Advanced search Help
Searching for terms: ALL ("human AND trafficking") in: full text and any metadata
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment-- Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress [Updated August 31, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world. Other observers are more skeptical that the COVID-19 pandemic will have such effects. This report provides a brief overview of some potential implications the COVID-19 pandemic might have for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world, and a bibliography of CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports and other writings for further reading. Issues for Congress may include whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic could change the international security environment, whether the Trump Administration's actions for responding to such change are appropriate and sufficient, and what implications such change could have for the role of Congress in setting and overseeing the execution of U.S. foreign and defense policy. Congress's decisions regarding these issues could have significant and even profound implications for U.S. foreign and defense policy, and for the status of Congress as a co-equal branch relative to the executive branch in setting and overseeing the implementation of U.S. foreign and defense policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Moodie, Michael, 1948-; McInnis, Kathleen J.
2020-08-31
-
Venezuela: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated August 26, 2020]
From the Introduction: "This report provides an overview of the overlapping political, economic, and humanitarian crises in Venezuela, followed by an overview of U.S. policy toward Venezuela."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando; Nelson, Rebecca M.; Brown, Phillip (Specialist in Energy Policy) . . .
2020-08-26
-
COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment -- Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress [Updated August 12, 2020]
From the Summary: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world. Other observers are more skeptical that the COVID-19 pandemic will have such effects."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Moodie, Michael, 1948-; McInnis, Kathleen J.
2020-08-12
-
United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy [Updated August 7, 2020]
From the Summary: "The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven principalities or 'emirates.' Its population is assessed at nearly 10 million, but about 90% of the population are expatriates from within and outside the region who work in its open economy. The UAE is a significant U.S. security partner that hosts about 3,500 U.S. military personnel at UAE military facilities, buys sophisticated U.S. military equipment, including missile defenses and combat aircraft, and supports U.S. policy toward Iran. Most expect this cooperation to continue after UAE President Shaykh Khalifa bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan, who has been incapacitated since January 2014, is succeeded by his younger brother and de-facto UAE leader Shaykh Muhammad bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan. With ample financial resources and a U.S.-armed and advised military, the UAE has been asserting itself in the region, including militarily. In part to counter Iran, the UAE joined Saudi Arabia in a military effort to pressure the Iran-backed Zaidi Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen, a campaign that has produced significant numbers of civilian casualties and criticism of the UAE. That criticism, coupled with UAE concerns that U.S.-Iran tensions could embroil the UAE in war with Iran, might account for an apparent UAE shift toward more engagement with Iran and a decision to remove most of the UAE's ground forces from the Yemen conflict. UAE forces continue to support pro-UAE factions in southern Yemen and, alongside U.S. special operations forces, continue to combat Al Qaeda's affiliate there (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, AQAP). The UAE's involvement in Yemen, and U.S. sales of weapons the UAE is using there, have been the subject of congressional oversight hearings and some legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2020-08-07
-
United Nations Issues: U.S. Funding of U.N. Peacekeeping [Updated August 5, 2020]
From the Document: "The United States is the single largest financial contributor to United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping activities. Congress authorizes and appropriates U.S. contributions, and it has an ongoing interest in ensuring such funding is used as efficiently and effectively as possible. The United States, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, plays a key role in establishing, renewing, and funding U.N. peacekeeping operations. For 2020, the United Nations assessed the U.S. share of U.N. peacekeeping budgets at 27.89%; however, since 1994 Congress has capped the U.S. payment at 25% due to concerns that U.S. assessments are too high. For FY2021, the Trump Administration proposed $1.07 billion for U.N. peacekeeping, a 29% decrease from the enacted FY2020 level of $1.52 billion."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchfield, Luisa
2020-08-05
-
Assessing the Impact of the Boston CVE Pilot Program: A Developmental Evaluation Approach
From the Abstract: "This article describes the use of developmental evaluation as applied to countering violent extremism (CVE) programs. It discusses the application of this method to an evaluation of the Boston CVE Pilot Program, with specific attention given to two CVE initiatives that were awarded pilot grants and volunteered to be evaluated. Developmental evaluation is an inherently iterative engagement that requires a continuous exchange between the parties designing the initiative and the parties evaluating it (the evaluation, in short, is not merely a post hoc engagement). We present the results of the evaluations using qualitative and quantitative data. The conclusion points to lessons learned in the application of a developmental evaluation framework: an assessment of the viability, utility, and benefits of utilizing such an approach to assess the impact of CVE programs (versus a traditional evaluation rubric). It also discusses the limitations that an outside organization engaged in this evaluative work might face."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Savoia, Elena; McBride, Megan K.; Stern, Jessica, 1958- . . .
2020-08
-
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Strategic Plan: 2021-2025
From the Document: "This Strategic Plan provides direction for the agency over the next five years and builds upon the success ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] has made in recent years. ICE will remain steadfast in enforcing laws governing immigration and customs. Between fiscal years 2021 and 2025, ICE will prioritize its efforts on empowering the workforce, protecting the Homeland, safeguarding the integrity of our immigration system, combatting exploitation of our trade, travel, and financial systems, and strengthening partnerships that help accomplish the mission."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
2020-08
-
South Africa: Current Issues, Economy, and U.S. Relations [Updated July 30, 2020]
From the Introduction: "South Africa, a majority black, multiracial country of nearly 60 million people, has the most diversified and industrialized economy in Africa, but has suffered years of low growth and is burdened by deeply embedded socioeconomic inequalities. President is Cyril Ramaphosa ('rahmah-POH-sah'), of the majority African National Congress (ANC) party, is leading a reform agenda aimed at improving the economy and public service delivery, and addressing corruption. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has sharply intensified the already formidable economic and health challenges facing South Africa, which include a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. The National Assembly elected then-Vice President Ramaphosa as president in early 2018, following the resignation of his predecessor, Jacob Zuma. Zuma stepped down in the face of a threat of a parliamentary no confidence vote after defying a decision by ANC leaders to recall him as the party's national presidential nominee--in large part as a result of multiple corruption scandals. Discontent with Zuma had helped cement Ramaphosa's victory in a bruising late 2017 ANC election to lead the party, which has suffered a gradual loss of electoral support in recent years. While the ANC was able to retain a parliamentary majority in the last general elections, held in May 2019--a majority it has held since the country's first universal suffrage polls in 1994--it earned 57.5% of votes, its lowest share to date. After the election, the parliament, under the country's indirect presidential election system, voted to re-elect Ramaphosa as president."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Nicolas
2020-07-30
-
H. Rept. 116-463, Part 1: Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in Transportation Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 5139, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, July 29, 2020
From the Purpose: "The purpose of H.R. 5139, as amended, is to protect personnel and passengers during passenger transportation by air, motor carrier, commuter and intercity rail, transit, vessel, and rideshare from sexual assault and harassment and to improve the response to and facilitate the reporting of such incidents."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-07-29
-
Noncitizen Eligibility for Federal Housing Programs [Updated July 23, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The federal government has authorized and funds a variety of housing programs, including direct assistance for low-income renters; grants and other aid for states, localities, and nonprofits to meet local housing needs; and loans and loan guarantees for mortgage lending to support homeownership. The availability of these programs for noncitizens varies depending on the underlying laws that authorize or govern them, the federal agencies that administer them and the guidance they have issued, and the immigration status of a noncitizen and his or her household members. (While this report discusses policy implementation and the positions agencies have taken under the statutes, it does not provide a legal analysis of ambiguities in the statutes.) This report begins by introducing the range of federal housing programs and the range of immigration statuses of noncitizens. It continues with an overview of the relevant statutes governing noncitizen eligibility, followed by a discussion of policy implementation as applied to various programs. The report closes with a discussion of recent administrative actions relevant to federal housing programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarty, Maggie; Kolker, Abigail F.
2020-07-23
-
Immigration Laws Regulating the Admission and Exclusion of Aliens at the Border [Updated July 21, 2020]
From the Document: "Before the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the past few years had seen a marked increase in the number of apprehensions of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) at the border seeking to unlawfully enter the country. But entry restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly reduced the number of alien apprehensions. Border closures and emergency measures in other countries have also restricted the ability of some 'migrant caravans' to reach the United States. Even so, there continues to be considerable attention concerning the treatment of aliens without legal immigration status who arrive at or near the U.S.-Mexico border. This Legal Sidebar briefly examines the laws generally governing the admission and exclusion of aliens at the border, including the procedures for asylum seekers and the circumstances in which arriving aliens may be detained. The Sidebar also addresses special rules for the treatment of unaccompanied alien children (UACs), recent policy changes affecting the processing of aliens at the border, and legislative proposals that would alter the scope of protections for arriving aliens."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2020-07-21
-
H. Rept. 116-458: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2021, Report Together with Minority Views, to Accompany H.R. 7669, July 20, 2020
From the Overview: "The Committee recommendation includes $55,944,949,000 in total discretionary budget authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including $50,720,000,000 in net discretionary budget authority, $215,000,000 as a budget cap adjustment for overseas contingency operations, and $5,059,949,000 as a budget cap adjustment for major disaster response and recovery activities. The discretionary budget authority total is a reduction of $12,065,163,000 below the fiscal year 2020 total and $1,183,546,000 below the President's budget request. The net discretionary total is $252,000,000 above the fiscal year 2020 level."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-07-20
-
Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor [Updated July 20, 2020]
From the Document: "Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits the importation of any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces the prohibition. U.S. customs law has contained prohibitions against importing goods produced by certain categories of labor since the end of the nineteenth century. Beginning in 1890, the United States prohibited imports of goods manufactured with convict labor. In 1930, Congress expanded this prohibition in Section 307 of the Tariff Act to include any (not just manufactured) products of forced labor. Although a few Members of Congress brought up humanitarian concerns during debate, the central legislative concern was with protecting domestic producers from competing with products made with forced labor. As such, Section 307 allowed the admission of products of forced labor if it could be shown that no comparable product was made in the United States or the level of domestic production did not meet domestic demand ('consumptive demand' clause)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; O'Regan, Katarina C.
2020-07-20
-
H. Rept. 116-444: State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, 2021, Report Together with Minority Views, To Accompany H.R. 7608, July 13, 2020
From the Document: "The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, and for other purposes."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-07-13
-
Forward Together: Building a Stronger Chicago
From the Executive Summary: "The existing economic and social divide, the threat of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], and most recently, potent examples of racial injustice have combined to create a uniquely painful moment for the Chicago region. Transformative change is necessary for the region to move forward through these challenges. The recommendations put forward by the Recovery Task Force (RTF) in the following document cannot and will not solve all the challenges currently facing Chicago, but this report will outline bold, actionable ideas to tackle them head-on."
City of Chicago
2020-07-09
-
Change Study: Chicago Recovery Task Force (RTF) (April-June 2020) [presentation]
From the Document: "The Change Study provides a framework to inform thinking on potential interventions to assist recovery, and will continue to be updated and expanded through the Recovery Task Force work to include input from stakeholders as well as community voices through efforts like the Racial Equity Rapid Response Team, 1Chi4All, and other community engagements[.]"
City of Chicago
2020-07-08?
-
North Korea Tactics
From the Preface: "Army Training Publication (ATP) 7-100.2 describes North Korean tactics for use in Army training, professional education, and leader development. This document is part of the ATP 7-100 series that addresses a nation-state's military doctrine with a focus on army ground forces and tactical operations in offense, defense, and related mission sets. Other foundational topics include task organization, capabilities, and limitations related to military mission and support functions. ATP 7-100.2 serves as a foundation for understanding how North Korean ground forces think and act in tactical operations. This publication presents multiple examples of functional tactics in dynamic operational environment conditions. The tactics in this ATP are descriptive, and provide an orientation to tactics gathered from North Korean doctrine, translated literature, and observations from recent historical events."
United States. Department of the Army
2020-07
-
COVID-19 and Border Politics
From the Introduction: "Since its emergence in January 2020, six months later Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is still holding large parts of the world in its grip, as countries have closed their borders and restricted movement within them. Although the virus, and measures to stop or contain its spread, have had a devastating impact on millions of people and societies, refugees and migrants face even greater risk. For them, the virus comes on top of difficulties that were already exacerbated by increasingly stringent and often abusive border and migration policies across the world. This briefing takes a look at the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for refugees and migrants, and its anticipated influence on the border security and control market. What are the direct effects on migrants and refugees who are already living in vulnerable situations? What does it mean for people crossing international borders, seeking asylum, and transiting the deadly and treacherous migrant routes across regions, continents and seas? And how are they affected by government responses to the outbreak?"
