US Gives Karzai Six-Month Ultimatum to Stem Afghanistan Corruption (Or Lose US Support)

[tekisui]

Source: Times Online

President Karzai has six months to sideline his brother and reduce corruption or risk losing American support, Afghan officials have told The Times.

Senior palace insiders said that President Obama delivered the ultimatum when he congratulated Mr Karzai on his re-election on Monday. Top of his demands was action against corruption, the appointment of “reform-minded ministers” and several high-profile scalps to prove Mr Karzai’s commitment to cleaning up his Government.

“If he doesn’t meet the conditions within six months, Obama has told him America will pull out,” said an official with access to Mr Karzai’s inner circle. “Obama said they don’t want their soldiers’ lives wasted for nothing. They want changes in Cabinet, and changes in his personal staff.”

It is extremely unlikely that British troops would stay in Afghanistan if US forces were withdrawn.

The President’s half-brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, has repeatedly denied claims that he controls Afghanistan’s billion-dollar heroin trade. As head of Kandahar’s provincial council, he is the main powerbroker in the south of the country, but the President has refused to remove him, insisting that there is no proof of wrongdoing.

more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6901770.ece

[robinlynne]

1. good. if it is true.

[bemildred]

2. Just one more Friedman unit. nt

[tekisui]

3. I am sure after 6 months, we will turn a corner.

The enemy will be on the run, freedom on the march.

[samrock]

4. Bah he will call our bluff

I mean what are we going to do.. Say ok loser .. were pulling out! Have fun with the Taliban and watch them and their Al Queda buddies take over again and wind the clock back to 2000??? The only option I see is to just go around him and make seperate deals with regional/tribal leaders and pretend Karzai doesn't exist..