RAND Experts Available to Discuss Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal

Experts from the RAND Corporation are available to discuss the challenges facing President Obama, who on Wednesday is expected to announce his decision on how many U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan beginning next month.

Amb. James Dobbins is director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at RAND, and was the Bush administration's representative to the Afghan opposition in 2001. He is the author of "After the Taliban: Nation-Building in Afghanistan" and "Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan."

Seth Jones is a senior political scientist and recently was an advisor to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan. He is the author of "In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan" and "Beating Back the Taliban," and recently testified before the House and Senate on "Transitioning to Afghan-Led Counterinsurgency."

Terry Kelly is a senior researcher specializing in counterinsurgency, security force assistance, and nation-building in Afghanistan. He lead a research project examining Security Force Assistance for Afghanistan, and in 2009 served on General McChrystal's assessment team.

Arturo Munoz is a senior political scientist focusing on insurgency, counterinsurgency, terrorism, and psychological operations in Afghanistan. Before joining RAND in 2009, he served 29 years in the Directorate of Operations and in the Directorate of Intelligence at the CIA. He is co-author of "Afghanistan's Local War: Building Local Defense Forces."

Olga Oliker is a senior international policy analyst specializing in international relations and national security policy, focusing on countries in conflict and transition. She is co-author of "The Impact of U.S. Military Drawdown in Iraq on Displaced and Other Vulnerable Populations."