US foreign relations

Today's brainstorm: What to do about Afghanistan?

by Avaaz Team - posted 25 September 2012 10:28
French Nato soldiers talk to Afghan villagers
What will happen when Nato troops leave? (AFP/Getty)

'Today's brainstorm' is an open-thread feature that seeks to solve the world's toughest issues by community brainstorming. Join in below:

Early this year a video emerged of what looked like a unit of US marines urinating on dead Afghan men. Two of those marines were disciplined in August, now two more have been referred to a court martial.

A lot of dreadful stories have emerged from Afghanistan during the 10 years of the US-Nato invasion and occupation, and it's good to see official investigations into bad behaviour. But the big question remains: soon foreign forces will be withdrawing from the country, and what then? The sooner the better many say, but what happens to women's rights and other positive reforms if the Taliban takes over?

While the Guardian reveals the UK's possible plans for an early withdrawal in light of progress by Afghan combat forces, Dexter Filkins warns in the New Yorker that the 2014 withdrawal could bring another civil war. The New York Times warns that long-standing distrust of the central government may mean that warlords and Taliban mullahs maintain their grasp on local politics.

This is a tough one – leave us your thoughts on the best way to end the war in Afghanistan ...

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