Blog war: is Afghanistan a safe haven for al Qaeda?

Over on the AfPak Channel and Stephen Walt’s blog, a fight is brewing over the U.S. recommitment of troops and resources to war in Afghanistan. Here’s the battle in a nutshell. The Obama administration — despite questions raised by eminences grises on Afghanistan, such as Harvard’s Rory Stewart — has chosen to double-down. Walt argues ...

Over on the AfPak Channel and Stephen Walt's blog, a fight is brewing over the U.S. recommitment of troops and resources to war in Afghanistan.

Over on the AfPak Channel and Stephen Walt’s blog, a fight is brewing over the U.S. recommitment of troops and resources to war in Afghanistan.

Here’s the battle in a nutshell. The Obama administration — despite questions raised by eminences grises on Afghanistan, such as Harvard’s Rory Stewart — has chosen to double-down.

Walt argues that Obama’s contention –"left unchecked the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al Qaeda would plot to kill more Americans" — is a myth. Therefore, realists should recognize it hardly justifies remaining in Afghanistan.

Not so, argue the AfPak Channel’s Peter Bergen and NYU fellow Paul Cruickshank — the Taliban do and would provide cover for al Qaeda, justifying the U.S. presence. (Here’s a one-time tag for responses from within FP.)

We’ll post more replies from other bloggers as they come in — here’s Windy security reporter Spencer Ackerman, for starters. If you’ve blogged it, leave it in comments!

Annie Lowrey is assistant editor at FP.

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.