Clinton Cites Civilian Effort As Vital in Afghanistan

DVIDS ^ | 12.02.2009 | Samantha Quigley

[tongue-tied]

WASHINGTON - Civilian partnerships, in combination with military efforts, are crucial to success in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told the Senate Armed Services Committee, Dec. 2.

The current civilian effort would expand through a "civilian surge" if Congress approves Obama's strategy for the way ahead, Clinton said.

"Civilian experts and advisors are helping to craft policy inside [Afghan] government ministries, providing development assistance in the field, and working in scores of other roles," the secretary said. "When our Marines went into Nawa this July, we had civilians on the ground with them to coordinate assistance the next day."

For the nonmilitary portion of the president's strategy to be effective, Clinton said, the Afghan people and the United States must hold Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government accountable for keeping its promise to fight corruption and improve governance. The State Department intends to help in strengthening Afghan institutions at every level of society so that the country doesn't fall into chaos when U.S. troops begin to withdraw in 2011, she added.

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The State Department's role in stabilizing Afghanistan will take it outside that country's borders to neighboring Pakistan, Clinton said. The country of 175 million with a nuclear arsenal and its own challenges must become a key partner in the fight against violent extremism, she said, noting that terrorist attacks in Pakistan earlier this year have made the country increasingly aware that it shares a common enemy with the United States.

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The United States is looking beyond NATO to build the broadest possible global coalition to meet the challenges ahead, Clinton said.

Everything these guys do, it is all about a "global effort". They make me sick.

I do have some global ammo - Russian, USA, R.O. Korea...I guess in some ways I have to agree. (j/k)

[RVN Airplane Driver]

Most Americans with a brain understand that zero’s handlers stipulated that hillary needed to be away....far away and what better than being Sec of State. Bitch is out of Washington and zero’s hair. Got to give the boy his dues on this one....mission accomplished. Of course her mutterings from afar still are senseless.