Table of Contents

Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11

Introduction 14

Chapter 1 What Are Security Issues in Afghanistan?

Chapter Preface 18

1 The United States Needs to Reach a Negotiated Settlement with the Taliban Stephen Biddle 20

2 Talks with the Taliban: First Failure, Then Humiliation Isaac Chotiner 34

3 The United States Should Completely Withdraw Forces from Afghanistan Ivan Eland 40

4 The United States Should Retain Troops in Afghanistan Lisa Curtis 45

5 Iran Is Central to Solving the Afghan Conflict Aaron Ellis 52

6 The Saudi-Iranian Rivalry Is Central to the Afghan Conflict Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh 57

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 63

Chapter 2 What Issues Confront Afghan Democracy?

Chapter Preface 65

1 Banyan: Not a Pleasant Prospect: The Economist 67

2 Afghanistan's Culture Does Not Support Democracy Thomas H. Johnson Greg Bruno 73

3 The Growth of Media Shows Progress in Afghan Democracy: Associated Press 81

4 US Policy Is Responsible for High Levels of Corruption in Afghanistan Anthony H. Cordesman 87

5 Afghan Officials Are Responsible for High Levels of Corruption in Afghanistan Brian Cloughley 94

6 U.S. to Temper Stance on Afghan Corruption Greg Jaffe 99

7 Taliban Preys on Afghanistan's Corrupt Police Force Brian Brady 105

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 109

Chapter 3 What Are Economic Issues in Afghanistan?

Chapter Preface 111

1 The Afghan War Is Driven by Desire for Afghanistan's Mineral Resources Michel Chossudovsky 113

2 The Afghan War Is Not Driven by Desire for Resources Daily Bell 122

3 Afghanistan Needs to Transition from Opium to Other Crops Alfred McCoy 127

4 Poppies for Pain Relief Charli Carpenter 141

5 Afghanistan Is Making Substantial Economic Progress J. Alexander Thier as told to Jayshree Bajoria 146

6 Afghanistan's Economy Continues to Struggle as a Result of War Gopal Ratnam 154

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 162

Chapter 4 What Is the Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan?

Chapter Preface 164

1 Western Presence Has Improved the Situation for Women in Afghanistan Tracy McVeigh 166

2 Women's Rights in Afghanistan Depends on Where One Lives Stuart Whatley 178

3 US Presence Has Hurt Women in Afghanistan Bretigne Shaffer 187

4 Drone Strikes Are an Unethical Violation of Human Rights Conor Friedersdorf 191

5 Drone Strikes Are an Ethical Response to Terrorism David Aaronovitch 203

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 208

For Further Discussion 209

Organizations to Contact 212

Bibliography of Books 218

Index 222