April 25, 2017
How will Afghan, US leaders respond to deadly Taliban attack?
The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on the 209thAfghan Army Corps base near the historic city of Mazar-i-Sharif that has killed at least 140 Afghan soldiers and wounded scores of others.
The attack is significant for reasons beyond the saddening and unprecedented death toll. First, the attack occurred in the northern stronghold of Atta Mohammad Noor, the governor and warlord of Balkh province. Mazar-i-Sharif had been among the most secure cities of the country. The base, which I have visited several times, is on the city’s outskirts. Noor has many political opponents, raising questions about possible collusion with the Taliban attack.
Second, the attack, which was carried out by gunmen in stolen Afghan Army uniforms and kit, reportedly had insider assistance. General John “Mick” Nicholson has long complained about the corruption and poor leadership within the Afghan military and police. This event is a shocking consequence of these problems – problems that are sapping the readiness and combat performance of the Afghan security forces much faster than the U.S. military can build them.
Read the full article at The Hill.
More from CNAS
-
Iran is trying to score a political win against the US: Expert
Video
By "isolating" the U.S. from the other countries in the nuclear deal, Iran is winning politically but losing economically, says Ilan Goldenberg of Center for a New American Se...
By Ilan Goldenberg
-
Sanctions Alone Won’t Alter Iran’s Behavior in the Middle East
Commentary
The U.S. Treasury Department recently designated a network of 22 Iranian businesses as supporters of terrorism, including several banks and major commodities companies, imposi...
By Kaleigh Thomas
-
Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder Hurt American Interests, Not Just American Values
Commentary
Most observers have seen the murder of Jamal Khashoggi as the latest example of an age-old tension in U.S. foreign policy: the pursuit of national interests versus the defense...
By Richard Fontaine
-
Ilan Goldenberg on Israel Policy Forum Podcast
Podcast
Ilan Goldenberg, Israel Policy Forum's Policy Adviser and a Senior Fellow and Director at the Center for a New American Security's Middle East Security Program joins Evan Gott...
By Ilan Goldenberg
