Karl Eikenberry: “It's essential that the Government of Afghanistan has a capable army that is able to reach throughout the country.”

We and our international partners must implement a thoughtful civilian strategy that strengthens effective government services and builds a stable coalition.

We need a strong cadre of Americans in our government, military, business, civil society, academe, and beyond who have the right skills and experience to help America stay connected with the world and shape outcomes that secure our…

There is a balance here. It's the absence of a coherent state of Afghanistan that paved the way for the rise of the Taliban and then facilitated the entry of al Qaeda.

When we hear ourselves being called occupiers and worse, and our generous aid programs are being dismissed as totally ineffective and the source of all corruption, our pride is offended, and we begin to lose our inspiration to carry on.