Surge

The Taliban resurgence after 2005 threatened Afghanistan’s achievements.  In response, a larger Afghan and NATO force deployed.  I spoke out early and often about the need to end support for the Taliban from outside Afghanistan.  My four years with UNAMA ended in May 2009 – just as the US surge authorized by President Obama was beginning.  This photo was taken during Richard Holbrooke’s first visit to Afghanistan: we are standing on demobilized Soviet tanks in cantonment in Herat.