1.  a) Who is the president of Afghanistan?
b) What did he get President Obama to do during a recent meeting at the White House?

2. a) What is the ALP?  Be specific.
b) Why is the ALP program controversial?
c) How did NATO spokesman U.S. Army Col. Don Bolduc respond to the concerns?

3.  a) What did a report written for the U.S. military warn would happen if the Afghan government's demands were met?
b)  On what information did security expert Seth Jones back up the findings of the report?

4.  What do U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan say should be the determining factor for U.S. troop withdrawal from the country?

5.  a) What is the major concern for U.S. special ops advisers regarding the ALP program?
b)  A U.S. Navy SEAL team leader in Helmand described his worry that ALP units could collapse without serious backing from the Afghan state.  What does he think the best outcome could be?

6.  Do you think President Obama should have agreed to President Karzai's demand that U.S. troops be withdrawn from Afghan villages earlier than planned? Explain your answer.