4 different positions concerning U.S. involvement

Position 1:

Author: David Kilcullen
Main argument: The U.S. should send more troops to Afghanistan

- The U.S. needs to hold off the Taliban and Al Qaeda to prevent another 9/11. U.S. and NATO forces have not been successful in holding off the Taliban in the past.
-The U.S. should remain in Afghanistan even if it results in loss of lives and high financial costs. They should address the tribal areas where the Taliban are hiding out. The U.S. should also strengthen Pakistan from terrorist threat.
-They should focus on protecting the Afghan people and develop thier security and living standards.
-There is no military solution.

Position 2:

Authors: Michael A. Cohen and Parag Khanna
Main argument: Shift the military effort to Pakistan

-U.S. should increase the number of troops in Pakistan. More Taliban members are located in Pakistan and Al Qaeda can never build effective infrastructure in Afghanistan.
-U.S. should continue drone attacks against Taliban leaders. The Pakistani's have better intelligence which may improve strikes.
-The U.S. should not focus on re-building Afghanistan and support Pakistani's armed forces. They should also focus on tribal areas.

Position 3:

Author: Tariq Ali
Main argument: Focus on regional negotiations instead of a military solution

-The U.S. should withdraw from Afghanistan to make peace, since there are many problems going on such as killing innocent civilians in airstrikes, which cause more Afghans to turn to the Taliban.
-Afghans don't like being occupied. Countries who've invaded Afghanistan in the past such as the Soviet Union have not been successful. The Taliban is growing which will cause more stress on the U.S. troops.
-The U.S. should withdraw and put in a regional pact to guarantee stability in Afghanistan. Other countries could help support the U.S. with this such as Pakistan, Iran, India, Russia and possibly China.

Position 4:

Author: George Will
Main Argument:Withdraw U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan

-The U.S. should withdraw because the War has gone on too long and the U.S. would need thousands of more troops to keep fighting.
-Job programs and loval government will cause people to move away from the Taliban.
-Afghanistan has never had an effective government because it is corrupt.
-Opium is a way many Afghans make money, and if opium production should be stopped, how are people going to make money and what is going to replace it. There are also 4,000 Marines in the Helman province of Afghanistan, which is not a lot of marines to stop opium production.