"President Donald Trump promised that the plan he announced Aug. 21 would dramatically change the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia. But experts in peacebuilding say he is continuing an approach that has failed miserably for more than 15 years while ignoring alternatives that are backed by research and evidence."

Agreed.  George W. Bush's original invasion and occupation was a failure since, like Iraq, it was based on false assumptions.  Bush told us Jeffersonian democracy would magically appear if we invaded.  That showed no understanding of societies where loyalty to tribe is more important than loyalty to a nation state.