http://rusi.org/ web@rusi.org en-us Copyright 2012 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N4F16A2AD3421F/ Both India and the UK will likely make long-term funding commitments in Afghanistan beyond 2014, with the UK alone contributing some US$150 million annually for development and a further US$100 million for supporting the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) after the NATO drawdown, according to a new report published by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). 2012-01-18 10:46:41 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4F04331DB4F7A/ The Taliban’s establishment of an office in Doha suggests a progression towards the transition long sought after by the United States. The choice of Qatar further cements the Gulf state’s ambition to be a diplomatic powerhouse. 2012-01-04 11:08:42 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4EEB5672830A1/ RUSI Director General Professor Michael Clarke offers his defence and international security perspectives for the year ahead. 2011-12-16 14:34:02 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4EEA41041E169/ If this year brought us an earthquake, then 2012 will be a year of aftershocks and transitions. Speculate as we might, we must still prepare for the predictable but watch for the surprises. 2011-12-15 18:56:54 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4EE8B2E420D7F/ With President Obama’s decision to reduce troop numbers throughout 2012 in Afghanistan, there will be an urgent emphasis to support Afghan forces fully take charge of their national security. 2011-12-14 14:33:21 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4E8EE557E7BA7/ Review of Afghanistan: How the West Lost Its Way; Cables from Kabul: The Inside Story of the West’s Afghanistan Campaign; and Losing Small Wars: British Military Failure in Iraq and Afghanistan 2011-10-07 12:41:13 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4E7990E607992/ Burhanuddin Rabbani has been killed. The first post-Soviet Afghan president was controversial throughout the last twenty years. His death is the latest in a series of setbacks that could pave the way to a deeper civil war. 2011-09-21 08:28:12 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4E36862355151/ Economic assistance after war must do more to prioritise local businesses and promote enterprise 2011-08-01 11:55:36 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4E36862355151/ Economic assistance after war must do more to prioritise local businesses and promote enterprise 2011-08-01 11:55:36 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4E3684F6260B4/ Locally owned and implemented service delivery in Sangin has created an innovative approach to stabilisation 2011-08-01 11:50:33 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4E36835AE7816/ The UK deployment to Helmand in 2006 has proven highly controversial. But was the decision taken properly? 2011-08-01 11:43:41 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A4E31696D1A77B/ Mission accomplished for the US president, but what will this mean for the US election in 2012? 2011-07-28 14:52:39 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4E302C20D56EF/ Following a recent visit to Afghanistan, RUSI's Research Director assesses the impact of withdrawal from Afghanistan. 2011-07-27 16:23:09 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4E302EEB3525C/ Speaking to RUSI.org, the Chief of the United States Army and nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, discusses the milestones for success in Afghanistan. 2011-06-24 16:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4DE78757649BE/ Community defence needs strong governance institutions and local support 2011-06-02 13:52:07 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4DE7868DB06BC/ Training and mentoring host-nation forces is an effective way to generate sufficient numbers for stabilisation 2011-06-02 13:48:59 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A4DE5156511284/ Af-Pak was hailed as a radical but effective change to US policy. But does it successfully take into account the cultural differences in the region? 2011-05-31 17:20:55 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A4DE50C298B430/ America's most wanted man has been killed just months before the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Will his legacy live on? 2011-05-31 16:45:57 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4DAEB5DD10A7F/ Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have prompted widespread criticism, despite having proven their value in a variety of contexts. In many cases, their use may be the most logical - and safest - option. 