From today’s Washington Post: Strikes Have Disrupted Al-Qaeda:
Drone-launched U.S. missile attacks and Pakistan’s ongoing military offensive in and around the Swat Valley have unsettled al-Qaeda and undermined its relative invulnerability in Pakistani mountain sanctuaries, U.S. military and intelligence officials say.
This sounds promising.  But unfortunately, the article provides no evidence or details.  All we have are [...]

The firing of General McKiernan in Afghanistan and his replacement with General McChrystal has prompted some interested debate and discussion. Three of the arguments that emerged are of particular interest and deserve further comment.
First, posting at Foreign Policy, analyst Kori Schake argues provocatively that “McKiernan may become the General Shinseki of Afghanistan.” She [...]

Today, the American Security Project released an interim update as part of its ongoing “Are We Winning?” study, which found several discouraging trends, including an increase in worldwide Islamic violence and a dampening of the so-called “Obama Effect” in the Muslim world, among other issues.
Click here to listen to audio of a conference call held [...]

It is now a deeply entrenched conventional wisdom that the decision to “abandon” Afghanistan after the Cold War was a tragic mistake. In the oft-told story, our “abandonment” led to civil war, state collapse, the rise of the Taliban, and inevitably terrorist attacks on American soil. This narrative is now reinforced by dire [...]

Coming on the heals of the imposition of Sharia rule in the Swat Valley in Pakistan comes news that the Pakistani Taliban has seized a foothold in the Buner district, a mere 70 miles from the capital Islamabad. Worse, the Pakistani military seems largely unwilling to confront this rising Islamist tide.
From the New York [...]

Check out David Ignatius’ column from Tuesday on the Obama Administration’s efforts to reach out to Afghan tribal leaders, including one leader who spent two years as a prisoner in Guantanamo Bay.  Increased engagement and diplomacy has been at the forefront of ASP’s mission and research, and the Administration’s initiative has demonstrated an unprecedented effort to [...]

Check out these stories and blog posts on President Obama’s newly released Afghanistan/Pakistan strategy:
News Stories:

Washington Post - Obama Announces Plans for More Funding for Afghan War
New York Times – Obama Sounds Cautious Note as He Sets Out Afghan Plan
Associated Press - Obama: Taliban and al-Qaida must be stopped
International Herald Tribune - Obama vows to [...]

A story from yesterday’s New York Times (U.S. May Widen Strikes in Pakistan) raises serious questions about the Obama Administration’s policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan. From the article:
President Obama and his national security advisers are considering expanding the American covert war in Pakistan far beyond the unruly tribal areas to strike at a different [...]

The Politico’s discussion forum - “The Arena” - asked the question “What’s the most critical question the President–and the public–should be asking as Obama reviews strategy for Afghanistan?”  Participants in the discussion came from all areas of the spectrum and highlighted different issues that face the Obama Administration in Afghanistan.
Sample responses include:
Gary Clyde Hufbauer of [...]

From Tom Ricks (Sharia law in Swat):
I know it looks like a setback but I suspect this might be a smart move. Give the people of Swat sharia law, and see how they like it. Meanwhile, bolster your security forces in the area so they can pick up the ball when the Taliban has sufficiently [...]