thank you ambassador hakimi. please give ambassador hakimi a round of applause.tion jim warlick ambassador who did a great job. we have great agreement in place. what is the future with that agreement? it's going to be difficult. afghanistan faces challenges and all of us are aware of those challenges but i think the odds are very much in favor of success with the bsa in place. will it be in place? the afghan people have spoken and the afghan presidential candidates and number who i spoke with in kabul when i was there aren't favor of signing the bsa so i think it's a virtual certainty that the bsa will be signed. the issue whether president karzai signs it or not in my view is irrelevant. we need to make sure we plan effectively for him signing in moving forward. i truly hope any of the cost ambassador dobbins mentioned if there is delay are mitigated effectively by the planning capacity that our military and state department and agencies have. i personally don't believe there's any need or any particular cost as long as we keep our eye on the long game as is th

i also want to acknowledge that incredible work of ambassadors juwad and hakimi. you have been both stalwarts for your nation. you sit here not only representing yourselves but the incredible work and partnership we've had with the afghan government. so it is great to see you. and i also want to acknowledge three three folks here. steve hadley, congratulations on taking over the board chairmanship. those of us who have worked here and loved and are proud of this institution are thrilled with you stepping up to do that. and jim dobbins is someone who has taught us all now going on, i won't say how long but at least about 15 years about how we need to think about peace and security and the u.s. involvement and so the fact that you have stepped back into this role, there couldn't abettor person and a better perspective. i also want to acknowledge bill taylor who i saw walking in but bill is also, i met bill first in afghanistan in 2:00 and remains to me one of the best examples after diplomat and boss that i have ever had. -2002. when i traveled to afghanistan for th

i went to single out ambassador hakimi. he led the negotiations. they are very collegial, professional, and have resulted seesat i believe everyone as an agreement that is both and that best interest of the afghan people in government and the people of the united states. ambassador,k you, and i would like everyone to give them a round of applause. thank you. [applause] i also want to mention m bassett -- i would also want to mention american ambassador jim warlick. ,fghanistan faces challenges and all of us are aware of those challenges. the odds are very much in favor of success with the bsa in place. will it be in place echo the afghan presidential candidates, a number of them i spoke to in kabul are in favor of starting ae bsa. i think it is certainty that it will be signed. whether or not karzai signs it is irrelevant. we need to make sure we plan effectively for him not signing it and moving forward. i truly hope that any of the ambassador dobbins mentioned that might occur if there is delay are mitigated effectively by the great planning capa