Zalmay Khalilzad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zalmay Khalilzad
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Khalilzad in 2011
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| U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation | |
| In office September 21, 2018 – October 19, 2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas West |
| 26th United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office April 30, 2007 – January 22, 2009 |
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| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | John Bolton |
| Succeeded by | Susan Rice |
| United States Ambassador to Iraq | |
| In office June 21, 2005 – March 26, 2007 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | John Negroponte |
| Succeeded by | Ryan Crocker |
| 15th United States Ambassador to Afghanistan | |
| In office September 2, 2004 – June 20, 2005 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Robert Finn |
| Succeeded by | Ronald E. Neumann |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad
March 22, 1951 Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan |
| Spouse | Cheryl Benard |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | American University of Beirut (BA, MA) University of Chicago (PhD) |
Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad (Pashto: زلمی خلیل زاد, Dari: زلمی خلیلزاد; born March 22, 1951) is an American diplomat and expert in foreign policy. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. Khalilzad has held several important roles in the United States government.
From 2018 to 2021, he was the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. This means he worked to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. Before this, he served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2007 to 2009. He was also the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (2005–2007) and Afghanistan (2004–2005).
Khalilzad was born in Afghanistan and moved to the United States as a high school exchange student. He later earned his doctorate degree from the University of Chicago. During the Reagan Administration, he advised the U.S. government on the Soviet–Afghan War. He also worked as a consultant for international businesses.
In 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Khalilzad to work on peace in Afghanistan. He continued this role under President Joe Biden. In this job, he helped create the US–Taliban deal and supported the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
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Early Life and Education
Zalmay Khalilzad was born in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. He grew up in Kabul, the capital city. He is from the Pashtun ethnic group. He went to the Ghazi Lycée school in Kabul.
Khalilzad first came to the United States as a high school exchange student. He was part of the AFS Intercultural Programs in Ceres, California. Later, he studied at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees. He then received his doctorate from the University of Chicago. There, he worked closely with Albert Wohlstetter, a well-known thinker on nuclear defense.
Early Career in Government
From 1979 to 1989, Khalilzad taught political science at Columbia University. During this time, he worked with Zbigniew Brzezinski. Brzezinski helped plan U.S. support for the Afghan fighters who were resisting the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1984, Khalilzad joined the US State Department for a year. He advised on issues in the Near East and South Asia. From 1985 to 1989, he worked for the Reagan administration. He advised on the Soviet–Afghan War. He helped guide the international plan to support a mujahideen-led Afghanistan against the Soviet occupation.
From 1990 to 1992, he worked for President George H. W. Bush in the US Defense Department. He was a deputy undersecretary for policy planning.
Work at RAND Corporation
Between 1993 and 2000, Khalilzad was a director at the RAND Corporation. This is a research organization that advises governments. He helped start RAND's Center for Middle Eastern Studies. He also wrote important papers on topics like the United States' relationship with China.
During his time at RAND, he also advised a company called Unocal. This company was looking into building a gas pipeline through Afghanistan to Pakistan.
Views on U.S. Role in the World
Khalilzad has written many articles about the importance of the United States leading the world. He believed that if American power decreased, it could lead to global instability. His writings are often used in high school and college debates.
In 1998, Khalilzad signed a letter to President Bill Clinton. The letter asked Clinton to help remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. It suggested using diplomatic, political, and military efforts.
American Politics
Khalilzad has always been a Republican. However, he did not support Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016.
United States' Global Role
Some people have called Khalilzad a "neoconservative." This term describes someone who believes in using American power to promote democracy and U.S. interests around the world. In 2006, he even wrote an article called "The Neoconservative Case for Negotiating With Iran."
In 1995, Khalilzad shared his thoughts on the U.S. role after the Cold War. He said the United States should be ready to use force if needed. He believed that controlling regions like East Asia, Europe, and the Persian Gulf (because of its oil) was very important for American interests. He also argued that the U.S. military should be strong enough to handle "two major regional conflicts at the same time."
Afghanistan and the Taliban
In 2001, Khalilzad argued that the United States needed to act to weaken the Taliban. He suggested several ways to do this:
- Help the groups that opposed the Taliban.
- Speak out against the Taliban's ideas, for example, on the Voice of America radio.
