Illuminating the Arts-Policy Nexus 
Illuminating the Arts-Policy Nexus is a fortnightly series of articles on the role of art in public policymaking. This series invites WPI fellows and project leaders as well as external practitioners to contribute pieces on how artists have led policy change and how policymakers can use creative strategies.
In Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World, World Policy Institute Senior Fellow Ian Bremmer illustrates a historic shift in the international system and the world economy—and an unprecedented moment of global uncertainty.
Patricia DeGennaro: Obama's War — The Next Best Steps in Afghanistan?
Tonight, America’s commander-in-chief will address the nation to outline his new Afghanistan strategy. Among other things, this means many of the West Point cadets in the audience will learn what their immediate futures have in store.
According to White House officials, President Obama will comply with General McChrystal’s request for more soldiers, deploying 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan over the next six months. Obama has reportedly said that these young men and women will be asked to “finish the job.”
Of course, the question remains: What exactly is the “job”?
For eight years, forces on the ground have been struggling to find the mission. Hopefully, all of us will soon hear what their “job” is and why it will entail deploying thousands of extra soldiers. Thanks to McChrystal’s assessment, we now understand some of what more soldiers will do. The influx of troops will certainly build and train the Afghan army and police forces and arm militia-style provincial patrols. They will also use counterinsurgency tactics to target Al Qaeda and/or the Taliban while protecting average Afghans, as well as add a dash of nation building.
Unfortunately, this multi-billion dollar strategy ignores the reality of Afghanistan. No one can easily summarize the challenges and complexities there. The country comprises a conglomeration of cultures, ethnicities, languages, and beliefs, and is surrounded by problematic neighbors. History has shown that large-scale interventions there never work and that treading more lightly makes a difference.
marykate's blog | 
1 comment | 
Tags: Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Afghanistan additional troops, Afghanistan Obama speech, Afghanistan Obama troops soldiers, afghanistan war strategy, Afghanistan West Point Obama, Al Qaeda, Barack Obama, Barack Obama, general stanley mcchrystal, karl eikenberry, obama speech, president barack obama, Stanley McChrystal, Taliban, Terrorism, troop surge, U.S. Foreign Policy, War, west point 
marykate's blog | Add new comment | Tags: additional troops Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Amnesty, brian cowen, Czech Republic, eu reform, eu treaty, European Union, general stanley mcchrystal, government ekepemupolo, Honduras, International Monetary Fund, Ireland, Manuel Zelaya, Nigeria, nigerian delta, Oil, Organization of American States, Poland, rebels, referendum, Roberto Micheletti, Stanley McChrystal, THE INDEX, tompolo, World Bank 
marykate's blog | Add new comment | Tags: Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Africa, Ahmadinejad, Al Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Arab World, Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Britain, China, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, csis, European Commission, european council, European parliament, European Union, European Union, France, general stanley mcchrystal, Geneva, Germany, hizbul islam, Humanitarian intervention, IAEA, Iran, Iran, Iranian nuclear program, Ireland, islamist, kismayo, lisbon treaty, Middle East, Military, natanz, NATO, NATO, Negotiation, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Nuclear proliferation, Nuclear Weapons, p5+1, qom, rebel groups, referendum, reform treaty, Russia, sheikh sarif sheikh ahmed, Somalia, Somalia, THE INDEX, transitional federal government, United States, uranium enrichment, vote 