2011-04-20 11:35:45 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4DAEA535E411E/ Art can help convey otherwise inexpressible ideas and emotions. On paper, canvas, and the stage, we are repeatedly confronted with images of ourselves and the world we live in - and we cannot help but respond to them. 2011-04-20 10:37:29 http://rusi.org/publications/defencesystems/ref:A4D8A2211A6C0B/ David Hayes and Dr Stuart Dowling examine the potential of the electromagnetic pulse to provide the breakthrough in countering the insurgents’ main weapon 2011-03-23 16:38:47 http://rusi.org/publications/defencesystems/ref:A4D8A1FEB29106/ Mark Phillips reviews the impact that the RAPTOR sensor pod is making in Afghanistan, and how it should be factored into future UK Combat-ISTAR capability 2011-03-23 16:29:32 http://rusi.org/publications/defencesystems/ref:A4D8A1DDE5FFCD/ Jessie-May Brown and Pincher Martin reveal how Niteworks is pushing the boundaries of coalition network-enabled capabilities 2011-03-23 16:20:48 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4D5BAC7E6D62F/ A new documentary vividly displays the lives of soldiers in conflict 2011-02-16 10:52:49 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4D5BAA6213A8E/ Prolonged military commitments and financial austerity call into question Britain’s participation in the age of intervention 2011-02-16 10:43:49 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4D08ECEAB2D06/ Europe defeated, Beijing defiant: Can we expect anything new in 2011? 2010-12-15 16:30:26 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4CFE250438F60/ NATO must take a more pragmatic view of Afghan power structures 2010-12-07 12:13:58 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4CFE24241D9BD/ NATO is not winning in Afghanistan: a new approach is necessary 2010-12-07 12:10:15 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4CF779DA0AD09/ The Ashes represents one of the greatest sporting rivalries in the world. The shared Imperial history between England and Australia creates a political undercurrent that adds a certain frisson to the contest. This represents cricket's unique ability to transcend the boundaries of the field and influence a nation's politics and culture. 2010-12-02 10:50:56 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A4CED58C02B41E/ The view that Obama is stumbling over the subject of India is wrong 2010-11-24 18:26:32 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4CC0291D5A362/ The thwarted ‘Mumbai-style’ attacks at key European cities underline the need for even greater European counter-terrorism co-operation. 2010-10-14 12:00:00 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4CB2D3D26F196/ Stephen Biddle, Roger Hertog Senior Fellow for Defense Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses whether the costs of the war in Afghanistan outweigh the benefits for the West and highlights that maybe the situation in Pakistan is a much greater security risk. 2010-10-01 10:00:00 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4C9737E9AA053/ With the future stability of Afghanistan in question, does the answer lie in the incorporation of more female troops? 2010-09-20 11:38:10 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4C6E4F8DACBE9/ Success in Afghanistan requires complementary counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency on both sides of the Durand Line 2010-08-22 23:45:00 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4C4FFEDD32F02/ While Wikileaks’ widely-publicised military leak has turned the media spotlight onto Pakistan, the country’s involvement in Afghanistan will come as little surprise to coalition troops. The unfavourable timing of the leak, however, together with its substantial effect on public support for the war, means that Washington must act now to bring Pakistan back onto side. 2010-07-28 10:56:49 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4C4EA914DD54F/ The leaking of 90,000 combat reports from Afghanistan reveals a familiar but depressing picture of operations in Afghanistan. Yet their revelation comes at a critical juncture for policymakers. 2010-07-27 10:38:53 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4C4DE4346B2D8/ How significant is the release of the Afghan war documents on WikiLeaks? RUSI Director Michael Clarke gives his assessment 2010-07-26 20:40:54 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N4C3493C082F79/ The handover of operations in Sangin to US forces is not in any sense a withdrawal or a defeat for British troops - but it is a political hot potato that raises the 'Basra spectre' over British operations in Afghanistan. says Michael Clarke 2010-07-07 15:50:49 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4C2D8CA0A49D0/ The sacking of General Stanley McChrystal has highlighted the widening fault-lines of the Afghanistan war. Rising casualties, weakening public resolve, faltering counterinsurgency and political stagnation have all compounded a series of errors made in the years after the initial invasion of Afghanistan. The war is being lost, and the contours of the endgame are emerging. 2010-07-02 07:54:08 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4C231770B43C9/ While the sombre landmark of the three hundredth British death was passed this week, and the Commander has been summarily replaced, politicians and military leaders reveal divisions at the top that make everyone wonder whether the campaign is winnable. 2010-06-24 09:31:32 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N4C223C1F023C7/ British operations in Helmand Province are showing signs of significant progress, thanks partly to the success of the counter insurgency strategy and the leadership of General Stanley McChrystal, argues a new report from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). 