reiteration of the need for a âa more capable, accountable, and effective government in Afghanistanâ also implicitly conveys a rejection of all ambiguous strategies of governance, a refusal to integrate an unrepentant Taliban into any Afghan organs of rule, and a decisive repudiation of authoritarianism as a solution to the political problems in Kabul.
And, <b>he needs to jettison those old and tired saws that reconciliation with the Taliban or better counterterrorism performance by Pakistan will be essential for success in Afghanistan; although both may well be true, neither is particularly likely and, consequently, Obama ought to refocus on securing victory in Afghanistan by âhardeningâ it from the inside out</b> rather than by counting on either Taliban or Pakistani cooperation.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-"Prem"+-->QUOTE("Prem")<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009/04/16/story_16-4-2009_pg3_4
analysis: Obamaâs AfPak quandary âAshley J Tellis
Whether explicitly admitted or not, these propositions indicate that the United States will not abdicate state building in Afghanistan; will not recognise the Taliban as an acceptable Islamist group in contrast to, for example, Al Qaeda; and will not exit Afghanistan either as an end in itself or to better focus on Pakistan, as some analysts have suggested.
The administrationâs reiteration of the need for a âa more capable, accountable, and effective government in Afghanistanâ also implicitly conveys a rejection of all ambiguous strategies of governance, a refusal to integrate an unrepentant Taliban into any Afghan organs of rule, and a decisive repudiation of authoritarianism as a solution to the political problems in Kabul.
And, <b>he needs to jettison those old and tired saws that reconciliation with the Taliban or better counterterrorism performance by Pakistan will be essential for success in Afghanistan; although both may well be true, neither is particularly likely and, consequently, Obama ought to refocus on securing victory in Afghanistan by âhardeningâ it from the inside out</b> rather than by counting on either Taliban or Pakistani cooperation.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->