As strategists and commentators dissect President Obama's West Point speech, the conversation all too often gets stuck on troop levels. What is missing is a strategic assessment and a willingness to transfer America's hard-won lessons learned in Iraq, especially in the Al Anbar province, to Afghanistan.
Strategy first. Afghanistan's future stability depends upon three interlocking requirements: a Pashtun head of state who enjoys the support of other key ethnic groups, aligning the tribal leadership with the central government and the ability to deny enemy forces any safe haven in Afghanistan or Pakistan. With Abdullah Abdullah's gracious concession in the disputed election, Afghanistan has gained a legitimate Pashtun leader in Harmid Karzai and a vigorous loyal opposition in Dr. Abdullah. To address the other two strategic requirements (tribes and safe havens), we need to learn from Iraq's Al Anbar Awakening movement that shows how to leverage tribal forces as stabilizers and deny sanctuary to insurgents.
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