A resource network strategy for Afghanistan

Abstract

With NATO planning to complete the withdrawal of most troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, both Afghanistan and the Coalition need to define a positive long-term vision for the country. In this thesis, I evaluate a proposed approach to achieving such a visionsomething I call the Resource Network Strategy. In this approach, Afghan and Coalition efforts to develop the countrys considerable natural resource endowment are integrated with the U.S. Special Operations Forces continuing village stability operations in a way that establishes a sustainable long-term counterinsurgency effort that will defeat the enemy at the village level while securing the support of Afghanistans central government and minimizing the costs to the U.S. and its allies.