Afghanistan: post-Taliban governance, security, and U.S. policy.

April 30, 2009

Summary

Upon taking office, President Obama's Administration faced a deteriorating security environment in Afghanistan, including an expanding militant presence in some areas previously considered secure, increased numbers of civilian and military deaths, growing disillusionment with corruption in the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and Pakistan's inability to prevent Taliban and other militant infiltration into Afghanistan. The Obama Administration conducted its own "strategic review," the results of which were announced on March 27, 2009, in advance of a March 31, 2009 international meeting in the Netherlands and an April 3-4, 2009, NATO …