Work Harder on Governance, John Kerry Tells Afghan Leader

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/08/17/us/politics/politics-us-afghanistan-kerry.html?hp

The United States does not have limitless patience to support an Afghan government that does not work harder to stamp out corruption and improve governance, influential Democratic Senator John Kerry said on Tuesday.

Afghanistan faces parliamentary elections on September 18, 13 months after a fraud-marred presidential ballot that tainted the mandate of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Karzai and his government had made advances since then but must work harder to convince the Afghan and American people he remained worthy of their support.

"That's the test right now, that's why I'm here, because I think President Karzai and his government need to understand that there is no patience for endless support for something that doesn't meet higher standards with respect to governance," Kerry told a small group of reporters in Kabul after meeting Karzai.



U.S. Sen. John Kerry arrived in Kabul on Tuesday for another tough diplomatic mission to smooth over newly strained relations between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the Obama administration.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/08/17/99289/top-senate-democrat-presses-karzai.html

[Fumesucker]

1. Maybe we should have thought of that *before* we invaded..

Naaah, what am I saying.. That would require politicians that can see the blatantly obvious further away than the next election.

[mike r]

2. Karzai is working hard - at moving U.S. taxpayer money into his bank accounts in Dubai

or wherever he keeps his loot.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. "Picking up the White Man's burdern" is an expensive enterprise.

[Stoic]

4. "You first." Afghan leader replies to Kerry. n/t