Not the reverse which I have seen suggested by reports coming out of Kabul via Karzai’s spokesman. Here is an example from Reuters.
Saturday April 3, 2010
Clinton speaks to Karzai after concern about remarks
KABUL (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Afghan President Hamid Karzai spoke by telephone on Friday, Karzai’s spokesman said, after the White House said it was seeking clarification of anti-Western remarks Karzai made in a speech.“They had a constructive conversation in a cordial environment. Both sides recommitted themselves to the partnership between the two countries,” Karzai’s spokesman Waheed Omer said.
The implication that she called him following his remarks implying our interference in Afghan internal affairs is senseless. He insulted us. He needed to clarify his remarks to her, not the other way around. Here is the press release from the State Department.
President Hamid Karzai’s Call to Secretary Clinton
Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public AffairsWashington, DCApril 2, 2010
Afghan President Karzai called Secretary Clinton today to clarify his statements from yesterday, and they had a constructive conversation. President Karzai reaffirmed his commitment to the partnership between our two countries, and expressed his appreciation for the contributions and sacrifices of the international community. They pledged to continue working together in a spirit of partnership.
I just wanted to make sure we all had that right. The SOS did not call the guy who implicitly insulted us. He called her, as well he should have!
*Update* This is what Stacy was referring to in her comment. This guy is out of control.
Karzai Lashes Out at the U.S. — Again
ABC News’ Nicholas Schifrin reports:Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who last Thursday delivered a series of accusations against the West that were called “preposterous” by the State Department, lashed out at the United States for the second time in three days, blaming the U.S. embassy in Kabul for his political troubles and warning the West its presence was bordering on occupation.
Karzai delivered the comments in a private meeting to members of parliament on Saturday. Two parliamentarians described them on the condition of anonymity.
Read the rest here>>>
Hmmm. Condition of anonymity, huh?
After he spoke with her he lashed out at the West again at a meeting. US taxpayers are paying billions to prop up his corrupt regime (the US hand selected Karzai by the way because of his Carlyle Group and oil ties), now Afghanistan owns us because we are bogged down there. We shouldn’t have sent more troops- we are going to be there for years. It’s just ridiculous.
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Ooops, forgot the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/04/karzai-slams-the-west-aga_n_524669.html
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There’s a pattern. Countries that take our money and insult us, ignore us. Where have we seen this before? But at least she didn’t call him.
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Someone just left a link on my blog to a NYT article from the front page saying that basically, we’re stuck with this idiot for the next 5 years and we can’t do much about him. US taxpayers are building roads, schools, clinics etc. and Karzai is doing what exactly? Running drug money through his brother?
I am frustrated. I feel like we engage in military actions (Afghanistan, Iraq) without much consideration for the long-term destabilizing effects. The Taliban or AQ or whomever is a threat, but at what point do we do a cost-benefit analysis and start asking some tough questions like “are we actually making ourselves less secure by waging war in these countries?” We did a half-ass job in Afghanistan initially because we got distracted with the red-herring that was Iraq- a totally unnecessary and senseless war that we can’t seem to wrestle free from now (the violence there this weekend has been unbelievable). Now we have increased troops in Afghanistan to make up for all of Bush’s missteps but so many civilians are being killed we’re making more enemies than friends.
I remember when I was little being fascinated with the mercury in thermometers when they would break- how the little slippery silver balls would break into hundreds of smaller balls almost instantly as soon as they hit the floor and the more you touched/disturbed them the more they multiplied and rolled around (much to my mothers chagrin). That’s kind of what I feel we are doing in the War on Terror. We’ve waged war against an overriding threat and in the process created hundreds of smaller ones that almost seem more difficult to combat. Does that make sense?
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No it doesn’t make sense, and neither do I see how we can get out. It’s as if we are in quicksand. It’s a new kind of threat and war – against an “entity” rather than a country. We don’t have the maps for that.
OK, I have broken thermometers, too. But, yikes! You PLAYED with the MERCURY? A few years ago, one broke when it fell. I called the local EPA and the guy almost wanted to tell me to just throw it away in the garbage. Finally, after waiting MONTHS, I sat in a convoy of cars winding through a swamp, to hand it off to the EPA. They need to make that easier!
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I was pretty young- 6 or 7 yrs old. Back in those days everyone knew it mercury was dangerous but I can’t imagine my mother calling anyone to have it removed- I just don’t think back then anyone did that. Sadly, I think back then you just tossed it out!
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Pretty much what the EPA guy almost told me. He had second thought, though. He might have been afraid I would publicize it.
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