Karzai pledges non-interference in anti-corruption units

[Turborama]

Source: CNN International

By Jill Dougherty, CNN Foreign Affairs Correspondent -

Kabul, Afghanistan -- For the first time, Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he is committed to allowing two key government anti-corruption units to operate without political interference.

The announcement came after a series of meetings Thursday night and Friday in Kabul with U.S. Sen. John Kerry and other senior U.S. and Afghan officials -- talks that both Kerry and Karzai described as a "candid and productive" conversation.

In separate statements after the meeting, both said that Kerry and Karzai agreed on the importance of strengthening the Major Crimes Task Force and the Sensitive Investigative Unit.

Both units have been criticized by the Afghan president for allegedly abusing the rights of a top government official arrested on corruption charges. In a visit to Kabul Wednesday, Kerry told Karzai that the issue of corruption is undermining U.S. support for the war.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/20/afghanistan.karzai.anti.corruption/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn#fbid=5tFS21of5oJ&wom=false

[karynnj]

1. This really is a big and important change on Karzai's part

The question is whether he will really follow through. In other articles, it has said that he will allow the investigation of the Karzai aide. It is clear that if Karzai doe not make a very major change - really genuinely greatly lowering the level of corruption, there is no way that we can support him - or do much of anything to help Afghanistan. The question is whether it is too late even if he does sincerely try.

It does sound like Kerry did get some commitments the Obama administration was seeking.

[mike r]

2. So, he won't be calling them from his phone

Maybe he's got enough zeros in his bank accounts.