Ending Obama's War

Cortright (policy, Univ. of Notre Dame; Towards Nuclear Zero) is a well-known peace scholar. Using the principles underlying the just war doctrine, he discusses the reasons offered for initiating and continuing military action in Afghanistan but finds all reasons wanting. The 9/11 attacks were committed by a nonstate actor, the conflict is not winnable, and the military is not the appropriate agency to deliver development assistance, according to this analysis. On no point does he find the conflict justified. He favors U.S. troop withdrawals on the announced schedule, followed by a reconciliation process and continued development assistance under international auspices. The status of women in Afghanistan is covered in depth, and Cortright concludes that some improvements have occurred in their living conditions but that there is a great need for continuing improvement. Other books such as Bob Woodward's Obama's Wars cover the advice provided to the administration or the military dimension only.