When leaders are no longer beholden to the people who elected them, corruption results and the recruitment of extremists becomes easier.

In America, people buy cars, and they put very little money down. They get a car, and they go to work. The work pays them a salary; the salary allows them to pay for the car over time. The car pays for itself.

The best way poor people can come out of their poverty is to get on the global highway, not on some dirt side road.

The rapid proliferation of cell phones in Afghanistan proves that anything that adds value to people's lives spreads like brushfire - and commerce is certainly a force that could add value for Afghanis.

During the Cold War, the U.S. instituted a policy of sending money to governments in poor countries to buy their political loyalty. While studies show that sending aid to foreign governments creates allegiance, it does not lead to economic progress.

Rich countries have been sending aid to poor countries for the last 60 years. And, by and large, this has failed.