Challenges and opportunities for the Obama administration in Central Asia
By: by Stephen J. Blank.
Contributors: Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute.
Publisher: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Carlisle, PA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 57
ISBN-13: 9781584873914
Subjects: Afghan War, 2001-; DIME (Diplomatic, informational, military and economic) elements; Elements of national power; Asia, Central -- Strategic aspects; United States -- Foreign relations -- Asia, Central; Asia, Central -- Foreign relations -- United States
Description: President Obama has outlined a comprehensive strategy for the war in Afghanistan which is now the central front of our campaign against Islamic terrorism. The strategy strongly connects our prosecution of that war to our policy in Pakistan and internal developments there as a necessary condition of victory. But the strategy has also provided for a new logistics road through Central Asia. The author argues that a winning strategy in Afghanistan depends as well upon the systematic leveraging of the opportunity provided by that road and a new coordinated nonmilitary approach to Central Asia. That approach would rely heavily on improved coordination at home and the more effective leveraging of our superior economic power in Central Asia to help stabilize the region so that it provides a secure rear to Afghanistan. In this fashion we would help Central Asia meet the challenges of extremism, of economic decline due to the global economic crisis, and thus help provide political stability in states that are likely to be challenged by the confluence of those trends.
Notes: "June 2009."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 44-57).

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