Accession Number:

ADA516495

Title:

War in Afghanistan: Strategy, Military Operations, and Issues for Congress

Descriptive Note:

Congressional rept.

Corporate Author:

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Personal Author(s):

• Bowman, Steve
• Dale, Catherine

Report Date:

2010-02-25

Pagination or Media Count:

76.0

Abstract:

With a deteriorating security situation and no comprehensive political outcome yet in sight, most observers view the war in Afghanistan as open-ended. By early 2009, a growing number of Members of Congress, Administration officials, and outside experts had concluded that the effort - often called Americas other war required greater national attention. For the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan GIRoA, the war is both a struggle for survival and an effort to establish sustainable security and stability. For the United States, the war in Afghanistan concerns the security of Afghanistan and the region, including denying safe haven to terrorists and helping ensure a stable regional security balance. For regional states, including India and Russia as well as Afghanistans neighbors Pakistan and Iran, the war may have a powerful impact on the future balance of power and influence in the region. For individual members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO, the war may be about defeating terrorist networks, ensuring regional stability, proving themselves as contributing NATO members, andor demonstrating NATOs relevance in the 21st century.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY STRATEGY
• *MILITARY OPERATIONS
• *AFGHANISTAN
• WARFARE
• CONGRESS
• NATIONS
• UNITED STATES
• NETWORKS
• SECURITY
• RUSSIA
• SURVIVAL(PERSONNEL)
• IRAN
• TERRORISM
• BALANCE OF POWER
• STABILITY
• NATO
• TERRORISTS
• INDIA

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE