With the commitment of over 60 countries, NATO, the World Bank and the European Union, the international mission in Afghanistan is clearly the largest multinational commitment to international diplomacy, defense and development ever. Many see Afghanistan as the litmus test of international response to conflict in the 21st Century.
Here in Canada, the reconstruction of Afghanistan has been one of the central foreign policy priorities of the federal government since the fall of the Taliban regime in November 2001. And while there have been many achievements in terms of politics, the economy and also security, the loss of life, particularly of Canadian soldiers, has far overshadowed these achievements, leaving many Canadians still asking why Afghanistan?
To answer this central question, which will likely be an election issue if one is called this spring, we have called on two experts on the country, James Appathurai of NATO and the former Canadian Ambassador in Afghanistan, now UN Special Representative there, Chris Alexander. Find out for yourself, why Afghanistan, by joining us on February 28th.
