Lew, Shah and Petraeus back from Af-Pak
The U.S. civilian-military relationship in Afghanistan took center stage this week, as Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew, USAID Administrator Raj Shah, and Commander of U.S. Central Command David Petraeus were in the region reviewing our progress with the Afghan government. On Monday, all of the principals met with Afghan President Karzai to review civ/mil efforts for the coming year. Giving a thumbs-up to engagement, General Petraeus said, “These two days were about partnership here in Afghanistan – with U.S., international, and Afghan leaders working together to achieve common objectives, with emphasis on inclusiveness and transparency in all endeavors.” This afternoon, Lew and Shah will discuss their trips to the region with focus on how “diplomatic and development efforts – coordinated in our whole-of-government approach – are as critical to this mission as military efforts.” The USGLC will provide more information as it becomes available.
