US will appoint Afghan 'prime minister' to bypass Hamid Karzai

[steven johnson]

Source: The Guardian

The US and its European allies are ­preparing to plant a high-profile figure in the heart of the Kabul government in a direct challenge to the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, the Guardian has learned.

The creation of a new chief executive or prime ministerial role is aimed at bypassing Karzai. In a further dilution of his power, it is proposed that money be diverted from the Kabul government to the provinces. Many US and European officials have become disillusioned with the extent of the corruption and incompetence in the Karzai government, but most now believe there are no credible alternatives, and predict the Afghan president will win re-election in August.

A revised role for Karzai has emerged from the White House review of Afghanistan and Pakistan ordered by Barack Obama when he became president. It isto be unveiled at a special conference on Afghanistan at The Hague on March 31.

The proposal for an alternative chief executive, which originated with the US, is backed by Europeans. "There needs to be a deconcentration of power," said one senior European official. "We need someone next to Karzai, a sort of chief executive, who can get things done, who will be reliable for us and accountable to the Afghan people."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/22/us-afghan-plan-to-bypass-karzai

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Obama means business. He is demoting our surrogate in Kabul so that the money will flow out to the provinces more directly. Presumably this is the same strategy as the Anbar Awakening component of the Surge that proved so successful in Iraq. Time will tell.

In late 2006 months before George W Bush's "surge" strategy increased trooup levels by 30,000, the US began making downpayments on the cooperation of local Anbar tribal sheiks and started funding and arming the Sunni militias. As a result, the number of insurgent attacks quickly began to drop, and so the Americans widened the program to other provinces, growing to include nearly 100,000 Sunni fighters, most of whom were paid $300 a month.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KB14Ak01.html

[Arctic Dave]

1. Looks like they are trying to spread the corruption around.

Like you posted about Iraq, it was less about creating a stable gov't then paying off the local tribes to stop killing soldiers, thus giving the illusion of stability. The real state of these countries will be shown when we turn them over to the Iragis and Afghanis, that is if we plan on doing that at all. My gut says we won't.

[AlphaCentauri]

13. That sounds more realistic, thanks n/t

[Javaman]

2. So does that mean the mayor of kabul is not town crier? LOL nt

[Richard Steele]

3. Not for much longer, it would seem...

It could be a GOOD thing for him.
Maybe he'll finally be able to leave the city limits
without applying for a permission slip.

I bet he'll like that.

[steven johnson]

4. This Reinforces the New U.S. Strategy of Garrisoning US Troops in Remote Afghan Communities.

The putting our troups into remote afghan communities is the same strategy that worked in Iraq where we provided continual community policing so that the insurgents couldn't slip back in or intimidate the local population.

The emerging plan contemplates a large build-up of Afghan armed forces and security services, to as many as 400,000, other defense officials said. That would be more than twice the number Afghanistan now has. U.S. military leaders have said an able Afghan military is the key to allowing U.S. and allied forces to leave.

Official: U.S. strategy sends soldiers out front

[denem]

5. How about "The Shah of Afghanistan"

for old time's sake.

[Thickasabrick]

9. Good point n/t

[Mark Twain Girl]

11. Dang, you nailed it. Apt. Harsh, yet apt. nt

[ohio2007]

6. This new stooge going to be Obamas boy ?

Obama means business. He is demoting our surrogate in Kabul so that the money will flow out to the provinces more directly.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KB14Ak01.html


Soon enough we will see if "the comissioner" of Kabul has a further reach then the mayor of Kabul

:sarcasm:

Troop surges will be in place during the Afghan elections

[mike_c]

7. "Obama means business...."

There's a name for that business. It's I M P E R I A L I S M. That's what it's called when a colonial or occupying power installs the government of its choice in a subjugated nation.

[enlightenment]

10. Thank you.

I guess we never really have gotten over missing out on the scramble for Africa . . .

[acmavm]

8. Oh crap. What could possibly go wrong? (Actually, I don't think I really

want to know.)

[bemildred]

12. Dang! So much for the Aghan Constitution.

I guess that was all bullshit anyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Afghanistan

[IndianaGreen]

14. Looks like the Colonial Office is back in charge!

Nothing the US and our lapdogs at NATO do can salvage this pathetic military adventure. We blew it in 2002 when we pull troops out to go into Iraq. An opportunity was lost forever.

[rcrush]

15. Ok WTF. They do the same shit that gets us into trouble in the middle east

That they did before?! YEAH! Propping up dictators in foreign governments is an American pasttime.


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