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Afghanistan

FEATURED COMMENTARY

McCain's Irresponsibly Rosy Outlook on Iraq, Afghanistan
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
Posted: 05/21/08

[Published, The Hill, May 21, 2008] That Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) cavalierly quips about first-term presidential accomplishments is not only deeply disconcerting, but also morally irresponsible (article, "McCain vows unprecedented transparency," May 15). Half-baked heroism has handily usurped the Straight Talk Express. The only unprecedented part of McCain's presidential pitch is the level of delusion embedded in his benchmarking. READ MORE

RECENT COMMENTARY

Poppy Crop Destruction Drives Farmers Towards Taliban
Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student
Posted: 04/15/08

[Published, Financial Times, April 12, 2008] Sir, With reference to your report, "US seeks Afghan heroin action" (April 5/6): the American proclivity for short-term, high-visibility gains precludes, yet again, sound strategy. Aerial spraying does not constitute an effective poppy eradication programme. READ MORE

Afghan Domestic Opinion Neglected in Ashdown Plan
Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student
Posted: 02/15/08

[Published, Financial Times, February 15, 2008] Sir, Paddy Ashdown still does not get it. His three-pronged policy prescription for Afghanistan ("A strategy to save Afghanistan", February 13), while meritorious on many levels, nowhere implies consultation with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai. READ MORE

Overdue Wisdom in Afghanistan
Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student
Posted: 01/17/08

[Published, Financial Times, January 17, 2008] Sir, At long last, US strategy in Afghanistan is wising up ("From poppies to pomegranates", January 14). Putting crop eradication on the back burner, a move aided by concern from the government in Kabul, the US is pursuing ways in which high-value produce can replace poppy crops. READ MORE

An Opium Alternative for Afghanistan
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student, and Shukria Dellawar, ICAR Masters Student
Posted: 09/25/07

[Published, Foreign Policy in Focus, September 25, 2007] Afghanistan’s president Hamid Karzai recently came out swinging at the West again, this time on the topic of opium eradication. Responding to the latest UN report showing an opium production increase of 17% in 2007, Karzai accused the international community of failing to implement a coherent counter-narcotics strategy in Afghanistan. READ MORE

Afghanistan's Reconciliation Process Knocked Off Track By Karzai's Immunity Deal
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student, and Shukria Dellawar, ICAR Masters Student
Posted: 06/06/07

[Published, Washington Examiner, April 3, 2007] President Hamid Karzai’s decision to provide immunity for all war crimes in the last 25 years now makes reconciliation utterly unviable. Backed by Afghanistan’s lower and upper houses with tacit United States support (fearful warlord ties could surface in court), the government stated that amnesty was a critical step towards reconciliation. In fact, the opposite is true. Immunity makes reconciliation impossible. READ MORE

Reducing Taliban Recruitment by Development
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
Posted: 07/11/07

[Published, Journal for International Peace Operations, July-August, 2007] United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ recent commentary that “things are slowly, cautiously headed in the right direction” in Afghanistan convinced very few. General Dan McNeill, commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, seconded the notion by saying “I would judge that we presently have the upper hand in what we're doing." There would be much to celebrate if that were true. READ MORE

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ICAR News Network Afghanistan FEATURED COMMENTARY McCain's Irresponsibly Rosy Outlook on Iraq, Afghanistan Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student Posted: 05/21/08 [Published, The Hill, May 21, 2008] That Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) cavalierly quips about first-term presidential accomplishments is not only deeply disconcerting, but also morally irresponsible (article, "McCain vows unprecedented transparency," May 15). Half-baked heroism has handily usurped the Straight Talk Express. The only unprecedented part of McCain's presidential pitch is the level of delusion embedded in his benchmarking. READ MORE RECENT COMMENTARY Poppy Crop Destruction Drives Farmers Towards Taliban Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student Posted: 04/15/08 [Published, Financial Times, April 12, 2008] Sir, With reference to your report, "US seeks Afghan heroin action" (April 5/6): the American proclivity for short-term, high-visibility gains precludes, yet again, sound strategy. Aerial spraying does not constitute an effective poppy eradication programme. READ MORE Afghan Domestic Opinion Neglected in Ashdown Plan Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student Posted: 02/15/08 [Published, Financial Times, February 15, 2008] Sir, Paddy Ashdown still does not get it. His three-pronged policy prescription for Afghanistan ("A strategy to save Afghanistan", February 13), while meritorious on many levels, nowhere implies consultation with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai. READ MORE Overdue Wisdom in Afghanistan Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student Posted: 01/17/08 [Published, Financial Times, January 17, 2008] Sir, At long last, US strategy in Afghanistan is wising up ("From poppies to pomegranates", January 14). Putting crop eradication on the back burner, a move aided by concern from the government in Kabul, the US is pursuing ways in which high-value produce can replace poppy crops. READ MORE An Opium Alternative for Afghanistan Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student, and Shukria Dellawar, ICAR Masters Student Posted: 09/25/07 [Published, Foreign Policy in Focus, September 25, 2007] Afghanistan’s president Hamid Karzai recently came out swinging at the West again, this time on the topic of opium eradication. Responding to the latest UN report showing an opium production increase of 17% in 2007, Karzai accused the international community of failing to implement a coherent counter-narcotics strategy in Afghanistan. READ MORE Afghanistan's Reconciliation Process Knocked Off Track By Karzai's Immunity Deal Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student, and Shukria Dellawar, ICAR Masters Student Posted: 06/06/07 [Published, Washington Examiner, April 3, 2007] President Hamid Karzai’s decision to provide immunity for all war crimes in the last 25 years now makes reconciliation utterly unviable. Backed by Afghanistan’s lower and upper houses with tacit United States support (fearful warlord ties could surface in court), the government stated that amnesty was a critical step towards reconciliation. In fact, the opposite is true. Immunity makes reconciliation impossible. READ MORE Reducing Taliban Recruitment by Development Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student Posted: 07/11/07 [Published, Journal for International Peace Operations, July-August, 2007] United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ recent commentary that “things are slowly, cautiously headed in the right direction” in Afghanistan convinced very few. General Dan McNeill, commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, seconded the notion by saying “I would judge that we presently have the upper hand in what we're doing." There would be much to celebrate if that were true. READ MORE News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Sri Lanka / Turkey /		About ICAR Student Information Prospective Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Career Services Academic Programs Library ICAR In The News Events Technology Resources ICAR Publications Point Of View Center Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution