Episode Notes:

Yesterday, the US Administration gave the order to Withdraw About 7,000 Troops From Afghanistan - approximately half of troops currently deployed in the country. Why now? How will this impact the Afghanistan reconciliation peace talks? What's going to happen?

Jonathan Schroden, Director of the Special Operations Program and the Center for Stability and Development at the CNA Corporation, discussed the situation.

[ 0:18 ] Introduction
[ 0:40] What the order entails
[  3:06 ] Relationship to - and impact - of the Afghanistan peace talks.
[ 5:08 ] How other constituencies will interpret the order
[ 7:26 ] The future of Afghanistan after the draw-down