Obama’s Biggest Challenges in Afghanistan

Flikr photo by ilkerturan used under a Creative Commons license.   Karin von Hippel was quoted by the Los Angeles Times in Obama's Biggest Challenges in Afghanistan, on the volatile Afghan border with Pakistan.  The article recalls:

Under the Bush administration, U.S. strategy revolved around pressuring Pakistan to do more while striking suspected militants with missiles launched from Predator drones.

But the airstrikes, said von Hippel, a former U.N. official, can be counterproductive, alienating residents.

"Even if they do kill some wanted terrorists, they are also used as a recruiting tool for a number of the militia-terrorist groups operating in the region," she said.

One alternative, though difficult, von Hippel said, would be to quietly increase aid efforts, work with the Pakistanis to improve services in the tribal regions and take steps to integrate them into the government.