Lessons Learned from Oversight of War and Reconstruction Efforts in Afghanistan

Lessons Learned from Oversight of War and Reconstruction Efforts in Afghanistan

In the past year, Congress has disbursed roughly $100 billion in total aid in support of Ukraine’s efforts to beat back Russia’s brutal invasion. This aid has enabled Ukraine to halt Russia’s advance, but the very large volume and speed of its dispersal raises questions about accountability. John Sopko, who has served as Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction since 2012, has advocated for the creation of a special inspector general for Ukraine aid, but the White House and many in Congress oppose this.

What lessons can we learn from the U.S. government’s experience dispersing military and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan? Why is it important to follow a whole of government approach to oversight, rather than relying on individual inspectors at agencies like the Department of Defense and State? What advantage is to be gained by setting up comprehensive oversight now, rather than later?

July 2023

27
12:00 PM EDT

Join us for a timely and important discussion with:

John Sopko

John F. Sopko was sworn in as the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction on July 2, 2012, the U.S. government’s leading agency on Afghanistan reconstruction. He has more than 30 years of experience in oversight and investigations as a prosecutor, congressional counsel, and senior federal government advisor.

Danielle Brian

Danielle Brian is the executive director and president of the Project On Government Oversight (POGO). Under her leadership, the organization has grown from two employees and a budget in the thousands of dollars in 1993 to an organization with a staff of fifty and a budget of eight million.

Andrew Bacevich

Andrew Bacevich co-founded the Quincy Institute in 2019 and is the Chairman of the institution’s board of directors. He is Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University. He is the author of several bestselling books including most recently, On Shedding an Obsolete Past: Bidding Farewell to the American Century (2022).

Suzanne Loftus (Moderator)

Suzanne Loftus is Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute’s Eurasia Program. She specializes in Russian foreign and domestic policy, nationalism and identity, and strategic competition between the great powers. Prior to arriving at QI, Suzanne was a professor of National Security at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany.

DONATE

© Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, #7000, Washington D.C., 20006

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.