Susan Rice in Afghanistan

US President's National Security Advisor Susan Rice is in Afghanistan from November 23-26 on her first trip in her new post where she will visit troops and civilians and assess "the situation on the ground," it was announced Monday. National Security Council Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden said in a statement that this trip "is an opportunity for Ambassador Rice to take stock of our efforts and meet with American troops serving in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and our civilians at the US Mission to Afghanistan." Rice will also "hear directly from US troops, diplomats, and development professionals about our efforts as we move toward the responsible conclusion of our combat mission at the end of 2014 and as we continue to strengthen Afghanistan to ensure that it can provide security, governance, and opportunity for its people." Rice will also meet with Afghan civil society leaders and Afghan officials, as well as visit US-supported assistance projects, according to the statement