Month: March 2014

What’s Next For Afghanistan?

The Dish

AFGHANISTAN-ELECTION-ATTACK

With the country’s presidential elections some two weeks away, Dov Zekheim offers his endorsement:

It is critical not only for Afghanistan, but for the United States and the West, that his successor be a man – all remaining candidates of the original 27 who put their names forward are men – who appreciates not only Western values, but actually lives by them. That man clearly is the current front runner by the slightest of margins, Ashraf Ghani. The former finance minister, advisor to Karzai (though his advice was invariably ignored), and World Bank official is a genuine friend of the West in general and of the United States in particular.

I had the distinct pleasure of working alongside him when, as Under Secretary of Defense, I also was DoD’s civilian coordinator for Afghanistan. Ashraf was finance minister at the time, and he was doing his utmost to employ such power that his office…

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Missions Grow as Money Declines, Odierno Tells Congress

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121895

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno answers a question from members of the House Armed Service Committee during a hearing as Army Secretary John M. McHugh listens in Washington, D.C., March 25, 2014. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mikki L. Sprenkle