[h=3]By NATHAN HODGE[/h]KABUL—U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Afghanistan Saturday on a surprise visit a day ahead of a key conference in Tokyo that is expected to secure long-term international assistance for the war-torn country.
Mrs. Clinton also delivered a pep talk to U.S. diplomatic personnel. In a meeting with U.S. embassy staff in Kabul, Mrs. Clinton pushed back against recent media reports about botched efforts to send civilian experts in development and governance to complement a military troop surge.
Afghanistan is considered a hardship tour for U.S. diplomats, and Mrs. Clinton took a swipe at "naysayers and cynics who are quick to criticize what we do here."
Noting that the embassy in Kabul has twice come under attack over the past year, Mrs. Clinton said "none of us have any illusions about how hard the road ahead will be."
Mrs. Clinton also delivered a pep talk to U.S. diplomatic personnel. In a meeting with U.S. embassy staff in Kabul, Mrs. Clinton pushed back against recent media reports about botched efforts to send civilian experts in development and governance to complement a military troop surge.
Afghanistan is considered a hardship tour for U.S. diplomats, and Mrs. Clinton took a swipe at "naysayers and cynics who are quick to criticize what we do here."
Noting that the embassy in Kabul has twice come under attack over the past year, Mrs. Clinton said "none of us have any illusions about how hard the road ahead will be."