Phil Mickelson recovered from a double-bogey six at the third hole to also post a 69, leaving him one shot adrift of McDowell and tied for third with compatriot Steve Stricker (69).
Describing post-war planning as a "black hole", he said UK officials had tried to engage US counterparts on the issue but Washington did not "get their act together until very late in the day".
Mr Berman told the Washington Post that although "billions have gone down a rat hole in the past" in Pakistan, he did not want to "micromanage" the country's use of the new money.