NATO in Afghanistan till 2015 (merged thread)

[Jedburgh]

CSIS Briefing, 12 Dec 06:

Winning in Afghanistan: How to Face the Rising Threat

Key Trends
- Development of effective government and economy will take at least 5-10 years; no instant success is possible.
- Current Afghan government, and US and NATO aid and activity levels are inadequate.
- Reconstituted enemy is more lethal and shows increased capacity for effective asymmetric warfare, including effective information operations
- Pakistan sanctuary is an enemy advantage
- Major rise in violence in West and South
- Rising threat in other areas
- Violence likely to be at least equal next year and may well be higher.
- Afghan forces developing but require major increases in aid and years of support.
- NATO effort has insufficient forces and only US, Canadian, British, Danes, Estonians,and Dutch forces are in the fight. Romanians have been in limited action but are largely road bound due to wrong APCs.
- Increased Narco-trafficking/crime
- Threat exploits limited transportation infrastructure.
- Image-risk of US defeat in Iraq strong morale builder for Taliban-Al Qa’ida

(Much more detail in the 71 slide pdf presentation)

Edit to add: Press Briefing Transcript