Economist: Obama "May Be A Nightmare" For Afghanistan's Karzai

The Economist:

BARACK OBAMA has promised to make Afghanistan his foreign-policy priority. But on the streets of Kabul his electoral triumph has been greeted with jaded pessimism. A typical view is that he will make little difference. The president, Hamid Karzai, however, may fear that from his point of view, things may actually get worse.

As a first earnest of a new American resolve perhaps 20,000 extra American soldiers are to arrive in Afghanistan next year: not quite an Iraq-style surge, but much more than a trickle. And the new administration is collecting champions of the Afghan problem. The vice-president-elect, Joe Biden, is a veteran of many visits to the region. The next secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, has called Afghanistan and Pakistan the "forgotten front-line" in the war on terror, and has advocated the appointment of a special envoy to the two countries.

Read the whole story: The Economist

Comments

[hortonhearsawho]

He will adhere to directives. Simple really.

[conservicide]

Karzai is a figure head, an impotent figure head.

[SoCalAmerican]

There are too many premature assessments on how things will be, with regards to the domestic and global security, both militant and financial.

I believe President Elect Obama (and other running candidates during the campaign for that matter), have a sense of what the needs of Afghanistan is.

Pardons if the analogy is poor, but its like an impatient baby crying for its bottle, clamoring until he/she gets it. America cares and we intend to give the bottle, THIS TIME.

[Ajita]

Sorry to off topic, but try it for yourself! just type the name of our ally in the middle east, I$ ra^ l and you will be tagged. This site monitors any criticism of that country even more than of America.
If your comment is favourable of that country it is allowed. If not, its removed. Way to go protecting free-speech, Huf_f_pos.­t
Either they must remove the word from the word-filter list, or they must post fair and veriafiable criticism of that country.

[hotstuff]

We as a nation show to much favortism with the trouble between Isreal an Palestine!

[westcoastsc]

I know what you mean, but I don't know if they go that far. Try documenting your facts with news articles and/or other references. Don't use heated words. Say things like not smart, instead of the other word. Look for solutions and always ask for fairness. Things will get through. I do believe they make a mistake, because a lot more people would use this site if things worked more fairly and freely.

[Spiritgirl2]

As Mr. Karzai is a Bush picked lacky, he was not appointed/annointed because of his ability to "govern" the country, but on his loyalty to the Inept-in-Charge of this country George W. Bush! Mr. Karzai does not govern anywhere outside of Kabul the capital, and yet even there it is only because our military is holding down the fort (so to speak)! Of course what passes as "news" in this country - would never really speak of the incompetence, the lack of governance in Afghanistan, the misspent monies appropriated for that nation, nor the bribery - to do so would have been to lay the blame squarely where it belongs 1600 Pennsylvania and Kabul. That would have definitely been a no-no, and everyone knows the swift-boat retaliation that would have followed!

Now however, Mr. Karzai may be called to task and forced to govern, something that he is not capable of doing! He has every right to be afraid - of accountability to his people and ours!

[Sumocat]

Wasn't sure what to think of this until I read: "A dream team of Afghanista­n-watchers­, however, may be a nightmare for Mr Karzai, who enjoys a hearty, backslapping friendship with the loyal Mr Bush." In that case, let the nightmare begin!