U.S.-Taliban Peace Deal with Dr. Michael Rubin

Hopkins Podcast on Foreign Affairs

The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, launching the first phase of its global war on terrorism. Now, 20 years later, the US is still there. In February 2020, an agreement was concluded between the US and Taliban, paving the way for significant withdrawal of US troops, and laying the groundwork for intra-Afghan negotiations. However, only days after the signing, violence escalated between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Today, we will be discussing why a US-Taliban Peace deal is needed, why the US negotiated directly with the Taliban rather than the Afghan government, the consequences of failed negotiations, and the future prospects of peace in Afghanistan. Joining us today is Dr. Michael Rubin.

Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, where he specializes in Iran, Turkey, and the broader Middle East. He also regularly teaches classes at sea about Middle East conflicts, culture, terrorism, and the Horn of Africa to deployed US Navy and Marine units.

A former Pentagon official, Dr. Rubin has lived in post-revolution Iran, Yemen, and both pre- and postwar Iraq, and he spent time with the Taliban before 9/11. He is the author, coauthor, and coeditor of several books exploring diplomacy, Iranian history, Arab culture, Kurdish studies, and Shi’ite politics, including “Seven Pillars: What Really Causes Instability in the Middle East?” (AEI Press, 2019); “Kurdistan Rising” (AEI Press, 2016); “Dancing with the Devil: The Perils of Engaging Rogue Regimes” (Encounter Books, 2014); and “Eternal Iran: Continuity and Chaos” (Palgrave, 2005).

Dr. Rubin has a PhD and an MA in history from Yale University, where he also obtained a BS in biology.

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U.S.-Taliban Peace Deal with Dr. Michael Rubin