How Long to Read The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations

How Long Does it Take to Read The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations?

It takes the average reader 2 hours and 53 minutes to read The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations by Richard J. Krickus

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has observed that the ability of the United States and Russia to cooperate in Afghanistan represents a solid test of their reset in relations. Skeptics in Washington and Moscow, however, scoff at the idea. In the first case, critics cite the awesome value gap that separates the two sides as well as compelling evidence that the Kremlin is bent on a course of confrontation and not cooperation with the West-witness the 2008 Russian-Georgian War. In the second one, Russian critics claim that there is no justification for Moscow to help Washington in what many Kremlin overlords believe is a losing cause. Moreover, Obama says the right things but, like his predecessor, he ignores Russian concerns about the Afghanistan Question-such as curtailing the flow of deadly heroin to the cities of Russia. Without dismissing the barriers to cooperation, American statesmen like Henry Kissinger and George Shultz claim that Russia's help should be welcomed in dealing with the global jihadist threat, nuclear proliferation, and climate change. In keeping with efforts on the part of past administrations to advance common interests with regimes that may adhere to different values, the Obama administration has pursued limited security cooperation with Russia much as Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan did decades ago. In turn, Russian strategists fear that should the Americans fail in Afghanistan, their former Central Asian Republics will fall to militant Islamists. At the same time, emboldened by the West's setback in Afghanistan, al-Qaeda and affiliated terrorist organizations will support their brethren in the Northern Caucasus who are waging war against the Russian infidels and launching terrorist attacks within Russia proper. Taken together, these actions threaten the Kremlin's "20-20 Modernization" drive that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin deems to be Russia's greatest security priority. In this monograph, Dr. Richard Krickus provides the historical background to the Afghanistan Question and assesses current events in the Afghan war with three objectives in mind: 1. To determine whether Russian-American cooperation in Afghanistan has been successful. Toward this end, he revisits the rationale behind the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 30 years ago; shows how it and the civil war that followed it helped give rise to al-Qaeda and the Taliban; and assesses the failure of authorities in Washington and Moscow to prevent an evil partnership that led to September 11, 2001 (9/11). 2. To identify and evaluate the successes and failures of the counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy as the transition from U.S. to Afghanistan authority gains traction in the 2011-14 time frame. Among other things, he considers three scenarios that characterize current operations in Afghanistan and assesses two plausible alternative outcomes. He claims that while the goals of COIN have not been fully realized, the capacity of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan has been dismantled for all intents and purposes, and, through our counterterrorist operations, the Taliban have experienced serious reversals. Successes against the Taliban, however, remain fragile, and the road ahead is a difficult one. 3. To provide conclusions and recommendations bearing on developments in Afghanistan, Dr. Krickus submits a number of provocative observations and policy preferences in anticipating the difficult withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Among other things, he proposes that the road to a successful resolution of the Afghanistan conflict must include political reconciliation with the Taliban through a diplomatic initiative-Bonn II-that enlists the support of all major stakeholders in the region. At the same time, Pakistan must be put on notice that it cannot continue to provide sanctuaries to jihadists that are killing Americans without consequences.

How long is The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations?

The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations by Richard J. Krickus is 172 pages long, and a total of 43,344 words.

This makes it 58% the length of the average book. It also has 53% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 3 hours and 56 minutes to read The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations aloud.

What Reading Level is The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations?

The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U. S. -Russian Relations is suitable for students ages 10 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

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