Opinion | From Kabul to Baghdad, My Bird’s-Eye View

I had the distinct pleasure of dining and sharing with Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Goldfein our successes, during a planned stop along an eight-day Middle East tour. Additionally, it was an honor to meet and speak with New York Times foreign affairs columnist and Minnesota native Mr. Thomas Friedman (one of my favorite authors) about his travels. Thomas’s recent article sums up for me what oftentimes is absent back home—understanding and unifying common goals amidst complex intercultural differences. If you cannot tell, I was certainly excited and grateful for the unique meeting of these exceptional Americans!