New imperialists: US & European allies preparing to plant high-profile figure in heart of Kabul govt

[bigtree]

US will appoint Afghan 'prime minister' to bypass Hamid Karzai
White House plans new executive role to challenge corrupt government in Kabul


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 is to be unveiled at a special conference on Afghanistan at The Hague on March 31.

As well as watering down Karzai's personal authority by installing a senior official at the president's side capable of playing a more efficient executive role, the US and Europeans are seeking to channel resources to the provinces rather than to central government in Kabul.


The idea of a more dependable figure working alongside Karzai is one of the proposals to emerge from the White House review, completed last week. Obama, locked away at the presidental retreat Camp David, was due to make a final decision this weekend.

Obama is expected to focus in public on overall strategy rather than the details, and, given its sensitivity, to skate over ­Karzai's new role . . .

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


I'm not sure where the U.S. or Europe gets the authority to impose this 'plant' on the 'sovereign' Karzai government. I guess it will be strongly suggested . . . Bizzare.

[stillcool]

1. Who is Karzai?

It must be so frustrating when the puppets cut the string.

[bigtree]

2. in this case

. . . I think the U.S. will find that Karzai, if he manages his way through the upcoming election, will assert even more independence. That's going to challenge the US plans to attract more of the population away from support for the Taliban and to get them to align behind the central government. We can't very well be seen as dictating or talking down to the government at the same time we're trying to attract Afghans wary of our dominating influence.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. I wonder if Karzai can read the handwriting on the wall. Ngo Dinh Diem couldn't.

We "helped" him out of office too.