Blog

27/10/2011 at 13:41 | 0 comments

I just attended literacy training -- in Wardak province, Afghanistan. The class was full of Afghan National Police recruits. It is part of the ongoing effort to increase literacy in the Afghan Security Forces, led by the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan and US Army Lieutenant General Bill Caldwell. The visit was the capstone event in a three day trip to Kabul, Kandahar, and Wardak.

20/10/2011 at 17:17 | 2 comments

I recently was lucky enough to win the Athenagoras Human Rights Award, presented annually for exemplifying "concern for the basic rights and religious freedom of all people.” Past winners have included Presidents Bush and Carter, Mother Theresa, Bishop Tutu, and many world religious leaders over the past twenty years.

12/10/2011 at 16:58 | 1 comments

I'm flying home from several days in Russia, a country which has always fascinated me. We need to learn more about Russia if we are going to find ways to improve our cooperation with them in a NATO context.

03/10/2011 at 16:03 | 0 comments

This coming week, the 28 Ministers of Defense of the NATO alliance will gather in Brussels for meetings and discussions. They will be accompanied by another 22 Ministers from additional troop contributing nations in Afghanistan -- in essence, the entire coalition will be represented.