2010-06-23 17:55:12 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4C21D607E6CD3/ The British military presses ahead with expensive projects that may be of relatively little value in future wars. The UK needs to carefully consider what is needed in-theatre today, and on the battlefield tomorrow 2010-06-23 10:39:25 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N4C0F6DC2C2608/ General David H. Petraeus, the current Commander of US Central Command spoke at RUSI's Land Warfare Conference on 9 June 2010. General Petraeus spoke of the enduring relationship between British and US Armed forces. 2010-06-09 11:45:10 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:N4BCF8F0080586/ Part Two: Will the next government and the British public have the staying power to complete the job in Afghanistan? Ahead of the British elections on 6 May, senior former military leaders give their assessment of the issues facing defence and security. General Sir Mike Jackson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge and Rear Admiral Chris Parry take part in the interview. 2010-04-20 08:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A4BA0C820117FD/ Canada is a lead nation in ISAF, but domestic appetite for the mission is waning. Can a reframing of Canada's traditional peacekeeping role sustain its involvement? 2010-03-17 12:16:43 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B8E454684939/ The arrest of the Afghan Taliban leader has been heralded as a significant development in Washington's effort to disrupt the insurgency and a sign that Islamabad is abandoning the Taliban. But a closer look at the evidence demonstrates that his capture indicates neither a Pakistani break with militancy, nor an easing of the path ahead for the war in Afghanistan. 2010-03-03 11:18:34 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4B865F54E917E/ Dominic Medley, who has worked in media development and journalism training in Afghanistan since 2002, reports on the flourishing Afghan media sector 2010-02-25 11:30:31 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4B865CE45A98E/ India is playing a key role in the Afghan conflict. But its animosity with Pakistan threatens this contribution, and the US has been unable to choose a long-term partner 2010-02-25 11:20:06 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B7A986340AD7/ Operation Moshtarak is the most important campaign in Afghanistan since the invasion in 2001. Its success, however, will not be measured in military terms but in terms of public opinion, both in Helmand and the rest of Afghanistan and in the Coalition's domestic electorate. 2010-02-16 13:25:09 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B4B128C9D0FC/ The results of an annual poll of Afghan opinion show a surprising degree of optimism for their country's future direction. But we should not rest on our laurels. A great deal could go wrong before the favourable perceptions can be seen to have turned a genuine corner in Afghanistan. 2010-01-11 12:05:02 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B4124C0DCB72/ As the effects of the global recession begins to be felt, this year will emphasise some new political realities in the international order. They will form the backdrop to the return of some traditional security issues. 2010-01-03 23:18:18 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4B28EE82D7814/ Building up the Afghan Army is a crucial element of NATO stabilisation efforts. But this approach may be built on unsound assumptions 2009-12-16 14:28:20 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B177FBEE2288/ President Obama made clear his intention to hand over full security responsibility in some areas to Afghan National Security Forces. All easier said than done, the essence of the problem lies in daunting numbers and even more daunting issues of quality and loyalty. 2009-12-03 09:09:26 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B13E9028766D/ What General McChrystal asked for was five more brigades - five more brigades that he can use in Kandahar, in Helmand, a couple in the north east and a training brigade. So if he gets those five brigades then he's got backing for his plan whatever the final number turns out to be 2009-11-30 15:52:32 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B12E11351443/ As President Obama announces his plans for Afghanistan, there is palpable consensus within the international community that the whole enterprise is now staring strategic defeat in the face. The next eighteen months represents the last good opportunity to put right the neglect and the mistakes of the last eight years and avert a worse crisis for us all. 2009-11-29 21:04:02 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4B14E068758F1/ British success in Malaya appeared to show how an insurgency could be defeated by Western-led forces. The campaign was plundered for ‘lessons’ – for Vietnam in particular. The latter’s failure, however, led critics to argue that Malaya was a special case which did not offer transferable ‘lessons’. An analysis of the general principles underlying British success in Malaya can nevertheless still provide important policy implications for Afghanistan. 2009-11-28 09:00:00 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N4B0D427DD18DD/ The international community must abandon an 'obsession' with quantity over quality in order to combat corruption within the ranks of the Afghan National Police, according to a report published by the Royal United Services Institute. 