"After more than a decade of great effort and sacrifice by America and its allies, the Taliban still has not been defeated, and many Afghans believe that a civil war is coming. Aspiration and ambivalence analyzes the U.S. and international efforts in Afghanistan and offers detailed recommendations for dealing with the precarious situation leading up to the 2014 transition to Afghan control and beyond. Vanda Felbab-Brown argues that allied efforts in Afghanistan have put far too little emphasis on good governance, concentrating too much on short-term military goals to the detriment of long-term peace and stability. The Western tendency to ally with bullies, warlords, smugglers, and other shady characters in pursuit of short-term military advantage actually empowers the forces working against good governance and long-term political stability. Rampant corruption and mafia rule thus persist, making it impossible for Afghans to believe in the institutional reforms and rule of law that are clearly necessary. This must change--otherwise, the chances of building responsive and sustainable governmental structures are slim, indeed. Felbab-Brown combines thorough research and analysis with vivid personal accounts of her time spent in the war-torn nation--powerful vignettes ullustrating the Afghan aspirations for peace, stability, and sovereignty and the stubborn obstacles to securing them."--Publisher's website.

Bullets over Kabul's Broadway --Washington's strategies in Afghanistan since 2001 -- Insurgency in the context of poor governance -- The myths of (non)governance in Afghanistan -- Power, impunity, and legitimacy in eastern and southern Afghanistan : learning to love mafia rule -- International efforts to fight corruption and improve governance -- Logistics and politics in northern Afghanistan -- The Afghan local police and other militias -- Counternarcotics and economic development policies -- Pakistan and the region -- Military transition and negotiations with the Taliban -- What, if anything, can still be done?

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