Building a New Afghanistan

The U.S.-led air campaign against the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan has now entered its fourth week, with planes targeting the city of Kandahar and Taliban positions in the north today. Many are criticizing the campaign, saying the attacks have done nothing to loosen the Taliban's grip. But others are more optimistic, saying it is now only a matter of time before the Afghan government is toppled. But even if the U.S. campaign is successful at overthrowing the Taliban, the question becomes "then what?" This hour, Thomas Simons, former ambassador to Pakistan, weighs in on the future of an Afghan state.

Guests:

Thomas W. Simons Jr., America's ambassador to Pakistan from 1996 to 1998

teaches at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford