The Iraq Withdrawal: Implications For Afghanistan

The Iraq Withdrawal: Implications For Afghanistan
Afghanistan Study Group by Mary Kaszynski
The announcement that the US will withdraw virtually all troops from Iraq, as mandated by the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), has been met with praise, criticism, and speculation.  Mostly about the behind-the-scenes negotiations. Setting aside the political questions – who’s “to blame” for the withdrawal, – let’s take a look at what the facts of the Iraq case may mean for the future of US policy in Afghanistan.