afghan United States Transfers 12 Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Afghanistan, Yemen and the Somaliland Region By www.justice.gov Published On :: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:33:55 EST These transfers were carried out under individual arrangements between the United States and relevant foreign authorities to ensure the transfers took place under appropriate security measures. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Two Individuals Charged with Murder and Other Offenses Related to Shooting Death of Two Afghan Nationals in Kabul, Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:08:33 EST Justin Cannon, 27, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Christopher Drotleff, 29, of Virginia Beach, Va., have been charged with crimes including second-degree murder, attempted murder and firearms offenses while working as contractors for the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan. Cannon and Drotleff were charged under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Abetting the Solicitation of a Kickback in Connection with a Government Contract in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:31:47 EST Ryan Scott McMonigle, of Ponca City, Okla., pleaded guilty for his role in a scheme to solicit a kickback in connection with the award of a private security services subcontract to protect U.S. government personnel and contractors in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Two Military Officials, Two Contractors and Contracting Company Indicted for Alleged Roles in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Related to DOD Contract in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 16:52:51 EDT Two U.S. military officials deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, two Department of Defense (DOD) contractors and a contracting company were charged late yesterday for their roles in an alleged bribery and money laundering scheme related to the award of a DOD trucking services contract in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Two Afghan Companies Plead Guilty to Bribing U.S. Officials and Agree to Pay $4.4 Million in Fines By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:54:14 EDT Two Afghan trucking companies pleaded guilty today to paying multiple bribes to U.S. public officials in exchange for unfair advantages in procuring contract work at the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Attorney General Travels to Afghanistan for Meetings with U.S., Afghan Officials By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:55:06 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan today for meetings with Afghan and U.S. officials. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Statement of the Attorney General Following Meetings with Afghan President Karzai, Minister of Justice, Attorney General By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:56:02 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Minister of Justice Habibullah Ghalib and Attorney General Mohammad Ishaq Aloko today to discuss the department’s ongoing efforts to foster the rule of law in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Bribery in Afghanistan Fuel Theft Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:12:08 EDT A former U.S. Army Sergeant pleaded guilty today to bribery in connection with a fuel theft scheme to solicit more than $400,000 in bribes from a government contractor in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Charged with Bribery and Related Crimes in Afghanistan Fuel Theft Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:16:44 EDT A former U.S. Army staff sergeant was charged today with bribery, theft of government property and conspiracy in connection with a fuel theft scheme to solicit approximately $400,000 in bribes from a government contractor in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Pakistani Taliban Leader Charged in Terrorism Conspiracy Resulting in Murder of Seven Americans in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 12:36:59 EDT Hakimullah Mehsud, the self-proclaimed emir of the Pakistani Taliban, has been charged by criminal complaint for his alleged involvement in the murder of seven American citizens on Dec. 30, 2009, at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Bribery in Afghanistan Fuel Theft Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:11:54 EDT A former U.S. Army staff sergeant pleaded guilty today to bribery in connection with a fuel theft scheme to solicit more than $400,000 in bribes from a government contractor in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan U.S. Army Contractor Charged with Assault in Relation to Stabbing at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Jan 2011 17:48:24 EST A U.S. Army contractor was indicted today for stabbing another individual with a knife at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Bribery in Afghanistan Fuel Theft Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 18:35:30 EST A former U.S. Army staff sergeant was sentenced today to 90 months in prison in connection with a fuel theft scheme to solicit more than $400,000 in bribes from a government contractor in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Two Contractors Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter for Death of Afghan National in Kabul, Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:54:54 EST A federal jury in Norfolk, Va., today convicted Justin Cannon, 27, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Christopher Drotleff, 29, of Virginia Beach, Va., of involuntary manslaughter while working as contractors for the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan U.S. Army Contractor Pleads Guilty to Assault in Relation to Stabbing at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:26:06 EDT Sean T. Brehm, 44, of Capetown, South