On March 29th, 2009, as part of an ongoing effort to more deeply understand the conflict in Afghanistan (and the best way for the US to achieve its goals in that troubled region), the Coalition for Peace Action held an informational session on Afghanistan. Six speakers - experts, Peace Corps volunteers, cultural experts - presented fascinating and illuminating discussions of various aspects of the situation and conflict in Afghanistan.

As part of the effort to better understand the culture, geography, politics, and military situation in Afghanistan, CFPA presents the resources on this and subsequent web pages in the hopes that the information and discussion here will help clarify the issues..

• A report from New America Foundation on A New Way Forward. (Good summary here, and a more skeptical look here.)
• Former presidential adviser and professor of history William R. Polk on "Elements of a U.S. Strategy Toward Afghanistan."
• "The Afghanistan War Is Mainly About Pakistan and India," explains Fred Kaplan in Slate.
• Christopher Layne, writing in the Chicago Tribune, notes "Petraeus' Dubious Strategy in Afghanistan."
• Nir Rosen, writing in Boston Review, looks at the U.S. Strategy in "Something for Nothing." Commentary here.
• A television interview with Rev. Bob Moore about US policy in Afghanistan.
• President Barack Obama's December 1, 2009 speech on Afghanistan at West Point (prepared remarks).
• War in Afghanistan fact sheet (from CFPA).
• George Will (conservative columnist) calls for the US to get out of Afghanistan. "Time to Get Out of Afghanistan" Tuesday, September 1, 2009 -- Washington Post.
• "The Irresistible Illusion" by Rory Stewart in the London Review of Books lays out the illogic of the war.
• Watch the trailer for the movie Rethink Afghanistan.
• Rebecca Griffin of Peace Action West examines five standard objections and makes convincing rebuttals in A Message to Progressives Who Are Ambivalent About Afghanistan.
• "Sustainable Security in Afghanistan: Crafting an Effective and Responsible Strategy for the Forgotten Front," Center for American Progress (Lawrence Korb, Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, Sean Duggan), March 24, 2009
• "Losing the People: The Costs and Consequences of Civilian Suffering in Afghanistan" Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict, 2009.
• Petition for President Obama to end the war in Afghanistan. Peace-Action Petition.

1[Got a resource on Afghanistan? Send us a recommendation and a link!]