Gary Owen
The Islamic State Is Making America's Breakup With Afghanistan Awfully Messy
Drastic increases in airstrikes and the unusual roles being played by senior US Army generals signal how poorly the US believes the war in Afghanistan is going.
Phantom Troops, Taliban Fighting, and Wasted Money — It's Springtime in Afghanistan
The latest US audit of reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan show a troubling lack of oversight and cooperation, which is damaging security and jeopardizing the country's economic future.
Afghanistan and Iran Get Cozier — Which Is Good News for the US
Iran and Afghanistan announced new security and trade agreements over the weekend that actually match up with America's goals for the region.
Why Afghanistan Is Like the Color-Changing Dress (And Also In a Lot of Trouble)
Recent reports have suggested there are plunging troop numbers in the army, an apparent rise in the prevalence of private armies, and a lack of accountability for abuses.
The Real Reason the US Military Was So Secretive About Afghanistan
The new secrecy shrouding Defense Department expenditures was motivated not by too much money being spent, but by too few soldiers remaining in the Afghan army.
Afghanistan Never Really Banned Night Raids in the First Place
Contrary to a recent report that the Afghan government was lifting a ban on night raids, there was actually no ban, partial or otherwise, put into place by Hamid Karzai.
Obama's Secret Extension of the US Role in Afghanistan Should Come as No Surprise
Obama's classified order to extend the role of the US military in Afghanistan in 2015 puts in motion plans that American commanders have been hinting at for the last few months.
A Gang Rape in Afghanistan Is Exploited for Political Theater
An Afghan appeals court upheld death sentences today for five men convicted of brutal gang rapes. But the trials had little to do with justice for the victims.
The Islamic State in Iraq Is Altering US Plans for Withdrawal From Afghanistan
The chaotic state of post-intervention Iraq is leading the US to rethink its withdrawal strategy in vulnerable Afghanistan.
Yes, Tear Gas Being Used in Ferguson Is Banned in Warfare — But Not in War Zones
Much has been made of the fact that international accords outlaw the use of tear gas in war — but it's more complex than that.
US Aims for Afghanistan Elections Are a Whole Lot Different Than They Used to Be
If the US-brokered deal to resolve the Afghan election impasse works, it could give Afghans exactly what they want — less US influence.
Rahm Emanuel's Gun-of-the-Month Club Is Not Going to Help Chicago
New gun-control legislation from Chicago's mayor is attempting to address a crisis — the fact that he could lose the next election.