Obama tries mending ties in Afghan strategy

[IDemo]

Source: Washington Post

U.S. president orders unified message on Karzai's legitimacy

WASHINGTON - President Obama has bluntly instructed his national security team to treat Afghan President Hamid Karzai with more public respect, after a recent round of heavy-handed statements by U.S. officials and other setbacks infuriated the Afghan leader and called into question his relationship with Washington.

During a White House meeting last month, Obama made clear that Karzai is the chief U.S. partner in the war effort — which will be reflected in his visit to Washington that begins Monday, according to senior administration officials. In doing so, Obama is seeking to impose discipline on an administration that has sent mixed signals about Karzai's legitimacy and his value to the U.S.-led counterinsurgency campaign. As a result, Karzai threatened to join the Taliban just days after Obama concluded his first presidential trip to Kabul in late March.

After a two-hour palace meeting that advisers to both leaders described as productive, Karzai grew bitter after receiving a copy of comments made by Obama's national security adviser on the way to Kabul that struck him as insulting. Days later, Karzai read in a newspaper article that an unnamed U.S. official was threatening to put Ahmed Wali Karzai, his half brother, on the military's kill-or-capture list.

Karzai had been led to believe months earlier that his brother — the leader of Kandahar's provincial council — would remain in his post despite persistent accusations of corruption and ties to drug trafficking. Karzai erupted in anger soon after, stunning the White House.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37043216/ns/politics-washington_post/

[elias49]

1. Not the first or last time the US will manufacture, then prop up

an absolutely corrupt regime.

[Arctic Dave]

2. Treat with respect? Newsflash, no gives a shit about karzai or afghanistan.

[bemildred]

3. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain".

The show must go on.