James B. Cunningham: “I applaud President Obama's decision to maintain the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan through 2016 and beyond.”

This strategy for peace correctly aligned three elements for getting the Taliban to genuine negotiations...

The ultimate expression of political power in this country comes not from the branches of our government and those that serve as public officials in them, but from the people.

An agreement which fails in fact to open the way to peace for Afghanistan will be a defeat for U.S. leadership and values.

An orderly and legitimate constitutional political transition through Presidential elections in 2014 is critical to future Afghan stability.