Transnational Institute
Akkerman, Mark
2020-07
-
Southwest Border: CBP Needs to Increase Oversight of Funds, Medical Care, and Reporting of Deaths, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Three children died in CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] custody between December 2018 and May 2019, prompting questions about CBP's medical care for those in its custody. In July 2019, an emergency supplemental appropriations act was enacted, providing additional funds to CBP, including funds for consumables and medical care. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review CBP's medical efforts for individuals in its custody along the southwest border. This report examines (1) the extent to which CBP obligated and oversaw funds for consumables and medical care, (2) steps CBP took to enhance medical care, (3) the extent to which CBP implemented and oversaw its medical care efforts, and (4) the extent to which CBP has reliable information on, and reported, deaths, serious injuries, and suicide attempts of individuals in custody."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-07
-
Streamlining the Value Chain Uploading Paper in Times of COVID-19
From the Introduction: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic engulfing the world has caused massive suffering and loss of life. As infection rates in some countries appear to be levelling off and lockdowns are relaxed, the economic impact of the virus is becoming increasingly clear. Substantial GDP [gross domestic product] declines of 7.5 percent in the Netherlands and 7 percent in Germany are expected. Some two million full-time job equivalents are estimated to have been lost in Western Europe in Q1 of 2020, a loss projected to rise to eight million by Q2."
Netherlands Institute of International Relations
Meester, Jos; Bisson, Loïc; Dekker, Brigitte
2020-07
-
Coast Guard: Actions Needed to Ensure Investments in Key Data System Meet Mission and User Needs, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The Coast Guard, within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is the principal federal agency responsible for maritime safety and security. The Coast Guard maintains and uses MISLE [Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement]--a data system that tracks and reports results data for nearly all Coast Guard missions. GAO was asked to review the status of MISLE and efforts to update it. This report examines (1) the extent to which MISLE supports Coast Guard operations and decision-making; (2) the extent to which the Coast Guard has policies, procedures, and training to ensure reliable MISLE data; and (3) Coast Guard efforts to enhance, upgrade, or replace MISLE since 2008. GAO reviewed Coast Guard plans and performance documents, policies and procedures related to MISLE data entry; select performance data for four missions from fiscal years 2014 through 2018, the most recent data available; and Coast Guard and DHS systems engineering life cycle and acquisition frameworks. GAO also interviewed Coast Guard field and headquarters MISLE users."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-07
-
Targeting Federal Funds: Information on Funding to Areas with Persistent or High Poverty, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The '10-20-30 formula' has been applied to appropriations for some federal programs since 2009. It requires that agencies use at least 10 percent of designated program funds in counties that have had poverty rates of at least 20 percent over the last 30 years (also known as 'persistent-poverty counties'). Legislation proposed in 2019 (H.R. 2055) would apply the formula to more programs for funds appropriated over the next 10 years. It also would require these programs to increase funding in 'high-poverty areas'-- census tracts with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent over the last 5 years. GAO identified 247 programs across 14 agencies that may fall within the scope of this bill. GAO was asked to review federal funding allocated to persistent-poverty counties and high-poverty areas. This report examines (1) characteristics of areas with persistent or high poverty, and (2) the percentage of funds that programs included in H.R. 2055 used in persistent-poverty counties and high-poverty areas in fiscal years 2017-2019."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-07
-
Regaining U.S. Global Leadership on Anticorruption
From the Introduction: "U.S. policymakers used to view international corruption largely as an issue relating to economic development. However, in recent years, they have come to recognize that it in fact affects a much wider set of U.S. interests. The United States' main geopolitical competitors are deploying corruption as a hybrid weapon: China seeks to win influence in Africa and other parts of the world dealing with weak governance, and Russia aims to undermine its neighbors' sovereignty. Globally, corruption-riddled governance drives migration and drug trafficking, while hindering the ability of border officials to enforce the law. Violent extremists exploit grievances around corruption to fuel recruitment and enable operations, while counterterrorism units are undermined by self-dealing. Corruption also slows progress on climate change: regulations can be bypassed through bribery, and massive energy projects are vulnerable to leakage."
