Slowness in providing early aid has allowed a Taliban resurgence / Paul M. Rodriguez -- U.S. withdrawal would leave Afghanistan in a shambles / Alex Thurston -- A failed U.S. strategy helps the Taliban win local support / Paul Rogers -- United States needs patience and Pakistan's help to overcome the Taliban / Lisa Curtis and James Phillips -- The United States must work at the local level to encourage democracy / Jesse Aizenstat -- The Afghan army and parliament must provide national unity / Beth Cole and Kiya Bajpai -- NATO must commit to Afghanistan's future / Bruce Riedel and Karl F. Inderfurth -- NATO must help Afghanistan and its neighbors cooperate / Joschka Fischer -- The course of U.S. action must run through Pakistan / Fred Kaplan -- The United States must not destabilize Pakistan / Jim Lobe -- Covert operations cannot substitute for sound policy / Patrick Cockburn.