2009-11-25 14:45:59 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A4B0BC7AAF396B/ Washington's newest shorthand ‘AfPak’ illustrates the regional dimension to the current conflict, but alienates friends and foes on both sides of the border 2009-11-24 11:46:54 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4AEB20B8D5A85/ British units increasingly operate alongside Afghan forces in theatre. Adopting the local uniform has some compelling advantages 2009-10-30 17:22:31 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4AEB1D7656217/ Winter operations present tough challenges, but also great opportunities. ISAF should seize them 2009-10-30 17:10:31 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4AEB15C637534/ The relationship between war and medicine is a complex one. Here, the Surgeon General of the Defence Medical services offers his view 2009-10-30 16:36:45 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4AEB148D13F17/ New evidence suggests that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was never intended to be one 2009-10-30 16:31:22 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4AEB10017D05E/ In an increasingly cross-border campaign, it is vital to understand the organisation and makeup of the Pakistani Taliban 2009-10-30 16:11:06 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:A4AEB04E7DECEF/ Drone air strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan have proven a contraversial tactic in the War on Terror. But they may have further complications back in the UK 2009-10-30 15:24:54 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4AD728C432459/ General McChrystal's recent report paints a bleak picture of the Afghan war, but does it fully acknowledge the difference between insurgent activity and insurgent success? Attacks have indeed increased, but to what effect? ISAF's biggest problems are a failure to engage with an increasingly sceptical public, and the scale of corruption within the Afghan government. 2009-10-15 14:55:07 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4ACC9E5A56721/ Is Britain’s strategic posture as a global actor sustainable in the economic crisis and set against failing public support for the mission in Afghanistan? 2009-10-07 15:06:39 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4AA8E80F56BF4/ The recent elections in Afghanistan have been subject to widespread criticism. In the midst of the debate over how to react, the author assesses the implications for Afghanistan and the options for moving forward, based on his experience as an analyst and observer before and during the polls. 2009-09-10 12:52:24 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4AA67636AB9B9/ In the midst of abundant criticism of the Afghan democratic system and the perceived illegitimacy of the recent election, Ershad Ahmadi considers the symbolic and logistical successes made by the country. Amidst ‘myriad challenges’ facing Afghanistan, the international community must come to terms with its system and start looking forward. 2009-09-08 16:25:29 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4A8BD851388ED/ Against the background of a failing counter-insurgency campaign based catastrophically around lethal force, the question of legitimacy following the elections is the key to avoiding failure. 2009-08-19 11:50:56 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4A8AB8E10E751/ It is unlikely that the forthcoming presidential election in Afghanistan will have an immediate impact on the ground. However the political direction of Afghanistan and the determination of NATO to maintain stability will be of crucial significance for the long-term security of South Asia and the rivalry between India and Pakistan. 2009-08-18 15:22:52 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4A6D7D483D5C3/ A new policy of ‘Double or Quits’ has recently emerged for Afghanistan. Following a surge in troop levels both the US and UK political leadership hope for a rapid improvement in the security situation, but without this calls for a reassessment of priorities will grow louder. There is, however, the opportunity for a ‘third way’, modelled on the British experience in Basra after 2006, where a reduced footprint provided the opportunity for the success of local Iraqi forces. 2009-07-27 11:34:54 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4A60CA6E87B77/ With the deaths of fifteen UK troops in Afghanistan over the past few weeks, Britain is forced to re-think its strategy for strengthening the country. 2009-07-17 20:12:42 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4A5AFE9666718/ While greater numbers of helicopters and armoured vehicles are needed in Afghanistan, what British soldiers at the front want most are reinforcements to make operational success more certain and the political benefits more long-lasting. 2009-07-13 10:32:38 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A4A573F14A1AC0/ Both Pakistan and the United States view good relations as crucial. But despite an alliance which goes back over half a century, mutual distrust and a feeling of suspicion still linger. 2009-07-10 14:16:44 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N4A23C0D1B9C83/ Citations of RUSI expert analysis and events in the global media: May 2009 2009-05-31 12:00:00 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C49FCE0A01E12E/ Troops need to believe that they risk their lives for things that are genuinely important. 