Visas for Afghan Businessmen and women: Former Ambassador to Afghanistan Ron Neumann has agreed to chair the WG on this thorny issue which has been a problem for AACC in bringing Afghan businesspeople to the U.S. for Matchmaking purposes. Since Homeland security is the “black box” in the equation, the former Assistant Secretary for Immigration, Stewart Verdery has also joined with businessmen and women who will share their experience (usually unpleasant and not endearing to America), former and present State and Consular officials on this WG to help the USG reduce the time, effort, indecision and bad public relations with Afghan leaders that accompanies nearly every Afghan application except those with Western passports and deep past history with the USG. AACC envisions a kind of thorough, albeit admittedly preliminary, vetting of a list of the most prominent traders, manufacturers, and other businessmen, perhaps some 200 from across the country and gradually building on that list. At the very least, these people will have been made known to the issuing authorities by virtue of standardized materials and supporting documents that are signed-off on by AACC. It is not pretty when Switzerland, Germany and France to name a few are welcoming Afghan business leaders while their U.S. ally is denying them entry.