Iraq: A Lesson for Afghanistan

Afghans should consider the plight of Iraq. Without the resources, military assistance, and presence of a small-scale U.S. military force the Iraqi police and army have struggled in keeping al-Qaeda in check. Of course, a number of large miss-steps by the Shia dominated Iraq government has not helped. The Afghans need a continued international presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014 so that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) can feel confident that help is nearby in terms of advice and assistance - and also in the form of enablers such as air support, medical evacuation, and intelligence. The Afghans should sign the Bilateral Security Agreement sooner rather than later. Read more in "Chaos in Iraq could be omen for Afghanistan without U.S. troops", The Washington Times, January 12, 2014.