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Comments - U.S. Arms Exports Under Congressional Notification Thresholds

9/30/2021

On September 30, 2021, the Forum launched a new resource page for sharing an understanding of law and practices, case studies, potential research avenues and a variety of recommendations related to arms exports that are below Congressional notification thresholds (or simply not required). We welcome additional information, suggestions, and commentary here.

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Event Guide: Learning From The Afghanistan Experience -- Re-Assessing U.S. Weapon and Security Assistance, September 21, 2021

9/23/2021

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Video of event available at https://youtu.be/llgsmpLNkdE?t=247

This event was hosted by the Forum on the Arms Trade and the Security Assistance Monitor.

Panelists and recommended resources

Tamim Asey, Founder and Executive Chairman, Institute of War & Peace Studies (bio)
James Cunningham, Project Lead, Security Sector Assistance, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)
- Divided Responsibility: Lessons from U.S. Security Sector Assistance Efforts in Afghanistan, SIGAR, June 2019.
- Reconstructing the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces: Lessons from the U.S. Experience in Afghanistan, SIGAR, September 2017
Jodi Vittori, Co-chair, Global Politics and Security Program, Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service; Non-Resident Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (bio)
- "Corruption and Self-Dealing in Afghanistan and Other U.S.-Backed Security Sectors," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, September 9, 2021.
Elias Yousif, Deputy Director, Security Assistance Monitor, Center for International Policy (bio)
- "The Expanding Scope of U.S. Security Assistance Since 9/11," Security Assistance Monitor, September 2021.
- "Issue Brief: The Arms Left Behind in Afghanistan," Security Assistance Monitor, September 2021.
- "Ever-shifting Goalposts: Lessons From 20 Years of Security Assistance in Afghanistan," Security Assistance Monitor, June 2021.

Opening Remarks and Presentations (time indicated when remarks begin)

Elias Yousif - framing the conversation 5:15
Tamim Asey - a perspective from Afghanistan 10:17
James Cunningham - a perspective on U.S. assistance 22:30
Jodi Vittori - corruption and building government capacity -- lessons from Afghanistan and where relevant elsewhere 33:40
Elias Yousif - the ongoing security assistance endeavor - 45:25

Q&A

scope of weapons lost in Afghanistan - Cunningham 49:35
lessons from the Afghan side on multiple outside interventions (Soviet, UK, US, etc) - Asey - 51:45
does assistance contribute to corruption? how relate to governance? - Vittori - 58:20 Yousif - 109:15
are "lessons learned" being listened to and what are top priority changes? Cunningham - 1:03:50
more discussion of push and pull between institution building and warfighting in Afghanistan - Asey 1:11:30
implications of pseudo-FMS process - Cunningham 1:19:40

Concluding Comments

Asey - on building capabilities first 1:23:10
Cunningham - points on long term commitments, alignment, learning/teaching, hearts and minds 1:24:30
Vittori - need for quick action at initial time of change, seeing the world today, great power competition and elsewhere 128:10
Yousif - we are still doing this around the world 130:15

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Comments - U.S. Arms Exports Under Congressional Notification Thresholds

Event Guide: Learning From The Afghanistan Experience -- Re-Assessing U.S. Weapon and Security Assistance, September 21, 2021

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Comments - U.S. Arms Exports Under Congressional Notification Thresholds

Event Guide: Learning From The Afghanistan Experience -- Re-Assessing U.S. Weapon and Security Assistance, September 21, 2021 ​

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Event Guide: Learning From The Afghanistan Experience -- Re-Assessing U.S. Weapon and Security Assistance, September 21, 2021