Secretary Rice: Travel to London and Afghanistan, February 5-7, 2008

Rebuilding the Security Institutions in Afghanistan Secretary Rice (Feb. 7): "...when I was here three years ago as the new Secretary of State at the time, I did speak about what I thought to be the remarkable progress of Afghanistan in developing its democratic institutions and beginning to provide for its people, in providing through the international community roads which this country essentially did not have....And I see that that progress continues. Could we all expect that the security situation would still be difficult? Yes, because Afghanistan has determined enemies who, as I said, laid waste to this country over a period of more than a decade....So of course, it's going to be difficult to rebuild the institutions like the security institutions." Full Text

Secretary Rice traveled to London, United Kingdom, February 6, 2008. While in London, Secretary Rice  participated in bilateral meetings with senior British officials, including Foreign Secretary David Miliband. They discussed a wide range of issues, including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Transatlantic Alliance. Secretary Rice and British Foreign Secretary Miliband arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit February 7, and meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other officials. --02/07/08 Remarks With UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai --02/07/08 Remarks With UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband at Kandahar Air Base --02/07/08 Briefing With UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband En Route Afghanistan --02/06/08 Remarks With UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband --02/05/08 Remarks En route London, England