Drug Lord’s Brother Whines About More Control Of Afghan War
NEW YORK - Afghan President Hamid Karzai criticized the U.S. and British conduct of the war in Afghanistan, telling The New York Times in an interview published on Saturday his government must be accorded the lead in policy decisions.
Karzai told the newspaper he wanted U.S. forces to stop arresting suspected Taliban members and their sympathizers, saying that fear of arrest along with past mistreatment were discouraging them from coming forward and laying down their arms.
“It has to happen,” he said of the end to such arrests. Karzai also said in the interview conducted on Friday that he did not have specific details about alleged mistreatment of people in custody.
Ousted from power in 2001 by U.S.-led and Afghan forces, the al Qaeda-backed Taliban has vowed to topple the Afghan government and drive out the foreign troops who back it. Nearly 12,000 people, including more than 330 foreign troops, have been killed in violence in the past two years.
Karzai, who faces re-election next year, criticized the U.S.-led coalition for what he characterized as carrying out the war on terrorism in Afghanistan’s villages, and said the real threat was centered in Taliban and al Qaeda sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan. “The sanctuaries must go, period,” the Times quoted him as saying.
He also said that civilian casualties needed to stop, despite their numbers dropping significantly in the last year. “I am not happy with civilian casualties coming down; I want an end to civilian casualties,” he said. “As much as one may argue it’s difficult, I don’t accept that argument.”
Karzai added, “I must also be fair to say that our partners in America have recognized my concerns and have acted on them in good faith.”
In calling for greater Afghan autonomy, Karzai said, “For the success of the world in Afghanistan, it would be better to recognize this inherent character in Afghanistan and work with it and support it.”
“Eventually, if the world is to succeed in Afghanistan, it will be by building the Afghan state, not by keeping it weak,” he told the Times at his presidential office.
Karzai said relations with Pakistan’s new government began on a good note. “I am fairly confident of their good intentions,” he said. “If the current government has the full backing of the military and intelligence circles in Pakistan and with the good intentions that they have, things will improve.”
(Reuters)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
The Afghan Govt. is so corrupt it makes Iraq’s leaders look like angels in comparison.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:08 amKarzai,just shut up and let the professionals handle it.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:01 amIt will take a miracle of God to truly defeat the Taliban and Al-Queda in Afghanistan; or about 20 ICBMS all targeted on North and South Waziristan.
(Just kidding about the ICBMS) In spite of that, we have no choice but to keep knocking them down. Otherwise, they will come back with more plots and camps to train their fanatics to attack us just like the last time. There are no negotiations with these fruitcakes; only surrender or die.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:09 amwhat are the international legal ramifications in Afghanistan, i mean we get to occupy it until we are content, or for a period of time, i mean this is like the nazis coming back in Germany only 7 years later.
April 26th, 2008 at 3:07 amgive afghanistan to china - they can deal with the taliban, no problem. They would move in 10 million and not miss them and turn the country into a garden instead of the dung heap it has been forever. and they can walk there..
April 26th, 2008 at 5:22 am“saying that fear of arrest along with past mistreatment were discouraging them from coming forward and laying down their arms.”
Yeah… like laying down their arms voluntarily would EVER happen. We all know that the only reason that those moonbats would ever lay down their arms would be to catch their breath in the underground after having their asses kicked too much… then they’d pick them right back up (Lebanon anyone?)
April 26th, 2008 at 5:38 am… “Opponents of the Western presence in Afghanistan stigmatize the billions of dollars of aid that have been lost in the sands. They blame the inability of the soldiers from NATO to engage on a ground of which they do not know the language and customs. All this is true, but was predictable. The modern armies no longer have any “colonial know-how.” The three who had the courage to tackle the Taliban-infested areas, American, British, Canadian, no officer who can speak Dari or Pashto, which can lead only or even understand, shura (assembly) of tribal leaders in Afghanistan…
The Western military elites generate no more TE Lawrence. But to win an asymmetrical war, to be efficient in the conter-guerrillas, we need officers who are in empathy with the people…
Renewing with a “colonial expertise” to participate effectively in the reconstruction of a state, take time and money. But the game is worth the candle. You cannot again abandon Afghanistan, as we did in 1989, after the departure of Soviet troops. You cannot leave these mountains once again become a field training for jihadists worldwide. Westerners have to learn patience, and contradict the arrogance of the Taliban, that keep repeat to the environment: “You have watches, we have time!”
Renaud Girard, Le Figaro
April 26th, 2008 at 6:03 ambbooo, I lose my watch there, but plenty of time left for Talibani, no real colons want to settle apart them
April 26th, 2008 at 6:29 amYeah, Karzai, and if the arrests stop and we all leave you’re a walking dead man. You’re right on the sanctuaries in Pakistan. But all your good will won’t put an end to them. The criminal kafir come into your country from Pakistan, murder civilians at will and we’re suppose to leave them alone?
STFU all ready.
April 26th, 2008 at 10:47 am