Only those who were in the room know what was said in the series of White House meetings about America’s policies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s likely that at least some of the views expressed paralleled those heard at last week’s Intelligence Squared US debate at New York University, because the six speakers among them counted decades of experience in defense, intelligence, diplomatic, and think-tank circles. The topic, “America Cannot and Will Not Succeed in Afghanistan/Pakistan,” put the question about as bluntly as possible.

Arguing against the motion were Steve Coll, CEO of the New America Foundation; retired U.S. ArmyLt. Col. John Nagl, president of the Center for a New American Security; and James Shinn, assistant secretary of defense for Asia in 2007–08. The moderator was John Donvan of ABC News. Excerpts:

Lang: General [Stanley] McChrystal [the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan] evidently wants 40,000 more people. I would say that’s how we started in Vietnam too.The reason I don’t think we can win with a counterinsurgency strategy is because three or four years down the pike all you good people are going to say, “Are the Taliban really our enemies, in the sense that Al Qaeda was? Is this really what we want to do?” And when that happens I suspect you’re going to tell Congress you’ve had enough of this, and they will vote to end the war as they did in Vietnam.

Coll: We too often talk about Afghanistan as a primitive land that has been at war for centuries. Afghanistan [before the Soviet invasion in 1979] was a coherent and mainly peaceful independent state. After 2001 Afghans returned to their country from refugee camps and exile to reclaim their state. A strong plurality of Afghans still want to finish that work, and they want the international community to stay and help. Most Afghans are sick of war, and afraid of the Taliban’s return. We have an obligation and a national interest and we have the capacity to stand by them.

We’ve heard much anxiety about the allegations of fraud in the recent presidential election, and for good reason. But consider what has not happened. No opposition protesters have taken to the streets; not a single rock has been thrown. The opposition leader has spoken freely, but within the constitutional system. In Kenya a couple of years ago the incumbent president stole his reelection and the entire country burned down. The great majority of Afghans want security and normalcy.

The ultimate exit strategy for the United States from South Asia is Pakistan’s success. This is not assured, but the prospects are improving. The best way for the United States to support this momentum is to stay in Afghanistan, stabilize that country, marginalize the Taliban through population security and negotiations, and broaden and deepen its engagement in Pakistan.

Source: http://www.newsweek.com/id/217083