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That is an opportunity that we missed. We would have needed a policy based on the culture of the place, based on the culture in Kabul and the culture in Herat, the culture in Mazar-e-Sharif, but not based on the culture of Washington. I think this was one of the biggest problems...”

I agree, and it's because the culture of DC has been shaped by a pedigree that assumes that the hierarchy of academics means something. It doesn't. At all. You can't predict by 'pedigree' who is the best person for any job - particularly one that requires thinking outside the box and beyond what is in textbooks or Ted talks.

One of the best ways to increase the intrinsic real world knowledge and effective world approach in DC is to put in place a moratorium on any appointments or hires of those from the Ivy League, or other 'top tier' university background. I am entirely serious.

I served with an officer (USN) who was “educated” at Yale. He told me he was headed to Yale from the moment he was born. And not just based on family tradition and schooling alone. Generations of relationships formed there with other families’ kids had served his family very well in networking, that is productive relationships that opened doors in finance, government etc.. Probably applies to lots of schools, but the Ivy League is preeminent in this regard.