Afghanistan’s senior leaders seem more intent on making deals than solving problems. No amount of coalition spending will give the country the leadership it needs to unite the people in building the nation. Yet Gandhi persuaded India’s Hindus and Muslims to join in efforts that brought independence from Great Britain, and courageous, visionary, and especially ethical leadership can do the same in Afghanistan. Those who can rally their publics to embrace a shared vision are known here as transformational leaders, and while it will not be a quick process producing them, it is possible through a patient coalition effort to train promising individuals to represent a more viable and trusted source of leadership than the Taliban. Nine steps can establish a transformational leader production line. Failing that, matters will probably revert to the status quo when the coalition leaves. The same dynamics apply to failed and failing states everywhere.