Africa, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Contractor Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Death of Afghan National in Kabul, Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:20:30 EDT Christopher Drotleff, 31, of Virginia Beach, Va., was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for his role in shooting and killing an Afghan national while on an unauthorized convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 5, 2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Contractor Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Death of Afghan National in Kabul, Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:48:43 EDT Justin Cannon, 29, of Corpus Christi, Texas, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in shooting and killing an Afghan national while on an unauthorized convoy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 5, 2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan U.S. Army Contractor Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Stabbing at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 8 Jul 2011 12:07:45 EDT A U.S. Army contractor was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for stabbing another individual with a knife at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Australian Man Pleads Guilty to Accepting Payment as Reward for Steering $15 Million in U.S.-Funded Contracts in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 16:16:47 EDT Neil P. Campbell, 61, of Queensland, Australia, pleaded guilty today before Judge Rosemary M. Collyer in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of accepting an illegal payment as an agent of an organization receiving federal funds. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Receiving Bribes in Return for the Award of Contracts at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 19:09:52 EST Patrick W. Boyd, 44, of Gainesville, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly of the Northern District of Illinois. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former US Army National Guard Captain Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Receiving Bribes at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:40:33 EST John Mihalczo, 47, of Homosassa, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly of the Northern District of Illinois. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former Army National Guard Major Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Receiving Bribes at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:11:58 EST A former Major in the U.S. Army National Guard who was deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for receiving bribes from military contractors in exchange for fraudulently verifying the receipt of concrete bunkers and barriers that were never received. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Maersk Line to Pay Us $31.9 Million to Resolve False Claims Allegations for Inflated Shipping Costs to Military in Afghanistan and Iraq By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 16:21:30 EST Maersk Line Limited has agreed to pay the government $31.9 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to the United States in connection with contracts to transport cargo in shipping containers to support U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan US Army Sergeant Major and Former Sergeant Sentenced to Prison for Bribery Conspiracy at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:36:36 EST Former Sergeant Charles O. Finch, 45, of Milalani, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi in the District of Hawaii to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution to the Department of Defense. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Two Members of the U.S. Army Plead Guilty to Bribery Charges Related to Fuel Theft in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:51:37 EDT Sergeant Regionald Dixon, 30, pleaded guilty yesterday in the District of Hawaii to one count of bribery and Specialist Larry Emmons, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery on June 8, 2012. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Theft of Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 19:07:36 EDT U.S. Army Sergeant Christopher Weaver pleaded guilty today to bribery charges for his role in the theft of fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former Employee of Army Contractor Pleads Guilty to Bribery for Facilitating Theft by Trucking Contractor in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:54:47 EDT Diyana Montes, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg in the District of Columbia to one count of bribery. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Louisiana Man Arrested on Charges of Receiving Illegal Kickbacks in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:17:12 EST The former vice president of a construction company doing work in Afghanistan was arrested today on allegations of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gratuities from subcontractors during his employment in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former Army Contractor Employee and Two Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeants Plead Guilty to Roles in Afghanistan Contract Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:28:57 EST A former employee of a U.S. Army contractor and two former U.S. Army staff sergeants pleaded guilty today for their roles in a fraud scheme involving a contract to provide armored vehicles to the U.S. Military in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former Department of Defense Contractor Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Smuggling Kickback Proceeds from Afghanistan to the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:01:14 EST A former employee of a Department of Defense contracting company at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, was sentenced today to serve 30 months in prison for attempting to smuggle $150,000 in kickback proceeds he received for steering U.S. government subcontracts to an Afghan company. