President's Forum with Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad
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Zalmay Khalizad at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum. (Photo by Worrd Economic Forum/flickr)
NEW YORK, March 12, 2008 - At Asia Society's New York City headquarters, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, permanent representative of the United States to the United Nations, and the highest-ranking Muslim official in the Bush administration, spoke with Asia Society President Vishakha N. Desai about future US relations with Iran and and current international priorities at the United Nations.
In one of the high points of the discussion, responding to the charge that the US may have "lost its way" in Afghanistan, Ambassador Khalilzad drew on his own experience as US Ambassador to that country to emphasize the need for better coordination not only between the military and civilian relief efforts but also among the civilian aid organizations themselves.
Asked what advice he would offer Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, meanwhile, the Ambassador suggested greater accountability and transparency are needed to help restore average Afghan citizens' faith in their leaders.
Excerpt: Ambassador Khalilzad's advice to Afghanistan President Karzai (5 min.)
Entire Program - Listen on Demand (1 hr., 30 min.)
