Expertise
Counter-terrorism; Arab-Israeli issues; Persian Gulf security; India and Pakistan
Background
Past Positions
Special Advisor, NATO, Brussels, Belgium (2003-2006); Member, Royal College of Defense Studies, London, UK (2002-2003); Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and North African Affairs, National Security Council (2001-2002); Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs, National Security Council (1997-2001); Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near East and South Asian Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense (1995-1997); National Intelligence Officer for Near East and South Asian Affairs, National Intelligence Council (1993-1995); Director for Gulf and South Asia Affairs, National Security Council (1991-1993); Deputy Chief Persian Gulf Task Force, Central Intelligence Agency (1990-1991); Various assignments, Central Intelligence Agency (1977-1990)
Expert Awards
Department of State Meritorious Honor Award, 2006; Distinguished Intelligence Medal, 2001; Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, 1997; Intelligence Medal of Merit, 1991
Education
M.A., Harvard University, 1977; B.A., Brown University, 1975
"The Taliban feel that momentum is on their side right now in the war in Afghanistan. And every statistical measure of the conflict would suggest that that is correct. The rate of attacks is up, the number of casualties of NATO and American forces is up, the amount of territory that U.N. and other third parties evaluate is under the control of the Taliban or outside the control of the government continues to increase. It's hard for me to imagine that the Taliban is going to be seriously interested in negotiations or that you can find defections from the Taliban when they feel they're winning."