Late last week, President Barack Obama announced his decision to slow the drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, leaving 8,400 troops there until the end of his term. Media accounts characterized this as a vote of confidence in Afghanistan's government but also an acknowledgement that U.S. efforts to build an Afghan force capable of securing the entire country had fallen short. Will the slower drawdown strengthen U.S. efforts at nation-building in Afghanistan? Is nation-building even possible there or elsewhere? Dr. John R. Deni invited his SSI colleague Dr. Chris Mason to discuss Mason's newest publication, a Parameters article entitled "Nation-Building is an Oxymoron," as well as last week's announcement on the slowed drawdown. Released 15 July 2016.