Defense & Security

The most recent post on this blog by Greg Sanders refers to some historical and current comparisons as far as the kinds of goals we should be seeking in Afghanistan, which will help us (more importantly, the President) determine the best course of action to take.  It is an important part of policy to take full account of historical and cultural importances and differences in the decision making process.  However, in doing, so we must be careful on what interpretations of history we are examining.

As the administration works to formulate a new strategy for Afghanistan, popular and elite support appears to be dropping off and a string of attacks makes the stakes all too clear.

Bombings, shootings, and kidnappings are becoming increasingly commonplace in Pakistan, a fact that is best highlighted by yet another Taliban bombing in Peshawar yesterday that has so far left over 100 people dead. As stability and security in Pakistan continue to deteriorate, some have come to question the integrity of the Pakistani state as a whole, and whether or not this is the beginning of a gradual disintegration of the country.

The Chinese equivalent of Secretary of Defense, General Xu Caihou was here at CSIS this morning. His speech laid out a forward looking defense process the Chinese had just completed, the equivalent of our Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).

The Obama administration announced earlier this week that it had achieved a breakthrough with the Iranian government and reached an agreement over its nuclear program. But in the days between then and now, Iran's Deputy Speaker of Parliament declared the Geneva agreement unacceptable.