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former Army Soldier Indicted on Bribery and Related Charges for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:05:57 EDT Stephanie Charboneau, aka Stephanie Shankel, 34, of Fountain, Colo., formerly a Specialist in the United States Army, has been indicted in the District of Colorado for her alleged role in assisting the thefts of fuel in Afghanistan and laundering the proceeds of crime. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Army Soldier Pleads Guilty in Kentucky to Bribery Charges for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 16:43:31 EDT U.S. Army Sergeant Kevin Bilal Abdullah pleaded guilty today to bribery charges for his role in the theft of fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Army Soldier Pleads Guilty in Denver to Bribery Charges for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 16:02:40 EDT Former U.S. Army Specialist Stephanie Charboneau pleaded guilty today to bribery charges for her role in the theft of fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Colorado Security Contractor Resolves Overcharging Allegations Related to Its Work in Iraq and Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:06:57 EDT The Macalan Group Inc., formerly known as NEK Advanced Securities Inc. (NEK), a security contractor headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., has agreed to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims in connection with a contract with the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Army Soldier and Civilian Sentenced on Bribery Charges for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:59:24 EDT A former U.S. Army Sergeant and a co-conspirator have been sentenced in the District of Colorado for their roles in stealing fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty, Afghanistan, Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former Defense Contractor Employee and Wife Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Millions in Scheme Involving Supplies to Afghan National Army By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 17:13:37 EST Keith Johnson, 46, and his wife, Angela Johnson, 44, of Maryville, Tenn., pleaded guilty today to their roles in a $9.7 million procurement fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Army Soldier Sentenced on Bribery Charges for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 15:25:38 EST A former U.S. Army soldier was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison for her role in stealing fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty, Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan MPRI Inc. Agrees to Pay $3.2 Million for False Labor Charges on Contract to Support Army in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:21:09 EST MPRI Inc. has agreed to pay $3.2 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false labor charges on a contract to support the Army in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Independent Contractor in Afghanistan Pleads Guilty for His Role in Offering $54,000 in Bribes to a U.S. Government Official By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:15:11 EST Earlier today at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., Akbar Ahmad Sherzai, 49, of Centreville, Va., an independent contractor for a trucking company operating in Afghanistan that was responsible for delivering fuel to U.S. Army installations, pleaded guilty to his role in offering a U.S. Army serviceman $54,000 in bribes to falsify documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Army Soldier Pleads Guilty for Role in Stealing Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:18:12 EST U.S. Army Sergeant Albert Kelly III, 28, of Fort Knox, Ky., pleaded guilty today to theft charges for his role in the theft of fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Army Soldier Sentenced for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:08:57 EDT A U.S. Army soldier was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in prison for his role in stealing fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Fenty near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Army Soldier Sentenced for Facilitating Thefts of Fuel in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 22 May 2014 15:42:13 EDT United States Army soldier Albert Kelly III of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison for his role in stealing fuel at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Two Individuals Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Launder Bribes Received in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 28 May 2014 16:46:13 EDT Two individuals have pleaded guilty for their roles in a scheme to launder approximately $250,000 in bribes received from Afghan contractors in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Former Employee of a U.S. Construction Company Working in Afghanistan Pleads Guilty to Receiving Illegal Kickback By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:39:33 EDT A former project manager of a U.S. construction company working on U.S. government contracts in Afghanistan who solicited a $60,000 kickback from an Afghan subcontractor pleaded guilty today in federal court in Tucson, Arizona Full Article OPA Press Releases
afghan Lessons for Leaders: What Afghanistan Taught Russian and Soviet Strategists By www.belfercenter.org Published On :: Feb 28, 2019 Feb 28, 2019The following is a selection of military-political lessons gleaned mostly from the recollections of Soviet strategists who were involved in making and executing the fateful decision to send troops to Afghanistan, as well as from writings by some of post-Soviet Russia’s prominent military analysts. Where possible, the author made an effort to relay these strategists’ analysis of the failures and successes of the intervention because he felt that such assessments, based on first-hand experience, are not always given their due in English-language literature on the subject. Full Article
