Civilian Protection

The challenges Libya faces are not just about uniting a fractured society. They are also about building responsive and accountable governance institutions out of the ashes of the skeletal ministries left behind.

Despite the number of complex global challenges we currently face, few government officials making key decisions actually have the formal training needed to properly address the underlying drivers and policy implications.

General McChrystal knew that you stop insurgent threats through good intelligence and trust among the community. It only takes one night raid to undermine years of tactical restraint and goodwill-building measures.

No matter his diplomatic wrongs, there is one piece of him we need to keep in Afghanistan: his emphasis on civilian protection.

A man in his early 30s summarized the pragmatism of many Afghanis: "If the Taliban tap me on the shoulder, I will be with them, and if the government taps me on my shoulder I will be with them."