Suchergebnisse

Asserts that NATO's effectiveness in Afghanistan has implications for the alliance's future. Attention is given to the challenges that NATO faces in Afghanistan & the skeptical Afghan perspective on NATO's involvement. Adapted from the source document.

In the battle to win hearts and minds in Afghanistan, Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) are often on the front line. The most successful PRTs have been those best attuned to recognizing Afghans' conceptions of Afghans' needs, with PRT leadership spending as much time as possible listening, rather than talking. Figures. Adapted from the source document.

There was worldwide relief when, six years ago, in the wake of the Al Qaeda attacks on America, western-backed forces dislodged the Taliban from government in Afghanistan. Now, with NATO severely stretched against the insurgents, it might be sound strategy to think the unthinkable. Adapted from the source document.

A discussion of the emerging democracy in Afghanistan. Although the recent presidential election there was a good step toward establishing democracy in Afghanistan, holding parliamentary elections on schedule (in September) will also be crucial. Also discussed are the need for continued outside support for the development of democratic processes, the merits & defects of different forms of electoral representation for Afghanistan, the need for parliamentary organizations to facilitate decision-making, & the development of the courts in Afghanistan. Karzai's selection of regional representation is seen as an effective strategy to limit the power of political parties. However, it is argued that, in the long term, it will be important to allow effective parties to develop. Another concern is that the religious conservatives appointed to the courts by Karzai would, citing Article 3 of the Afghan constitution, limit the rights of women. Adapted from the source document.

Armed external intervention may sometimes be required to halt barbaric attacks on the vulnerable, but rebuilding political, economic and social order in the aftermath of an intervention is fraught with difficulty. Post-intervention problems may include coping with new and fractious actors, managing complex processes of change, addressing fundamental questions of political philosophy, coping with `spoilers' and low levels of trust, and avoiding inadvertent damage to the intervention's beneficiaries - all in situations where resources may be scarce and intervening powers at odds with each other. Interveners should strive to absorb the lessons of past interventions and master the complexities of the territory on which they propose to act. Patience and humility are sterling qualities in an intervening force, even where robust action is required. Adapting Montesquieu's advice, if one must intervene, one should do so with a trembling hand.