AFGHANISTAN
The question of how to end the war in Afghanistan has troubled American policymakers for more than a decade. Extensive talks in the past yielded few lasting results. Yet, the United States persevered and it appears an end may be in sight. The goal of recent talks has centered on facilitating a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan, reduce United States and Allied Forces presence, and ensure that no terrorist group ever uses Afghan soil to threaten the United States or our allies.
According to a statement released by US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, “In recent weeks, in consultation with the Government of National Unity, U.S. negotiators in Doha have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan. Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward.”
The US is prepared for the signing to take place on February 29. The Secretary reports that the intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and “will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan.” Throughout the negotiations the US position has been that the only way to achieve a sustainable peace in Afghanistan is for Afghans to come together and agree on the way forward. Although the State Department acknowledges that challenges remain, Pompeo believes this represents a real opportunity for peace.
IRAN
There are many stages of dispute a country can go through before a war breaks out. One of those, diplomatic negotiations, is often called “war by other means.” Another instrument to avoid war is “sanctioning.” In the case of Iran it appears the US Government is determined to avoid war and accept a slower process to peace to avoid open conflict and the associated devastation that is inevitable by sanctioning responsible parties in the Iran conflict.
On Friday, February 21, 2020, the United States sanctioned five members of Iran’s Guardian Council and its Elections Supervision Committee who have played a role in denying Iranians their right to free and fair elections. This includes Ahmad Jannati, the Secretary of the Guardian Council, who has in the past praised the killing of political dissidents and previously called on Iranian authorities to execute even more of them.
In advance of Iran’s upcoming parliamentary elections on February 21, the Guardian Council blocked more than 7,000 candidates from even running, according to the US State Department. “Many were Iranians who questioned the Supreme Leader’s policies. This process is a sham. It is not free or fair,” noted the statement.
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RUSSIA
The US this week called out Russia for conducting cyber warfare against the country of Georgia. Cyberwarfare remains a major tool in the Russian arsenal. The leadership in Moscow uses it at will to do damage to its enemies and to those simply opposing the Russian Federation’s policies. The GRU, whose mandate is to protect Russia from attack by those outside the country, conducted the October 28, 2019, cyber attack against Georgia. The Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) Main Center for Special Technologies (GTsST, also known as Unit 74455 and Sandworm) was responsible, according to the State Department.
The attack disrupted operations of several thousand Georgian government and privately-run websites and interrupted the broadcast of at least two major television stations. Washington charged that this type of warfare “contradicts Russia’s attempts to claim it is a responsible actor in cyberspace and demonstrates a continuing pattern of reckless Russian GRU cyber operations against a number of countries.” According to the State Department, these operations aim to sow division, create insecurity, and undermine democratic institutions.
DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media Inc., which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government. Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.
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