On 15 May 2007 the United States selected Douglas Lute as its “war czar,” charged with coordinating U.S. strategy in both Iraq and Afghanistan. While this event occurred in Washington, D.C., it had implications for Afghanistan’s military-political environment: it signalled a shift toward more integrated U.S. oversight of the Afghan conflict and a possible escalation of U.S. commitment. The appointment influenced resource allocation, command structures and policy decisions affecting Afghan operations.
