What are security issues in Afghanistan? The United States needs to reach a negotiated settlement with the Taliban / Talks with the Taliban: first failure, then humiliation / The United States should completely withdraw forces from Afghanistan / The United States should retain troops in Afghanistan / Iran is central to solving the Afghan conflict / The Saudi-Iranian rivalry is central to the Afghan conflict / What issues confront Afghan democracy? Banyan: not a pleasant prospect / Afghanistan's culture does not support democracy / The growth of media shows progress in Afghan democracy / US policy is responsible for high levels of corruption in Afghanistan / Afghan officials are responsible for high levels of corruption in Afghanistan / U.S. to temper stance on Afghan corruption / Taliban preys on Afghanistan's corrupt police force / What are economic issues in Afghanistan? The Afghan war is driven by desire for Afghanistan's mineral resources / The Afghan war is not driven by desire for resources / Afghanistan needs to transition from opium to other crops / Poppies for pain relief / Afghanistan is making substantial economic progress / Afghanistan's economy continues to struggle as a result of war / What is the human rights situation in Afghanistan? Western presence has improved the situation for women in Afghanistan / Women's rights in Afghanistan depends on where one lives / US presence has hurt women in Afghanistan / Drone strikes are an unethical violation of human rights / Drone strikes are an ethical response to terrorism