Publication

This brief argues that it is time for a change of mission in Afghanistan. US and coalition forces must shift away from directly conducting counterinsurgency operations and toward a new mission of “security force assistance” advising and enabling Afghan forces to take the lead in the counterinsurgency fight. With a 2014 transition looming in Afghanistan, the authors argue that the US and allied military leaders must recognize that US and coalition forces will not defeat the Taliban and its allies in the next three years.