In June 1997, “The former Special Envoy to the Afghan resistance, Peter Tomsen, now the U.S. ambassador to Armenia, wrote a pleading Secret cable [titled ‘Afghanistan Settlement–Analysis and Policy Recommendations’] to State principals: ‘We have long underestimated the geo-political threat of Afghan instability to U.S. interests. …We should conduct a major Afghan policy review and implement a more resolute Afghan policy. A passive U.S. approach will continue to leave the field to the Pakistani and Arab groups supporting the Islamic extremists.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, Page 352