Mr Biden's War? An Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategy from 2007

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Josh Mull is working on the idea that the Obama Administration's strategy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, to be unveiled later today, draws substantially from proposals put forth by now-Vice President Joe Biden almost 18 months ago.

As a Presidential candidate in November 2007, Biden gave a talk at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire on "re-engaging America in the world". His demonstration of US leadership (others in the world might not like us, but they recognise that we are the country that can make a difference) focused on a solution for the internal difficulties in Pakistan, linked to an escalation of the US military intervention in Afghanistan. Biden, in particular, offered a mix of American "soft power", reaching out to the Pakistani people, while emphasizing good governance and finding a way forward with Pakistan's military.

While I think the US plan in it specifics will look far different from Biden's 2007 conception, the general tenet of "engaging" with Pakistan while stepping up the Afghan campaign --- as well as the (superficial) mix of military and "soft power" programmes --- does underlay this Obama strategy.

Have a listen and see what you think.