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Bellows, Abigail
2020-07
-
El Salvador: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated July 1, 2020]
From the Introduction: "This report examines political, economic, security, and human rights conditions in El Salvador. It then analyzes selected issues in U.S.-Salvadoran relations that have been of particular interest to Congress, including foreign assistance, migration, security cooperation in addressing gangs and counternarcotics issues, human rights, and trade."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2020-07-01
-
COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment-- Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress [Updated June 29, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world. Other observers are more skeptical that the COVID-19 pandemic will have such effects. This report provides a brief overview of some potential implications the COVID-19 pandemic might have for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world, and a bibliography of CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports and other writings for further reading. Issues for Congress may include whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic could change the international security environment, whether the Trump Administration's actions for responding to such change are appropriate and sufficient, and what implications such change could have for the role of Congress in setting and overseeing the execution of U.S. foreign and defense policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; McInnis, Kathleen J.; Moodie, Michael, 1948-
2020-06-29
-
Bahrain: Unrest, Security, and U.S. Policy [Updated June 26, 2020]
From the Summary: "Bahrain is a small island nation, ruled by a hereditary monarchy, that is in a partnership with other Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf called the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman). Bahrain is led by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who succeeded his father, Shaykh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, upon his death in 1999. U.S.-Bahrain ties are long-standing and have deepened over the past four decades as the Gulf region has become highly volatile. The country has hosted a U.S. naval command headquarters for the Gulf region since 1948, and the United States and Bahrain have had a formal Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) since 1991. In 2004, Bahrain was designated by the United States as a 'major non-NATO ally.' There are nearly 5,000 U.S. forces, mostly Navy, serving at the naval facility and other bases in Bahrain, and the country is a significant buyer of U.S.-made arms. In 2014, Bahrain joined the U.S.-led coalition combatting the Islamic State and flew strikes against the group's fighters in Syria that year."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2020-06-26
-
Libya: Conflict, Transition, and U.S. Policy [Updated June 26, 2020]
From the Overview: "Libya's 2011 uprising and conflict brought Muammar al Qadhafi's four decades of authoritarian rule to an end. Competing factions and alliances--organized along local, regional, ideological, tribal, and personal lines--have jockeyed for influence and power in post-Qadhafi Libya, at times with the backing of rival foreign governments. In 2018, Ghassan Salamé, then-Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of the U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), argued that Libyans were struggling to overcome a political 'discourse of hatred' and 'mutual exclusion' that had prevented the completion of the country's transition to date. This discourse is in part a legacy of Qadhafi's decades of divisive rule and in part a product of the divisiveness, insecurity, and zero-sum competition that have followed his downfall."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2020-06-26
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5139, Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in Transportation Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on November 20, 2019. From the Document: "H.R. 5139 would require transportation carriers to create policies for reporting and combating sexual assault and sexual harassment that occurs on vehicles they operate, including procedures for reporting incidents, procedures for employees after such reports are filed, training for personnel who may receive such reports, and procedures for prohibiting future travel by passengers who cause such an incident. Covered carriers would include air carriers, certain motor carriers, commuter and intercity rail entities, transit entities, passenger vessels, transportation network companies, and for-hire vehicle companies."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2020-06-25
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5804, DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on February 12, 2020. From the Document: "H.R. 5804 would direct that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) develop Internet-based training programs to train federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and others as part of the department's Blue Campaign. The Blue Campaign is aimed at combating human trafficking. The bill also would create an advisory board of DHS officials who would provide information and data on human trafficking to the Blue Campaign."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2020-06-25
-
Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy: In Brief [Updated June 25, 2020]
From the Summary: "Afghanistan was elevated as a significant U.S. foreign policy concern in 2001, when the United States, in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, led a military campaign against Al Qaeda and the Taliban government that harbored and supported it. In the intervening 18 years, the United States has suffered around 2,400 military fatalities in Afghanistan (including four in combat in 2020 to date) and Congress has appropriated approximately $137 billion for reconstruction there.In that time, an elected Afghan government has replaced the Taliban, and most measures of human development have improved, although future prospects of those measures remain mixed. The fundamental objective of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan is 'preventing any further attacks on the United States by terrorists enjoying safe haven or support in Afghanistan,' according to the State Department's Integrated Country Strategy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
2020-06-25
