. >> tom lynch is here. >> oh, hello. >> i'm tom. nice to meet you. >> nice to meet you. this is your aunt? >> this is my aunt. >> is that mrs. leonard? or ms. leonard? >> ms. leonard. >> i'm tom lynch. i'm pleased to meet you. i'm going to sit down here and chat with you for a little bit, okay? >> oh, please do. >> aunt mary, mr. lynch would like to talk with you and i about what you would like to have... about funeral arrangements and death preparation. can you... would you like to speak with him about that? >> oh, yes. >> mary was getting progressively worse. she wanted very much to remain independent, but it came to a point she realized she really couldn't be on her own. she was diagnosed with lung cancer, and within a couple of weeks she checked herself into hospice. i don't know why she was so direct with death and dying. she was not a woman of faith. she searched for it but she hadn found it. she felt she'd lived a very good life. and she spoke openly of it. >> cremation is what you've chosen. cremation? aunt mary, would you like to be cremated? >> yes. >> i think

as mentioned, i'm tom lynch and i want to thank new america for having me here today. as already been mentioned by michael authors it is truly an honor to be included in this work, particularly because of the terrific piece in the distinguished chapters by the authors and that shivered from to become and several that are not here today, one of which i intend to allude to my comments as ago for. in that context i think the book is special at this time as has been alluded to because i think it is irrelevant and very important in terms of our understanding of this region, this afghanistan-pakistan region, now and going forward. so thanks again to peter bergen for the inspiration for this working for the opportunity today. as i mentioned, i'm a research note of the national defense university so i must make the specific opening comment. the remarks i am about to make and written i chapter 14 of the book neither rep -- neither represent my old employer, department of defense but, in fact, represent my own research and conclusions. i think for the opportunity provided by nat