Analysis: Karzai remarks risk US-Afghan rift
Published: Apr 6, 2010 08:03 Updated: Apr 7, 2010 05:28
KABUL: President Hamid Karzai's startling threat to join the Taleban if foreigners don't stop meddling in Afghanistan and his strident criticism of the West's role have worsened relations with Washington at a time when the US military wants closer cooperation ahead of a potentially decisive offensive this summer.
Karzai has been fuming for months about what he considers Washington's heavy hand. He's gambling that blaming outsiders for the troubles in a society with a long tradition of resisting occupation will bolster his stature at home — while carrying little risk because the US has no choice but to deal with him.
But managing the rift has now become a major problem for both sides, threatening even to rival the threat from the Taleban. President Barack Obama's strategy depends on working with a strong, reliable Afghan partner to turn back a resurgent Taleban, raising the question of what will happen if that partnership fails.
Karzai's comments suggest that his understanding of partnership differs from Obama's considerably. On certain issues, Karzai clearly wants Washington to back off.
"Troubling" is how White House spokesman Robert Gibbs described reports Monday that Karzai threatened to abandon the political process and join the Taleban insurgency if the West keeps carping at him to reform his government.
"On behalf of the American people, we're frustrated with the remarks," Gibbs told reporters.
"These comments can undercut the kind of support that we think we need on all sides of this equation if we're going to move forward," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said. "Clearly, you know, what he says does have an impact back here in the United States and he should choose his words carefully." Karzai has long chaffed under what he considers excessive international pressure. Those complaints escalated Thursday when he lashed out against the UN and the international community, accusing them of perpetrating a "vast fraud" in last year's presidential polls as part of a conspiracy to deny him re-election or tarnish his victory — accusations the US and the United Nations have denied.
Two days later, Karzai told a group of parliament members that if foreign interference in his government continues, the Taleban would become a legitimate resistance — one that he might even join, according to several lawmakers present.
"He said that 'if I come under foreign pressure, I might join the Taleban,'" said Farooq Marenai, who represents the eastern province of Nangarhar. "He said rebellion" against a legitimate Afghan government "would change to resistance" against foreign occupation.
Two other parliament members gave the same account but asked that their names not be published to avoid problems with Karzai.
Calls to two Karzai spokesmen went unanswered because their mobile phones were shut off.
Karzai told CNN on Monday that he has no intention of breaking with Washington, which is pouring 30,000 more troops into the fight against the Taleban.
"It's just to make sure that we all understand as to where each one of us stands," Karzai said. "Afghanistan is the home of Afghans and we own this place. And our partners are here to help in a cause that's all of us. We run this country, the Afghans." The lawmakers agreed that the threat to join the Taleban did not appear serious but reflected Karzai's anger over US and international pressure on several issues, including electoral reform, combating corruption and contacts with Taleban insurgents.
Those differences were sharpened by Obama's unannounced visit to Kabul on March 28. In advance of the trip, Obama's national security adviser, James Jones, told reporters that Karzai needed once and for all to confront corruption and "be seized with how important that is." Karzai's advisers found the public tongue-lashing humiliating — especially coming from a guest.
At the same time, the US and its partners have been urging Karzai to reform the electoral system to avoid the corruption that marked the Aug. 20 presidential balloting, when a third of the president's votes were thrown out by a UN-backed anti-fraud watchdog.
That forced him under US pressure to accept an embarrassing runoff, which was called off when his remaining challenger complained that the second election would be no cleaner than the first. The US and its partners want changes in place by September, when Afghans choose a new parliament.
Karzai associates have said the president considers Western complaints of corruption a smoke screen to discredit his government and draw attention from the fact that most of the billions in international aid have been squandered by the donors themselves and not wasted by his government.
Last February, Karzai issued a presidential decree taking control of the anti-fraud body and removing UN-appointed foreigners from any watchdog role.
Karzai's outbursts over the past week came after the parliament overturned the decree, a move the president believed was in response to international pressure.
Moreover, Karzai has been frustrated by the reluctance of the US to endorse negotiations with the Taleban leadership. The Obama administration is keen to offer incentives to rank-and-file Taleban fighters to switch sides but believes negotiations with insurgent leaders are pointless as long as the insurgents believe they are winning.
Karzai suspects the US or the Pakistanis engineered the arrest in February of the Taleban's No. 2 commander, with whom the Afghan leader had been in communication, as a way to cut off or take control of the negotiations, according to Karzai aides. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was confidential.
