Gabriela Campos, an intern at the Institute for Policy Studies, talks about a compilation of analyses regarding the New Taliban. The book, entitled Decoding the New Taliban: Insights from the Afghan Field, is edited by Antonio Giustozzi who is a fellow at the London School of Economics. The book asserts that a stronger Neo-Taliban has definitely emerged, as attested to by men from the field. The compilation of information is replete with interviews conducted with civilians and insurgents.

More than 10 contributors including journalists, experts, and academics share their insights on the phenomenon of a stronger, newer, and fiercer Taliban insurgency that has been able ‘to restructure and reorganize throughout the country.’

Surely, such information did not escape the awareness of military strategists in Washington. Obviously not because ‘in early February, President Obama submitted his defense budget, asking for an additional $33 billion for the expansion of the war in Afghanistan on top of a record-breaking $744 billion for the Department of Defense. His request follows the decision to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, in the belief that greater military might is needed to defeat the Taliban and win the war.’

Campos observes that, though the book provides much-needed firsthand accounts on the evolution of the Taliban since 2001, it comes up short on vital recommendations on how to best beat the insurgency. She says that it could have been a much greater aid to policy makers if they can glean insights on how to solve the Taliban insurgency through means other than military offensives.

Citation:

Gabriela Campos, “‘Decoding the New Taliban: Insights from the Afghan Field’” (Washington, DC: Foreign Policy In Focus, February 12, 2010)

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