NYT: Nation Faltering, Afghans’ Leader Draws Criticism

[wellst0nev0ter]

LAHORE, Pakistan, Aug. 22 — After months of widespread frustration with corruption, the economy and a lack of justice and security, doubts about President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, and by extension the American-led effort to rebuild that nation, have led to a crisis of confidence.

Interviews with ordinary Afghans and with foreign diplomats and Afghan officials make it clear that the expanding Taliban insurgency in the south represents the most serious challenge to his presidency to date.

The insurgency, along with the other issues, has brought an eruption of doubts about Mr. Karzai, who is widely viewed as having failed to attend to a range of problems. That has left more and more Afghans asking what the government is doing.

Corruption is so widespread, the government apparently so lethargic and the divide between rich and poor so gaping that Mr. Karzai is losing public support, warn officials like Ahmad Fahim Hakim, deputy chairman of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

“Nothing that he promised has materialized,” Mr. Hakim said, echoing the comments of diplomats and others in Kabul, the capital. “Beneath the surface, it is boiling.”

For the first time since Mr. Karzai took office four and half years ago, Afghans and diplomats are speculating about who might replace him. Most agree that the answer for now is no one, leaving the fate of the American-led enterprise tied to his own success or failure. He was re-elected in 2004 to a five-year term.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/23/world/asia/23karzai.html?ex=1313985600&en=c6eb7523b53e59ac&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[Straight Shooter]

1. "Nothing that he promised has materialized."

That's because he was depending on bush to reward his loyalty.

[calimary]

10. Sounds like bush, himself, too.

You CANNOT artificially graft YOUR-style democracy on somebody else who lives, functions, believes, and sees the world differently, and expect it to take. More crap from simplistic minds. And the results speak for themselves.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Karzai's authority never extended beyond Kabul

in addition to that, Karzai catered to religious extremists in his government by reactivating the infamous Ministry of Virtue to enforce Sharia law.

[WCGreen]

3. But he ahd a great hat.....

That's is my most vivid memory of that time...

The news media making such a big deal over his freakin' hat...

[rodeodance]

4. Leaders kept safe in Kabal and left the rest of country to the warloads.

[saigon68]

5. The "MAYOR OF KABUL" The LapDog scratches his fleas

Sits back on his master's lap

[Supersedeas]

6. Rovian style democracy:

"Corruption is so widespread, the government apparently so lethargic and the divide between rich and poor so gaping that Mr. Karzai is losing public support, warn officials like Ahmad Fahim Hakim, deputy chairman of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission."

[xchrom]

7. th americanization of afghanistan.

[denverbill]

8. Maybe he needs to cut taxes. That's always the solution.

Start by abolishing the estate tax, then cut taxes on capital gains and dividends and other un-earned income. Then cut income taxes for the extremely wealthy.

When the tax revenue starts pouring in, cut government programs for the poor.

I think that out to fix things real good in Afghanistan.

[Barrett808]

9. Appointing a "commander with links to organized crime as police chief"

That's just the way the BFEE likes it.

[w4rma]

11. Our nation is faltering too. (nt)