Afghanistan: Is It Winnable? A British Perspective
Monday 27 October 2008
1430-1600: Reserve Officers' Association - Main Conference Room

The Foreign Policy Research Institute will kindly be hosting the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies from London for a panel discussion at the Reserve Officers' Association.

Afghanistan: Is It Winnable? A British Perspective

The operation in Afghanistan remains in the balance. It is winnable, but it is not being won and the future of the Transatlantic Relationship, and much else, depends upon its eventual success.

We now know the strategy and tactics that need to be adopted for success, but the fact is they are not being applied sufficiently or with enough political will.

New approaches will be needed on both sides of the Atlantic in the next four years and a different approach to expeditionary operations will have to be shared by all NATO members if the potential for success in Afghanistan is to be realised.

Panel Speakers

Professor Michael Clarke, Director of RUSI, will provide an analysis of current challenges in Afghanistan as well as a view of the new strategic thinking in the UK. Professor Clarke will discuss the progress of the conflict in Afghanistan so far as well as the issues surrounding UK policy in Afghanistan and its implications for the US.

Rear Admiral Chris Parry CBE MA FCMI will discuss the future of expeditionary warfare after Afghanistan. He will address such questions as: Are the operations in Afghanistan re-defining the character of future warfare? Or, are they a temporary aberration distracting the attention of strategic and military planners away from addressing the more complex challenges of the future? Admiral Parry's presentation will also discuss UK strategic thinking, procurement and training.

Chairman

Frank Hoffman, Senior Fellow, is a national security affairs analyst and consultant. He is currently a Research Fellow at the Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia. Mr. Hoffman serves as the Center's strategic and global affairs analyst, develops advanced concepts and conducts research into the nature of future conflict. Prior to this position, Mr. Hoffman served on the staff of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century (Hart-Rudman Commission); was the National Security Analyst and Director, Marine Strategic Studies Group, at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico; and served on the Professional Staff, Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces.

Location

The Reserve Officers' Association is located at:
One Constitution Avenue NE
Washington D.C. 20002-5618
Tel: 202.479.2200
ROA Point of Contact: Bob Feidler

For enquiries or to RSVP for this event, please contact Alan Luxenberg at lux@fpri.org