14 October 2008
War in Afghanistan
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Violence in Afghanistan is at its worst level since the beginning of the war 7 years ago, and Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon is sharing the frustration that progress is too slow. He said that a military victory in Afghanistan is unreachable, unless we significantly increase the number of troops and coordinate military and civil efforts.
He is also supporting the idea that we should be open for political negotiations with Taliban moderates.
So what should be our future strategic goals in Afghanistan? Should we increase troops and military resources or is the answer to invest in reconstruction and aid? And is it even time to accept the Taliban as political negotiating partner?
Guests
Jim Molan, recently retired Australian Major General and ex-Chief of Operations in Iraq, author of the book "Running the War in Iraq"
Professor Amin Saikal, Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at ANU
Alexander Bellamy, Professor of International Relations, University of Queensland
Benjamin Gilmour, Director of the film "Sun of a Lion" and author of the book "Warrior Poets"
Further Information
Department of Defence, Afghanistan
"Warrior Poets" by Benjamin Gilmour
Development and reconstruction in Afghanistan
"Running the War in Iraq" by Jim Molan
Presenter
Paul Barclay
Story Researcher and Producer
Karin Zsivanovits
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