Just two peace picks this week

As the U.S. and NATO troop surges in Afghanistan begin to wind down, and transition of control to the Afghan government and people moves forward, continued long-term support for the country remains crucial to the mission’s prospects. While much of the last year has witnessed decreased violence, many challenges clearly still remain. Many of them center on governance and development. A major donors’ conference will be held July 8 in Japan to discuss Afghanistan’s development and governance, and consider future international financial support.

On July 3, Foreign Policy at Brookings will host a discussion on the current situation in Afghanistan, featuring keynote remarks from Alex Thier, assistant to the administrator and director of the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Following his remarks, Thier will be joined by former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Ronald Neumann, author of The Other War (Potomac Books, 2009), and Brookings Senior Fellow Michael O’Hanlon, co-author of Bending History (Brookings, 2012) and the report “Towards a Political Strategy in Afghanistan,” for a discussion.

After the program, participants will take audience questions.

Event Agenda

• Introductory Remarks
  • Michael E. O’Hanlon

    Director of Research and Senior Fellow

    Foreign Policy

    View Bio

• Keynote Address
  •  Alex Thier

    Assistant to the Administrator and Director of the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs

    U.S. Agency for International Development

• Panelists
  •  Ronald Neumann

    President, American Academy of Diplomacy

    Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan

    View Bio

  • Michael E. O’Hanlon

    Director of Research and Senior Fellow

    Foreign Policy

    View Bio

  •  Alex Thier

    Assistant to the Administrator and Director of the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs

    U.S. Agency for International Development