Robert M. Gates, Ph.D
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Afghanistan, 1989-1996: Between the Soviets and the Taliban
Afghanistan, 1989-1996: Between the Soviets and the Taliban A thesis submitted to the Miami University Honors Program in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for University Honors with Distinction by, Brandon Smith May 2005 Oxford, OH ABSTRACT AFGHANISTAN, 1989-1996: BETWEEN THE SOVIETS AND THE TALIBAN by, BRANDON SMITH This paper examines why the Afghan resistance fighters from the war against the Soviets, the mujahideen, were unable to establish a government in the time period between the withdrawal of the Soviet army from Afghanistan in 1989 and the consolidation of power by the Taliban in 1996. A number of conflicting explanations exist regarding Afghanistan’s instability during this time period. This paper argues that the developments in Afghanistan from 1989 to 1996 can be linked to the influence of actors outside Afghanistan, but not to the extent that the choices and actions of individual actors can be overlooked or ignored. Further, the choices and actions of individual actors need not be explained in terms of ancient animosities or historic tendencies, but rather were calculated moves to secure power. In support of this argument, international, national, and individual level factors are examined. ii Afghanistan, 1989-1996: Between the Soviets and the Taliban by, Brandon Smith Approved by: _________________________, Advisor Karen L. Dawisha _________________________, Reader John M. Rothgeb, Jr. _________________________, Reader Homayun Sidky Accepted by: ________________________, Director, University Honors Program iii Thanks to Karen Dawisha for her guidance and willingness to help on her year off, and to John Rothgeb and Homayun Sidky for taking the time to read the final draft and offer their feedback. -
COIN in Afghanistan - Winning the Battles, Losing the War?
COIN in Afghanistan - Winning the Battles, Losing the War? MAGNUS NORELL FOI, Swedish Defence Research Agency, is a mainly assignment-funded agency under the Ministry of Defence. The core activities are research, method and technology development, as well as studies conducted in the interests of Swedish defence and the safety and security of society. The organisation employs approximately 1000 personnel of whom about 800 are scientists. This makes FOI Sweden’s largest research institute. FOI gives its customers access to leading-edge expertise in a large number of fields such as security policy studies, defence and security related analyses, the assessment of various types of threat, systems for control and management of crises, protection against and management of hazardous substances, IT security and the potential offered by new sensors. FOI Swedish Defence Research Agency Phone: +46 8 555 030 00 www.foi.se FOI Memo 3123 Memo Defence Analysis Defence Analysis Fax: +46 8 555 031 00 ISSN 1650-1942 March 2010 SE-164 90 Stockholm Magnus Norell COIN in Afghanistan - Winning the Battles, Losing the War? “If you don’t know where you’re going. Any road will take you there” (From a song by George Harrison) FOI Memo 3123 Title COIN in Afghanistan – Winning the Battles, Losing the War? Rapportnr/Report no FOI Memo 3123 Rapporttyp/Report Type FOI Memo Månad/Month Mars/March Utgivningsår/Year 2010 Antal sidor/Pages 41 p ISSN ISSN 1650-1942 Kund/Customer Försvarsdepartementet Projektnr/Project no A12004 Godkänd av/Approved by Eva Mittermaier FOI, Totalförsvarets Forskningsinstitut FOI, Swedish Defence Research Agency Avdelningen för Försvarsanalys Department of Defence Analysis 164 90 Stockholm SE-164 90 Stockholm FOI Memo 3123 Programme managers remarks The Asia Security Studies programme at the Swedish Defence Research Agency’s Department of Defence Analysis conducts research and policy relevant analysis on defence and security related issues. -
The Cold War and Mccarthyism Howard Tennant
WARS The Cold War and McCarthyism Howard Tennant 1. Work in pairs. Read the text on the Cold War and then make questions, HISTORY using the phrases in bold. The first question has been done for you. Text A The Cold War The term ‘Cold War’ is used to describe the relationship between America and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1980. It was a period of conflict, tension and rivalry between the world’s two superpowers. (1) Neither side fought the other – the consequences would be too terrible – but they did fight for their beliefs using other countries. For example, in (2) the Vietnam war in the 1960s and 1970s, (3) South Vietnam was against the Communists and supported by America. North Vietnam was pro-Communist and fought the south (4) using weapons from communist Russia or communist China. In Afghanistan, the Americans supplied the Afghans with weapons after (5) the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. They never physically involved themselves and so avoided direct conflict with the Soviet Union. 1. Did America and the Soviet Union fight each other? 2. When was ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________? 3. Which country did the USA ____________________________________________________________________? 4. Which countries supplied weapons ______________________________________________________________? 5. When did the Soviet Union ______________________________________________________________________? • This page has been downloaded from www.onestopclil.com. 1 of 2 Written by Howard Tennant. © Copyright Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008. FROM WEBSITE •PHOTOCOPIABLECAN BE DOWNLOADED HISTORY 2. In pairs read this text on McCarthyism and make the questions. Text B McCarthyism (1) The term ‘McCarthyism’ refers to a period of strong anti-communist suspicion in the USA that lasted from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. -
You, Me, and Charlie Wilson's War George Crile's Charlie Wilson's War, the Tale of the Defeat of the Soviet
SPECIAL SECTION: You, Me, and Charlie Wilson's War George Crile's Charlie Wilson's War, the tale of the defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan (which led directly to its subsequent unraveling), is quite simply the most extraordinary non- fiction potboiler I have ever read. And, perhaps surprisingly, it has lessons for you and me from Congressman Wilson and his CIA cohort, Gust Avrakotos: (1) Make friends with the ... "Invisible 95%." Gust Avrakotos apparently knew every "top floor" CIA executive secretary by name—and had helped many of them sort out personal or professional problems. The folks in the mailroom and in the bowels of the computer operations affairs were also the subject of Gust's intense and affectionate attentions. In effect, you could say that Gust was Commander-in-Chief of the "Invisible 95%" of the Agency—which allowed him to make extraordinary things happen despite furious resistance from his bosses and bosses' bosses sitting atop a very rigid organization. (2) Create a Networker-Doer Partnership. Congressman Wilson had the networking part down, but he needed help with the doing. Conversely, if you are the doer, then you must find the politician-networker. (3) Carefully manage the BOF/Balance Of Favors. Practice potlatch—giving so much help to so many people on so many occasions (purposeful overkill!) that there is little issue about their supporting you when the (rare!) time comes to call in the chits. (4) Follow the money! "Anybody with a brain can figure out that if they can get on the Defense subcommittee, that's where they ought to be—because that's where the money is."—Charlie Wilson (5) Found material. -
The Kgb in Afghanistan
THE KGB IN AFGHANISTAN RALPH PICKARD Figure 1: A display case of a KGB officer’s grouping showing his known Soviet and Afghanistan medals and award booklets earned during his service in the KGB. There has been much written over the years about the intent of stabilizing the Afghan government from the history of the Soviet forces occupation of Afghanistan deterioration that was occurring throughout the region and during the Cold War. However, less has been written especially the souring relationship with the government from the collecting community perspective about the prior to December 1979. The Soviet forces’ intent was Afghanistan medals and award booklets that were earned to seize all important Afghan government facilities and by Soviet personnel during that same time period. The other important areas.1 Within days after the Soviet forces intent of this article is to shed a little light on a few of invasion into Afghanistan and occupation of the capital the Afghanistan medals that were awarded during the of Kabul, the Afghanistan President was assassinated Cold War through a unique group that belonged to a and replaced with the more pro-Soviet government of KGB officer (Figure 1). This grouping provides strong President, Babrak Karmal, who had promised his loyalty indications that this officer served multiple tours and earlier to the Soviet government. 2,3,4 continued to operate in Afghanistan even after February 1989. However, prior to illustrating more about the group Prior to the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviets the in this article, a brief overview of the Soviet invasion and two governments had an ongoing relationship dating back available history of the KGB in Afghanistan during the to the early 1920s with Soviet advisors and technicians Cold War will be presented. -
RICHARD M. BISSELL JR. PAPERS SUBJECT SERIES 1935 – 1994; Boxes 1 - 12
RICHARD M. BISSELL JR. PAPERS SUBJECT SERIES 1935 – 1994; Boxes 1 - 12 SERIES DESCRIPTION Alphabetical Subseries: Boxes 1 - 5 Alphabetical/Intelligence Subseries: Boxes 6 - 12 CONTENT This series contains an alphabetical listing of subjects pertaining to Richard M. Bissell Jr.’s personal and professional lives. Included herein are files documenting his childhood, his personal life, his career at the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA), his career at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), organizations to which he belonged, individuals with whom he had personal and professional relationships, and other topics. Document types include correspondence, interviews, memoranda, newspaper clippings, reports, magazine articles and notes. This series contains the bulk of the information in this collection regarding the Central Intelligence Agency to be found in this collection. Further information relating to the Central Intelligence Agency may be found in the Correspondence Series, the Historic and Oversize Papers Series, the Interviews Series, the Oral History Interviews Series. Document copies marked “Original filed for safekeeping” were created by Bissell’s office staff who then filed the originals in what is now the Historic Papers, Oversize Objects and Clippings Series of this collection. As was his apparent practice, many of Bissell’s notes in this series are written on the reverse of University of Hartford budget documents as well as on unused letterhead. STRUCTURE This series arrived at the library divided into two alphabetized subseries; a collection of alphabetized subject files relating to various facets of Richard M. Bissell’s personal and professional lives from childhood to retirement, and a collection of alphabetized files related to matters of intelligence and intelligence gathering. -
Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments
Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments Shirley A. Kan Specialist in Asian Security Affairs May 6, 2011 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RS22570 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments Summary Since 2000, the U.S. military has been building up forward-deployed forces on the westernmost U.S. territory of Guam to increase U.S. presence, deterrence, and power projection for possible responses to crises and disasters, counterterrorism, and contingencies in support of South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, or elsewhere in Asia. Since 2006, three joint exercises based at Guam called “Valiant Shield” have boosted U.S. military readiness in the Asian-Pacific region. The defense buildup on Guam has been moderate. China still has concerns about Guam’s buildup, suspecting it to be directed against China. There has been concern that China and North Korea could target Guam with missiles. Still, Guam’s role increased in engaging China’s military. In 2006, the United States and Japan agreed on a “Roadmap” to strengthen their alliance, including a buildup on Guam to cost $10.3 billion, with Japan contributing 60%. Primary goals were to start the related construction on Guam by 2010 and to complete relocation of about 8,000 marines from Okinawa to Guam by 2014. In Tokyo on February 17, 2009, the Secretary of State signed the bilateral “Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan Concerning the Implementation of the Relocation of the III Marine Expeditionary Force Personnel and Their Dependents From Okinawa to Guam” that reaffirmed the “Roadmap” of May 1, 2006. -
Speaker Bios
Intelligence Reform and Counterterrorism after a Decade: Are We Smarter and Safer? October 16 – 18, 2014 University of Texas at Austin THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 Blanton Museum, UT Campus 4:00-5:00pm Welcome Remarks and Discussion: Admiral William McRaven (ret.) Admiral McRaven is the ninth commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. USSOCOM ensures the readiness of joint special operations forces and, as directed, conducts operations worldwide. McRaven served from June 2008 to June 2011 as the 11th commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. JSOC is charged to study special operations requirements and techniques, ensure interoperability and equipment standardization, plan and conduct special operations exercises and training, and develop joint special operations tactics. He served from June 2006 to March 2008 as commander, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR). In addition to his duties as commander, SOCEUR, he was designated as the first director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Centre where he was charged with enhancing the capabilities and interoperability of all NATO Special Operations Forces. McRaven has commanded at every level within the special operations community, including assignments as deputy commanding general for Operations at JSOC; commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group One; commander of SEAL Team Three; task group commander in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility; task unit commander during Desert Storm and Desert Shield; squadron commander at Naval Special Warfare Development Group; and SEAL platoon commander at Underwater Demolition Team 21/SEAL Team Four. His diverse staff and interagency experience includes assignments as the director for Strategic Planning in the Office of Combating Terrorism on the National Security Council Staff; assessment director at USSOCOM, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, and the chief of staff at Naval Special Warfare Group One. -
Egypt's Complicity in Torture and Extraordinary Renditions Nirmala Pillay* 1. Introduction Robert Baer, a Cia Agent, Exempl
CHAPTER TWELVE Egypt’s COMPLICITY IN TORTURE AND EXTRAORDINARY RENDITIONS Nirmala Pillay* 1. Introduction Robert Baer, a CIA agent, exemplified the importance of the Mubarak gov- ernment for US intelligence when he observed that “If you want serious interrogation you send a prisoner to Jordan, if you want them to be tor- tured, you send them to Syria. If you want someone to disappear . never to see them again . you send them to Egypt.”1 Hosni Mubarak enjoyed close ties with Western countries enabling the US, Canada, Britain, and Sweden to deport terrorist suspects to a regime that specialised in inter- rogation methods prohibited by international law. This chapter examines the implications of the fall of the Egyptian regime of Hosni Mubarak for the prohibition against torture, a jus cogens norm of international law. Torture theorist Darius Rejali argued in a major study, published in 1997, that torture was never really eliminated from democratic countries, so a change of regime in Egypt in favour of a demo- cratic form of governance is no guarantee that torture, an entrenched part of the Egyptian security regime, will necessarily abate. Rejali’s thesis is probed in the light of the revelations of extraordinary renditions of terror- ist suspects to Egypt and the implications of the Egyptian revolution for US and Egyptian collaboration in the “war on terror.” Extraordinary rendition is the practice of transferring terrorist sus- pects, “with the involvement of the US or its agents, to a foreign State in circumstances that make it more likely than not that the individual will be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.”2 This * School of Law, Liverpool John Moores University, UK. -
