ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that progress in Afghanistan depends not simply on troop numbers – an extremely crude metric – but on recognition of the complicated connections between Afghan politics and society and the politics of Afghanistan's wider region. It sets out elements of the United States (US) policy context. The chapter identifies some key limitations of US policy. It turns to innovations under President Barack Obama. The chapter explores some of the limitations of Obama's approach, and the legacy it left for President Donald J. Trump. President Obama had promised to begin the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan after the surge that he announced in his West Point speech, it was almost inevitable that some sort of transition to full Afghan responsibility for security would result. Afghanistan, the country from whose territory Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist network had orchestrated the attacks, suddenly became absolutely central to Washington's reaction.
