Professor of Political Science, Sorbonne
Professor of Political Science at the Sorbonne and visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; author of Revolution Unending: Afghanistan, 1979 to the Present
PROFILE
Gilles Dorronsoro
Guest
FROM Gilles Dorronsoro
Which Way, L.A.?
More Troops for Afghanistan: What Are They Going to Do? During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama wanted to refocus the "war on terror" from Iraq to Afghanistan. Development of a coherent policy is a work in progress. Richard Holbrooke, Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, is in the area now, and the President has said he wants more troops in Afghanistan. At last week's news conference, he hinted at what their mission might be.
To the Point
Balancing Military and Diplomacy in Afghanistan and Pakistan During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama said it was not Iraq, but Afghanistan that should be the focus of America's war on terror. The Taliban now control much of that country, and last week's murderous attacks on Kabul showed how easily they can penetrate the capital city. Development of a coherent policy is a work in progress, and Richard Holbrooke, Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, is in the area now. President Obama has said he wants to double American forces, but the very presence of foreign troops increases support for the Taliban. Road construction and economic development would be more popular, but they'd require resources the Pentagon doesn't have. The deadline for a new policy is the NATO summit in April.
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To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.