Afghanistan Study Group

An ad hoc group of public policy practitioners, former U.S. government officials, academics, business representatives, policy-concerned activists and association leaders concerned with the Obama administration’s policy course in Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Study Group is an ad hoc group of public policy practitioners, former U.S. government officials, academics, business representatives, policy-concerned activists and association leaders concerned with the Obama administration’s policy course in Afghanistan and to a more limited degree, Pakistan. The group met several times during the winter of 2009 and spring of 2010 to review and discuss the costs and benefits of the administration’s overall strategy and its announced policy goals, and to formulate alternatives to the current U.S. approach. The Study Group published its report, “A New Way Forward: Rethinking U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan,” in August 2010.

This project is intended as a serious “Team B” policy effort focused on confronting threats to the national interest from Al Qaeda and affiliates, while remaining mindful of economic realities and the other challenges to U.S. security. The Study Group, composed of over 50 individuals and organizations, believes there is a strong possibility the Obama administration’s present strategy will fail to stabilize Afghanistan. The Study Group also believes that U.S. national interests will be strengthened if alternatives to the current strategy are developed and debated in advance.