"What is important for our friends and partners here in the Middle East to be assured of is that the United States will be very open and transparent about these contacts, and we will keep our friends informed of what is going on so that nobody gets surprised,".

VOA: standard.2009.05.05

And that team is continuing to gather that information." A U.S.advocacy group, Physicians for Human Rights, says that allowing Dostum to return to any position of power before there is a thorough and transparent investigation of allegations against him will been seen by Afghans as confirmation that warlords like Dostum have impunity for their crimes.

VOA: standard.2009.08.17