afghan On April 9, 2020, Vanda Felbab-Brown discussed “Is the War in Afghanistan Really Over?” via teleconference with the Pacific Council on International Policy. By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 20:35:36 +0000 On April 9, 2020, Vanda Felbab-Brown discussed "Is the War in Afghanistan Really Over?" via teleconference with the Pacific Council on International Policy. Full Article
afghan On April 30, 2020, Vanda Felbab-Brown participated in an event with the Middle East Institute on the “Pandemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan: The Potential Social, Political and Economic Impact.” By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 20:51:33 +0000 On April 30, 2020, Vanda Felbab-Brown participated in an event with the Middle East Institute on the "Pandemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan: The Potential Social, Political and Economic Impact." Full Article
afghan On April 30, 2020, Vanda Felbab-Brown participated in an event with the Middle East Institute on the “Pandemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan: The Potential Social, Political and Economic Impact.” By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 20:51:33 +0000 On April 30, 2020, Vanda Felbab-Brown participated in an event with the Middle East Institute on the "Pandemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan: The Potential Social, Political and Economic Impact." Full Article
afghan The case for reinvigorating U.S. efforts in Afghanistan By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 21 Jan 2016 15:40:00 -0500 President Obama is right to keep at it in Afghanistan, argues a new policy brief by Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow and director of research for the Brookings Foreign Policy program. Some have criticized the president’s decision to maintain a significant troop presence there (5,500 troops), instead of following through on the planned military withdrawal. But Afghanistan remains very important to American security, O’Hanlon contends, and the situation in the country is far from hopeless in spite of recent setbacks. We should reinvigorate American efforts in Afghanistan, he argues—not returning to levels seen in previous years, but ramping up somewhat from our current posture. O’Hanlon calls Obama’s resolve in Afghanistan commendable, but writes that he and his administration are still making mistakes on U.S. policy toward the war-torn country. He advises that Washington make two specific changes to its military strategy in Afghanistan: Allow U.S. and NATO airpower to target the Islamic State and the Taliban (currently, they can only fight those groups if directly attacked). The narrow rules of engagement constraining foreign forces were intended to push Afghan armed forces to defend their territory themselves. While a worthy goal, O’Hanlon says, these rules often prevent us from attacking ISIS (though the targeting strategy towards the group may be changing) as well as the Taliban. They also impose unrealistically high demands on Afghan forces and make too fine a distinction between an array of aligned extremist groups operating in the country. Expand U.S. force presence from the current 5,500 troops to around 12,000 for a few years. In O’Hanlon’s opinion, our current numbers are not enough to work with fielded Afghan forces, and skimping on ground forces has contributed to security challenges in places like Helmand, for instance, which experienced new setbacks in 2015. More broadly, leaders in Washington and Brussels should stress the value of a long-term NATO-Afghanistan partnership, rather than emphasizing an exit strategy. This will signal Western resolve to the Taliban and other groups. While the next commander in chief should set the United States on a gradual path toward downsizing American troops in Afghanistan, he believes it would be a mistake for Obama to do so in the short term. The long haul O’Hanlon also argues that the United States needs to take a longer-term perspective on key political and economic issues in Afghanistan. On the economic front, there seems to be little thinking about an agricultural development plan for Afghanistan, associated infrastructure support, and land reform, among other challenges. On the political front, conversations often tend to focus on shorter-term issues like organizing parliamentary elections, reforming the Independent Election Commission, or modifying the current power-sharing arrangement. In the process, conversations about foundational political strategy focusing on Afghan institutions and the health of its democracy get short-changed. The parliament is in need of reforms, for instance, as is the political party system (which should encourage Afghans to group around ideas and policy platforms, rather than tribes and patronage networks). O’Hanlon concludes that the situation in Afghanistan today, while fraught, is understandable given the Taliban’s resilience and NATO’s gradual withdrawal of 125,000 troops. We should not be despondent, he writes—rather, we should identify specific strategies that can help improve the situation. At the end of the day, Afghans must make the big decisions about the future of their country. But as long as the United States and its partners are still providing tremendous resources—and as long as security threats emanating from South Asia continue to threaten the United States—leaders in Washington should use their influence wisely. Authors Anna Newby Full Article