- Pressure Pakistan to stop supporting the Taliban.
- Help people who were suffering because of the Taliban.
- Support moderate Afghans in forming a new government.
- Make Afghanistan a more important issue for the U.S. government.
Peace Process in Afghanistan
In 2009, Khalilzad spoke about the peace process in Afghanistan. He told President Hamid Karzai that peace was necessary. However, he also said that the Afghan government needed to fix its own problems first. He believed that dealing with corruption and improving services would make people want to support the government. If judges were corrupt and services were bad, people might not want to fight for that side.
Work in the George W. Bush Administration (2001-2009)
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan
After the September 11, 2001, attacks, President George W. Bush relied on Khalilzad's knowledge of Afghanistan. Khalilzad helped plan the effort to remove the Taliban from power. In 2001, he became Bush's special envoy for Afghanistan.
From 2003 to 2005, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. During this time, he helped with several important events:
- He oversaw the writing of the new constitution of Afghanistan.
- He was involved in the country's first democratic elections.
- He helped organize the first meeting of Afghanistan's Loya Jirga, a traditional grand assembly.
He also helped establish the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF). This was the first American-style university in Afghanistan. In 2016, he received an award for his public service there.
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
Khalilzad became the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq on June 21, 2005. He helped negotiate agreements that led to the approval of the Constitution of Iraq in 2005. He also worked to ensure the December 2005 elections went smoothly. He played a big part in forming Iraq's first government after Saddam Hussein. He also helped create the American University of Iraq in Sulaimaniya.
Many people saw Khalilzad as a successful ambassador in Iraq. He was praised for understanding Iraqi culture and connecting with the people. He was one of the first officials to warn that violence between different groups was becoming a bigger threat than the insurgency. After a mosque bombing in 2006, he warned that spreading violence could lead to civil war. He worked to find political solutions and balance power among Iraq's main ethnic groups. His term as ambassador ended in March 2007.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
In February 2007, Khalilzad was nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The US Senate approved him without any opposing votes in March 2007. This was different from his predecessor, John R. Bolton, who faced more challenges.
Colleagues at the UN noted that Khalilzad had a more cooperative style. In 2007, he stated that Iran was helping rebel groups in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also said that Iran was continuing its nuclear program. He explained that the U.S. would try to get the United Nations Security Council to impose more sanctions against Iran.
In August 2008, he urged the Security Council to condemn Russia's military attack on Georgia.
Private Sector Work (2009–2018)
From 2009 to 2018, Khalilzad led Khalilzad Associates, LLC. This company advised global businesses on how to work in different international markets. His company mainly helped businesses interested in working in Iraq and Afghanistan. These businesses were in areas like energy, construction, education, and infrastructure.
Khalilzad also served on the boards of several important organizations. These included the National Endowment for Democracy and the Atlantic Council. He also served on the boards of the American University of Iraq and the American University of Afghanistan.
In 2016, Khalilzad published his autobiography, The Envoy: From Kabul to the White House, My Journey Through a Turbulent World.
Envoy for Afghan Reconciliation
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In September 2018, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo named Khalilzad as the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. This was a new role created to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. He continued in this role under President Joe Biden.
In May 2021, Khalilzad spoke to a U.S. House of Representatives committee. He said he did not believe the Taliban would quickly take over Afghanistan after U.S. forces left. He stated that Afghan security forces and other Afghans would fight. He believed the choice for Afghans was between a long war and a negotiated peace. However, the 2021 Taliban offensive led to a very quick Taliban takeover.
Awards and Recognition
Khalilzad has received awards from three different U.S. Secretaries of Defense. These awards recognized his excellent public service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and his earlier work in the Defense Department.
He has also received the highest national medals from the presidents of Afghanistan, Georgia, and Kosovo. In Afghanistan, he received the King Amanullah Medal in 2005. In Georgia, he was given the Order of the Golden Fleece in 2016. Kosovo's president awarded him the Order of Independence in 2017.
Personal Life
Khalilzad is an ethnic Pashtun. His wife is Cheryl Benard, an author and political analyst. They met in 1972 when they were both students at the American University of Beirut. They have two children.
See also
In Spanish: Zalmay Khalilzad para niños
