Top Afghan Watchdog Resigns

Arnold Fields, the U.S. official charged with overseeing billions of dollars of reconstruction costs in Afghanistan, has stepped down from his post. The move comes a week after he fired two of his top deputies amid accusations from Congress of mismanagement and incompetence. President Bush appointed Fields in 2008 and he’s spent much of his time since then under fire: In December 2009, three senators said he did not hire enough staff or issue enough audits; last summer, an inspectors general report said Fields’ office failed to meet the minimum standards for investigation. And just last month, Senator Claire McCaskill told Fields, “I don’t think you’re the right person for this job” on the Senate floor.