afghan Keep troop levels steady in Afghanistan By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 06 Jun 2016 16:33:00 -0400 Editors’ Note: For the United States to succeed in its mission in Afghanistan, it is essential that the Obama administration sustain the current level of U.S. forces there. Recognizing this, John Allen spearheaded a move to ask President Obama to do so, in the following open letter to which former leaders from the military and diplomatic corps signed on. This letter originally appeared on The National Interest. Washington, DC June 3, 2016 Dear Mr. President, We are writing, as Americans committed to the success of our country’s Afghanistan mission, to urge that you sustain the current level of U.S. forces in Afghanistan through the remainder of your term. Aid levels and diplomatic energies should similarly be preserved without reduction. Unless emergency conditions require consideration of a modest increase, we would strongly favor a freeze at the level of roughly ten thousand U.S. troops through January 20. This approach would also allow your successor to assess the situation for herself or himself and make further adjustments accordingly. The broader Middle East is roiled in conflicts that pit moderate and progressive forces against those of violent extremists. As we saw on 9/11 and in the recent attacks in Paris, San Bernardino and Brussels, the problems of the Middle East do not remain contained within the Middle East. Afghanistan is the place where Al Qaeda and affiliates first planned the 9/11 attacks and a place where they continue to operate—and is thus important in the broader effort to defeat the global extremist movement today. It is a place where Al Qaeda and ISIS still have modest footprints that could be expanded if a security vacuum developed. If Afghanistan were to revert to the chaos of the 1990s, millions of refugees would again seek shelter in neighboring countries and overseas, dramatically intensifying the severe challenges already faced in Europe and beyond. In the long-term struggle against violent extremists, the United States above all needs allies—not only to fight a common enemy, but also to create a positive vision for the peoples of the region. Today, aided by the bipartisan policies of the last two U.S. administrations, Afghans have established a democratic political system, moderately effective security forces, a much improved quality of life, and a vibrant civil society. Afghans are fighting and dying for their country, and in our common battle against extremism, with more than five thousand police and soldiers laying down their lives annually each of the past several years. Afghanistan is a place where we should wish to consolidate and lock down our provisional progress into something of a more lasting asset. It is a Muslim country where most of the public as well as government officials want our help and value our friendship. Afghanistan is also a crucial partner in helping to shape the calculations of Pakistan, which has been an incubator of violent extremism but which might gradually be induced to cooperate in building a regional order conducive to peace and economic progress. You have rightly prioritized Afghanistan throughout your presidency and have successfully achieved several crucial objectives. You have prevented the reemergence of a terrorist sanctuary in Afghanistan, from which attacks on Americans might emanate. You have helped Afghanistan develop security forces so that it is principally Afghans who are defending Afghanistan, thereby enabling a 90 percent reduction in the U.S. military presence relative to its peak (and a two-thirds reduction relative to what you inherited in 2009). You have established a long-term strategic partnership with Afghanistan that can address common threats from extremist groups based in Pakistan. To our minds, these are significant accomplishments. They have established much of the foundation for pursuing the ultimate goals of stabilizing Afghanistan and defeating extremism in the region. To be sure, there have been significant frustrations in Afghanistan along the way. All of us have lived and experienced a number of them. All of us have, like you, deeply lamented the loss of each American life that has been sacrificed there in pursuit of our mission objectives and our national security. Yet, though the situation is fraught, we have reason to be confident. President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah, and many brave Afghans are working hard to rebuild their country. NATO allies and other partners remain committed to the mission. The level of support we must provide to enable continued progress is much lower than in earlier periods. Our group is taking full stock of the situation in Afghanistan and will make a broader range of recommendations available to the next U.S. president on the interrelated subjects of governance, the economy, and security. But as an interim measure, and with the NATO Warsaw summit as well as other key decision points still looming on your watch, we urge you to maintain the current U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan through the end of your term. Based on longstanding experience in the country as well as recent trips to Afghanistan by some of us, this step would be seen as a positive reaffirmation of America’s commitment to that nation, its people and its security. It would likely have helpful effects on refugee flows, the confidence of the Taliban, the morale of the Afghan military and Afghan people, the state of the Afghan economy and perhaps even the strategic assessments of some in Pakistan. Conversely, we are convinced that a reduction of our military and financial support over the coming months would negatively affect each of these. Sincerely, Ambassadors to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker James Cunningham Robert Finn Zalmay Khalilzad Ronald Neumann Military Commanders in Afghanistan John Allen David Barno John Campbell Stanley McChrystal David Petraeus Special Representatives for Afghanistan/Pakistan James Dobbins Daniel Feldman Marc Grossman Authors John R. Allenother former senior U.S. officials Publication: The National Interest Full Article