Rethink Afghanistan:Video

Rethink Afghanistan Series Discussion Questions:

NOTE: Each question is related to a section of the Rethink Afghanistan video

Part 1: More Troops + Afghanistan = Catastrophe

• What was/were the fundamental goal(s)?

• Have we accomplished that/those goal(s)?

◦ If yes, does escalating our military presence improve our security?

◦ If no, does escalating our military presence help us to reach our goal?

Part 2: Pakistan: “The Most Dangerous Country”

• What dangers does this region of the world present to us?

• Assume these dangers could be solved through military means; what resources

would this involve?

• Are we, as a country, prepared to commit these resources?

Part 3: The Cost of War

• Can we, as a country, spend money more effectively to improve security regional

and U.S. security?

◦ If yes, what would you put those saved, or unused dollars towards?

◦ If no, is the money we’re spending meeting our goals?

• Should we change our country’s spending priorities? If yes, how?

Part 4: Civilian Casualties

• Are civilian casualties an expected “cost of war?”

◦ If yes, how can we, as a country, minimize civilian casualties in the region?

Will this help us achieve our goals in the region?

◦ If no, can the United States continue military operations in Afghanistan and

eliminate civilian casualties in the region?

▪ If yes, how?

▪ If no, what responsibilities do we, as a country, have in this region?

Part 5: Women of Afghanistan

• Can we minimize regional threats from this region towards the United States by

developing military alliances with anti-women factions of power?

◦ If yes, does maintaining a military presence in this region improve women’s

lives, in comparison to life before the NATO invasion of Afghanistan?

▪ If yes, how?

▪ If no, is a region that effectively suppresses half of it’s population

not a threat to us, as a country?

◦ If no, do we, as a country, have a responsibility to improve the lives of

women in this region?

▪ If yes, what steps can we take to improve the lives of women in this

region?

▪ If no, does maintaining a military presence in this region degrade

the lives of women in this region?