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Thu, Mar 12th 2009, 04:54

Patrick Edwin Moran, Wake Forest University, Platinum Contributor (201)

The U.S. is not the only country hindered in fulfilling some of its responsibilities by individuals in government whose model of leadership is domination in a way more appropriate to a king than nurturing through acting as a “servant of the people.” Ambassador Murshed’s brief history of Afghanistan may indicate that central governments in Afghanistan have typically had difficulty securing the allegiance of their own people because their attempts have been geared to compelling obedience rather than attracting allegiance.

Thu, Mar 12th 2009, 08:04

Colette Grace Mazzucelli, Hofstra University / New York University, Platinum Contributor (333)

Ambassador,

Thank you for your comments. I would be interested to know your thoughts about the potential impact of increased European contributions in Afghanistan on the civilian side, particularly in the area of police training, as a way to foster state-building capacity in country. Can a concerted multilateral effort on the civilian side working from the inside out in Afghanistan help promote stability in country and in the immediate neighborhood in ways that economic assistance, which can be channeled in other directions than where it is most needed, cannot? In which areas on the civilian side should the EU prioritize concerted action in Afghaistan during the months ahead?

Sincerely, Colette