Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 11/2011

The Afghanistan Question and the Reset in U.S.-Russian Relations

Richard J. Krickus

October 2011

The Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College

Abstract

The ability of the United States and Russia to cooperate in Afghanistan represents a solid test of their reset in relations. The author 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; 2) To identify and evaluate the successes and failures of the counterinsurgency strategy as the transition from U.S. to Afghanistan authority gains traction in the 2011-14 time frame; and 3) To provide conclusions and recommendations bearing on developments in Afghanistan.