Posted by Backwards ObserverNot sure who you are implying in the articles you posted that has a preference for ideologues over regional experience unless it is Holbroke? I am also not convinced that regional experience erodes the views of ideologues.The preference for the opinions of ideologues over those of individuals with regional experience is understandable but hardly exceptional.
The Great Game is still being played out in Central Asia despite GEN Petreaus' comments to the contrary. The regional players do see it as a zero sum game, and it is unlikely we'll develop meaningful cooperation in the region. At best we'll continue to buy influence by paying off the right actors, and that can get expensive when you're competing with the Chinese and Russians.
IMO we won't find much consensus with the Chinese on counter terrrorism in the region, because they most likely see it as a small problem and won't forsake their larger regional hegemonic strategic objectives to partner with us.
How this unfolds in the next decade will be very interesting. Russia and India will have a huge vote, and once we pull out of Afghanistan our vote will diminish considerably.
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