Francesc Vendrell examines the current situation facing the intervention in Afghanistan and both points out a number of missed opportunities and also suggests recommendations for future policy.
He begins with the Bonn Agreement and two perceived missteps by the United Nations, namely the plan to implement a "light-footprint" despite the desire of the Afghan people for a heavier intervention, and allowing of the "Afghan-led" intervention to mean the inclusion and participation not of Afghan citizens but rather of a select group of regional warlords.
Amb. Vendrell takes a look at the actions of various interveners aside from the UN, however, and discusses and the actions of the US, EU, and ISAF amongst others. He also delves into the future of Afghanistan's regional relationships, giving particular attention to their eastern neighbors, Pakistan.
Bio
Francesc Vendrell
Francesc Vendrell served as EU Special Representative for Afghanistan from 2002 to 2008 and before that also served as personal representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan.
From 1993 to 2000, while acting as director of the Asia and Pacific Division of the UN Department of Political Affairs, he concurrently undertook assignments including deputy personal representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for both Cambodia and Papua New Guinea (separately), and Adviser to the Secretary-General on his good offices in Myanmar.
Before joining the UN, Dr. Vendrell was director of studies at the Hague Academy of International Law and an adjunct professor at both Yale and Rutgers Law Schools.
Country, south-central Asia. Area: 249,347 sq mi (645,807 sq km). Population (2009 est.): 28,150,000. Capital: Kabul. About two-fifths of the people belong to the Pashtun ethnic group; other ethnic groups include Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazara. Languages: Pashto, Persian (both official). Religions: Islam (official; predominantly Sunni); also Zoroastrianism. Currency: afghani. Afghanistan has three distinctive regions: the northern plains are the major agricultural area; the southwestern plateau consists primarily of desert and semiarid landscape; and the central highlands, including the Hindu Kush, separate these regions. Afghanistan has a developing economy based largely on agriculture; its significant mineral resources remain largely untapped because of the Afghan War of the 1980s and subsequent fighting. Traditional handicrafts remain important; woolen carpets are a major export. Afghanistan is an Islamic republic with two legislative bodies; the president is head of both state and government. The area was part of the Persian Achaemenian Empire in the 6th century BCE and was conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE. Hindu influence entered with the Hephthalites and Sasanians. Islam became entrenched during the rule of the Saffarids, c. 870 CE. Afghanistan was divided between the Mughal Empire of India and the Safavid empire of Persia until the 18th century, when other Persians under Nadir Shah took control. Britain fought several wars in the area in the 19th century. From the 1930s the country had a stable monarchy, which was overthrown in the 1970s. Marxist reforms sparked rebellion, and Soviet troops invaded. Afghan guerrillas prevailed, and the Soviets withdrew in 1989. In 1992 rebel factions overthrew the government and established an Islamic republic. In 1996 the Taliban militia took power in Kabul and enforced a harsh Islamic order. The militia's unwillingness to extradite extremist leader Osama bin Laden and members of his al-Qaeda militant organization following the September 11 attacks in 2001 led to military conflict with the U.S. and allied nations, the overthrow of the Taliban, and the establishment of an interim government.
HA! This entire website is globalism for the far left... HAHA, You'd have to be a moron to fall for this crap... Georgia Guidestone, eco-fascism. AND I'M A QUAKER!
member. 
Live Now
