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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Monday, September 28, 2009

Karzai and drift

Yeah. That's what the Afghanistan effort needs. A Karzai, delegitimized by a corrupt election, continuing his exercise in non-power.
The United States and NATO countries fighting in Afghanistan have told President Hamid Karzai's government that they expect him to remain in office for another five-year term and will work with him on an expanded campaign to turn insurgent fighters against the Taliban and other militant groups.


Forget the discussion of troop levels. The issue in Afghanistan is Karzai.

posted by mikevotes at 8:07 AM

6 Comments:

  • There's going to be some kind of deal with the Taliban sooner or later. Karzai is the best guy to make it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:20 AM  

  • Yeah. Maybe. A deal is inevitable, I just see KArzai as so damaged. Can he make a deal besides turning over power?

    However, I don't see a viable competitor or better person for the job. It's just that he holds so little sway, and the people don't listen to him.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 10:10 AM  

  • Afghanistan is rudder-less with regard to civilian governance. It seems to be on the verge of chaos/collapse as a functioning nation (if it is at all).

    I won't pretend to understand what's going on in Afghanistan, but it looks like the new Afghanistan will look an awful lot like the old Afghanistan when the dust settles.

    And is Karzai anything more than a puppet, hand picked by Bush's neo-con task force? Isn't he just an Afghani version of Chalabi?

    By Blogger -epm, at 10:27 AM  

  • I think puppet implies he has some ability to act. He has next to no military, next to no control outside his own office except the ability to give out some graft.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 10:58 AM  

  • It's all about appearances. The US needs the illusion of success. Karzai can provide a semblance of democratic government. Question is where will he be without US security?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:11 AM  

  • Well, the illusion of success, properly managed will help that war. (Until the illusion is later shown to be that.)

    And, KArzai will retire outside the country, third world style, with all the money he stole.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 5:06 PM  

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