Why is the West losing its War on Terror November 8, 2006

Discussion on "Why is the West losing its War on Terror" with a prominent Journalist from Pakistan, Hamid Mir, the only jornalist to have interviewed Osama Bin Laden 3 times. Moderated by Abraham Sofaer.

Once a symbol for successful regime change, Afghanistans newly democratic government has been struggling in recent months to control a worsening security situation. A resurgent Taliban has stepped up suicide bombings and attacks on police and army targets. Meanwhile, Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf struggles to balance his alliance with the U.S. against the demands of the Pashtun Tribes and the growing presence of al-Qaeda, Taliban, and other Islamist groups along the Afghan border.

Why have US-led military efforts failed to put down the insurgency? Is Afghanistan becoming another Iraq for the West? Is Musharrafs recent peace deal with the Pashtun Tribes an admission of defeat? Why have US and Pakistani intelligence failed in the hunt for Osama bin Laden? As the Islamist jihadis become more decentralized, has al-Qaedas day passed?

How has the struggle for democracy in Afghanistan affected US-led efforts in the Middle East? What are possible solutions to the growing security risks?

Hamid Mir is internationally known as the sole journalist to have interviewed Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. He is a prominent Pakistani journalist who has been committed in investigative reporting in Pakistan and abroad. He has interviewed Condoleezza Rice, Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and other International figures. In Pakistan he has exposed various corruption scandals and has put significant political figures on hot bed on GEO TV in Pakistan such as Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf.

Abraham Sofaer has been a George P. Shultz Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy and National Security Affairs at the Hoover Institution since 1994. Prior to this appointment he served as legal advisor to the US Department of State from 1985 to 1990, and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1989, the highest State Department Award given to a non-civil servant.

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