The assassination of Abdul Qadir serves as an ominous harbinger for the future of peace in Afghanistan. As Hamid Karzai tries to maintain a loosely established order in an area known for its warlordism and internal strife, the US is pondering its next step.

The Bush administration maintains that America can and should be held responsible for the training of the new Afghan army, and for the development of a secure Afghanistan. Critics are claiming, however, that the Bush plan will, at best, do little to secure peace in Afghanistan during the years to come.

Should the United States up its efforts in Afghanistan, or, in doing so, would we simply be asking for another international quagmire? What can, or should, the United States do to secure peace in Afghanistan, and how should we look at our role abroad?

Guests:

Ralph Peters, retired Army intelligence officer, and author, most recently, of “Beyond Terror: Strategy in a Changing World.”

Milton Copulos, President of the National Defense Council, Decorated Vietnam veteran and Cabinet-level advisor to former Presidents Reagan and Bush.