2009-05-03 01:12:17 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C49F9BEE224FA0/ The undoubted bravery and professionalism of British troops in Iraq disguised the deeper strategic failings of their mission. Leaders need to learn from the mistakes in Basra as we now concentrate in Afghanistan. 2009-04-30 16:10:11 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A49AE5AA500071/ Afghanistan looks set to provide another difficult year for coalition troops. Worse still, it is becoming increasingly clear that Pakistan is not up to the job of extending its writ throughout all of its declared territory. 2009-03-04 10:40:39 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C499A9D0B560E9/ The Afghanistan Opinion Poll 2009 should wake up the international community to the necessity for a change in approach. Global actors have to engage with the reality on the ground, and stop trumpeting ineffectual and imported strategies. 2009-02-17 11:31:06 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4990051938E13/ Working with the BBC, RUSI analyses the latest opinion poll charting Afghan attitudes. The results reveal a number of positive trends but also growing scepticism about the foreign intervention. 2009-02-09 10:38:58 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4975B072F3093/ Many commentators, eager to see the back of Bush and tempted by Obama’s promise of change, have anticipated radical shifts for US policy in Afghanistan. However, in the short term at least, differences from the Bush administration’s approach look disappointingly minor. 2009-01-20 11:11:17 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C496A10B7D39F6/ The UK needs more troops on the ground to relieve pressure in Helmand, but unless an increase is accompanied by significant victories elsewhere, the Coalition’s long-term prospects are not good. A new approach to strategic thinking in Afghanistan and the means to give some effect to it are sorely needed in the new year. 2009-01-11 15:31:27 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C49130D1F97F19/ US policy towards Pakistan is inextricably tied up with its activities in Afghanistan, and Obama cannot afford to ignore it. If he is to have any hope of mending the US’s troubled relationship with the state, a fundamental reassessment of the situation is essential. 2008-11-06 15:30:18 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4899AD298B907/ Devoid of full context and without appropriate perspective, it is all too easy to view the problems in Afghanistan as insurmountable, the adversary as invincible and the mission as doomed. A credible assessment can be achieved if viewed in the long-term. 2008-08-06 14:59:26 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C4856D0A29C360/ The United Kingdom announces an increase in troop numbers – the highest level so far – only days after Britain mourned its hundredth combat death in Afghanistan. But the sacrifice and the rise in troop levels should not distract us from the military successes in that country and the focus required by the international community to reap a positive legacy. 2008-06-16 21:46:00 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N45E2AD89A250E/ Redeploying troops from Iraq to Afghanistan makes perfect military and political sense 2007-02-26 09:54:59 http://rusi.org/news/ref:N45DC2E3D755F0/ 2007-02-01 11:00:00 http://rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C41090E10A5ECC/ Médecins Sans Frontières Pulls Out of Afghanistan 2004-07-29 00:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:J40c1f7b879fab/ The war in Afghanistan is the most recent example of an asymmetric war between the ostensibly milita 2004-06-18 12:23:44 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:J40c1f7baa37ce/ The successful employment of Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAMs) in Kosovo and Afghanistan 2004-06-18 12:23:44 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:J40c1f7b6ef2ab/ In this concise overview of the War on Terror thus far, Paul Rogers argues that understanding 2004-06-18 12:23:44 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:J40c1f7a088a0b/ A former British military official reflects on his experiences with the Pathans and what might be done to end the cycle of conflict in their ancestral homeland. 2004-06-18 12:23:43 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:J40c1f79ddba2b/ Six months on from the horrific attacks of 11 September, the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staf 2004-06-18 12:23:43 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:J40c1f785b974b/ 2004-06-18 12:23:42 http://rusi.org/publications/monitor/ref:A473D7EB04588A/ This article advocates a sharp increase in support to the UK-led counter-narcotics campaign in Afghanistan as a means to mitigate the security threat that Afghan opium production poses to the UK and the international community. 2004-03-01 11:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/journal/ref:J40c1f7b81d34b/ Major General Robert Fulton, Capability Manager (Information Superiority) assesses the effec 2002-10-18 12:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:A47596B5974E14/ The US's 'transformational' use of air power in Afghanistan throws up some key lessons for future conflicts. 2002-04-01 15:00:00 http://rusi.org/publications/newsbrief/ref:J40d32ea7c73b3/ United States, World Trade Centre, terrorism, Middle East, intelligence 2001-10-01 09:00:00