Nevertheless, Karzai's remarks have raised concern among some parliament members, who fear he may overplay his hand by undercutting public support in the United States for the war.
"This was an irresponsible speech by President Karzai," lawmaker Sardar Mohammad Rahman Ogholi said of Thursday's remarks. "Karzai is feeling isolated and without political allies. ... The fight against terrorism, corruption, and narcotics requires a strong government. Unfortunately, the Karzai government is far too weak to fight all these elements." The friction comes at a time when the US and NATO are preparing for the war's most challenging offensive — a major bid to drive the Taleban from Kandahar, the biggest city in the south, the insurgents' spiritual birthplace and the Karzai family's hometown. US commanders believe control of Kandahar is key to defeating the Taleban and that the operation could be the decisive campaign of the war.
"We should also keep in mind that we are in Afghanistan to defeat Al-Qaeda and prevent them from using Afghanistan as a safe haven from which to again attack us," said Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the House armed services committee. "I do not think that we should allow some intemperate remarks clearly designed for domestic political purposes to undermine what I continue to believe is the best strategy to protect American security." US commanders have said repeatedly that the operation cannot succeed without improvements in local governance to win over public support. To do that, NATO needs the backing of Karzai, who is also chief of a tribe that lives in the Kandahar area.
Efforts to sideline ineffectual local leaders could put NATO in conflict with the interests of the Karzai family, including the president's wheeler-dealer half brother Ahmad Wali Karzai, who heads the local provincial council.
Yet the West has little choice but to work with the unpredictable president, whom Washington and its allies hand-picked after the fall of the Taleban nearly nine years ago and who began a second five-year term only four months ago. In a country without established political parties, there are few credible alternatives to support.
On Sunday, Karzai flew to Kandahar with a delegation of top NATO figures for a meeting, or shura, with about 2,000 officials and tribal leaders. He promised that there would be no offensive without community support.
US commanders were pleased that Karzai appeared ready to do his part — for now.
"Karzai acknowledged he's the commander in chief, that's helpful," Maj. Gen. William Mayville, NATO deputy chief of staff for operations, said after the meeting. "You've got to have the community really wanting in, otherwise things are stalled. ... Karzai's convinced, he's onboard. We would not have had this (meeting) if he wasn't convinced this is the right stuff."
Comments
RASMUNCHER
Jul 27, 2010 20:41
Report abuseISMAEEL MARIKAR
Sep 5, 2010 22:10
Report abuseIF FOREIGN FORCES WITHDRAW,KARZAI CAN BRING THE LOCALS TOGETHER AND BRING THE COUNTRY BACK ON ITS FEET.
LET THE INVADERS REMEMBER THAT NO INVADER HAS EVER
SUCCEEDED IN SUBJUGATING THE AFGHAN PEOPLE.
THE LONGER THEY WAIT, THEY WILL GET THEIR BOYS IN FLAG DRAPED COFFINS, AND THE REST WILL COMMIT SUICIDE AS IS BEING REPORTED IN THEIR MEDIA.
AMERICANS NEVER LEARN
ANDREW IN NY
Nov 4, 2010 23:48
Report abuseKarzai has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar, and as a good deal of people decided to get angry at the people who caught him and make it about them instead of about himself
God I wish Bush was our President again, people would not play these games with him.
ROLAND
Nov 15, 2010 14:35
Report abuseMost of the world remembers 9/11, the unprovoked attack on the free world.
That is why Afghanistan was invaded.
However, it was a mistake. Afghanistan is a lost cause....
Soon, the West will get out and withdraw aid. Then the wealthy Arab nations can take up the slack while Afghans continue to slaughter each other.
Karzai is mentally unstable and a crook. His whole family is a band of thieves. He will make alliances with anyone, including the Devil, who will keep him in power. People who have no moral compass will change sides as it suits their purposes.
[Moderator: Comment has been abridged as it contains strong language and generalizations.]
ISMAEEL MARIKAR
Nov 24, 2010 02:22
Report abuseTheir only concern is the weather, traffic and healthcare. and the average American does not know what democracy is.
The world is in a mess becoz' of the dollar. Your Media Dear Andrew, "dishes" out what is pleasing to you. Just watch some of the other TV channels and you will know the Truth.
TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION.