Comments on: Why I like the Afghan timetable http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/2009/12/03/why-i-like-the-afghan-timetable/ Continuing the Conversation Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:35:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Monica http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/2009/12/03/why-i-like-the-afghan-timetable/comment-page-1/#comment-367 Monica Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:57:25 +0000 http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/?p=854#comment-367 I wonder if setting a deadline and declaring it out to the world will not strengthen the enemies I wonder if setting a deadline and declaring it out to the world will not strengthen the enemies

]]> By: Tim Brynteson http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/2009/12/03/why-i-like-the-afghan-timetable/comment-page-1/#comment-363 Tim Brynteson Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:19:08 +0000 http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/?p=854#comment-363 "A goal without a deadline is a dream." I think Obama's timeline reflects tough executive decision-making. For all those who want immediate results, Obama has been a disappointment. As a business owner who runs things with an eye to the long-term, I am impressed by his pace, toughness and vision. “A goal without a deadline is a dream.” I think Obama’s timeline reflects tough executive decision-making. For all those who want immediate results, Obama has been a disappointment. As a business owner who runs things with an eye to the long-term, I am impressed by his pace, toughness and vision.

]]> By: John Philips http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/2009/12/03/why-i-like-the-afghan-timetable/comment-page-1/#comment-361 John Philips Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:36:48 +0000 http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/?p=854#comment-361 Limited nation building? I've often recommended your book on state-building, but I wonder if states can exist and flourish in today's world without a nationalism behind them. It will require more than an Afghan army to make the Afghan state permanent. It will require an Afghan nation. In the meantime I worry that we may have lost sight of the reason we went in in the first place. Capturing or killing Usama bin Ladin and eliminating al-Qa'ida should be more important than building an Afghan nation state. Limited nation building? I’ve often recommended your book on state-building, but I wonder if states can exist and flourish in today’s world without a nationalism behind them. It will require more than an Afghan army to make the Afghan state permanent. It will require an Afghan nation.

In the meantime I worry that we may have lost sight of the reason we went in in the first place. Capturing or killing Usama bin Ladin and eliminating al-Qa’ida should be more important than building an Afghan nation state.

]]> By: Adam Garfinkle http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/2009/12/03/why-i-like-the-afghan-timetable/comment-page-1/#comment-360 Adam Garfinkle Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:43:09 +0000 http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/contd/?p=854#comment-360 As I say in my annotation to the speech, the timetable decision was a genuinely tough call. It exemplifies the multiple audience problem. I just don't think the Afghan government is likely to be able to respond the way we hope they will; it is institutionally very weak, through neither exactly our fault or their fault. I think the enemy is probably more encouraged after the speech than before, but not dramatically so. But I also think the Pakistani elite is now less likely to take risks to do wjnat we want them to, and that may be more consequential in the longer run. As I say in my annotation to the speech, the timetable decision was a genuinely tough call. It exemplifies the multiple audience problem. I just don’t think the Afghan government is likely to be able to respond the way we hope they will; it is institutionally very weak, through neither exactly our fault or their fault. I think the enemy is probably more encouraged after the speech than before, but not dramatically so. But I also think the Pakistani elite is now less likely to take risks to do wjnat we want them to, and that may be more consequential in the longer run.

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