Timeline of the Cold War
Timeline of the Cold War 1945 Defeat of Germany and Japan February 4-11: Yalta Conference meeting of FDR, Churchill, Stalin - the 'Big Three' Soviet Union has control of Eastern Europe. The Cold War Begins May 8: VE Day - Victory in Europe. Germany surrenders to the Red Army in Berlin July: Potsdam Conference - Germany was officially partitioned into four zones of occupation. August 6: The United States drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima (20 kiloton bomb 'Little Boy' kills 80,000) August 8: Russia declares war on Japan August 9: The United States drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki (22 kiloton 'Fat Man' kills 70,000) August 14 : Japanese surrender End of World War II August 15: Emperor surrender broadcast - VJ Day 1946 February 9: Stalin hostile speech - communism & capitalism were incompatible March 5 : "Sinews of Peace" Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill - "an "iron curtain" has descended on Europe" March 10: Truman demands Russia leave Iran July 1: Operation Crossroads with Test Able was the first public demonstration of America's atomic arsenal July 25: America's Test Baker - underwater explosion 1947 Containment March 12 : Truman Doctrine - Truman declares active role in Greek Civil War June : Marshall Plan is announced setting a precedent for helping countries combat poverty, disease and malnutrition September 2: Rio Pact - U.S. meet 19 Latin American countries and created a security zone around the hemisphere 1948 Containment February 25 : Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia March 2: Truman's Loyalty Program created to catch Cold War -
REAGAN NATIONAL DEFENSE FORUM Building Peace Through Strength for American Security
REAGAN NATIONAL DEFENSE FORUM Building Peace Through Strength for American Security SATURDAY, NOVEMBER , RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA Mission Statement The Reagan National Defense Forum (RNDF) brings together leaders and key stakeholders in the defense community, including members of Congress, civilian officials and military leaders from the Defense Department and industry, to address the health of our national defense and stimulate a discussion that promotes policies that strengthen the US military in the future. In an era of fiscal austerity where the threats to our national security are increasing in number and complexity, the RNDF will allow senior leaders from the defense community to come together with viewpoints on how best to deal with it. Though President Reagan left office many years ago, the United States military continues to benefit from his commitment and vision for a strong military. Recognizing that today’s decisions will affect the military’s capabilities for years to come, the RNDF will charge leaders from current and past Administrations and Congress to look beyond the immediate issues facing the military and explore how we can build a strong national defense for the future. Honorary Steering Committee The Honorable Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, Chairman The Honorable Sam Nunn (Retired) The Honorable Robert Gates The Honorable George Shultz The Honorable Duncan L. Hunter (Retired) (Reagan Foundation Trustee) The Honorable James M. Inhofe The Honorable Adam Smith The Honorable Ann McLaughlin Korologos The Honorable John Warner (Retired) (Reagan Foundation Trustee) The Honorable Pete Wilson The Honorable Carl Levin (Reagan Foundation Trustee) Agenda The 2014 RNDF daylong conference includes a morning welcome reception, simultaneous morning and afternoon panel sessions, keynote luncheon, closing session with a special keynote address and museum tours of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. -
Alliances and Partnerships in American National Security
FOURTH ANNUAL TEXAS NATIONAL SECURITY FORUM ALLIANCES AND PARTNERSHIPS IN AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY ETTER-HARBIN ALUMNI CENTER THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN OCTOBER 12, 2017 8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Welcome by William Inboden, Executive Director of the Clements Center for National Security, and Robert Chesney, Director of the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law 8:45 AM - 10:00 AM • Panel One: Defense Perspectives Moderator: Aaron O’Connell, Clements Center and Department of History Aaron O'Connell is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin and Faculty Fellow at the Clements Center. Previously, he served as Director for Defense Policy & Strategy on the National Security Council at the White House, where he worked on a range of national security matters including security cooperation and assistance, defense matters in Africa, significant military exercises, landmine and cluster munitions policy, and high-technology matters affecting the national defense, such as autonomy in weapon systems. Dr. O’Connell is also the author of Underdogs: The Making of the Modern Marine Corps, which explores how the Marine Corps rose from relative unpopularity to become the most prestigious armed service in the United States. He is also the editor of Our Latest Longest War: Losing Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan, which is a critical account of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan since 2001. He has also authored a number of articles and book chapters on military affairs and the representations of the military in U.S. popular culture in the 20th century. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.