US Lawmaker Wants Karzai Investigated for Corruption

Representative Dana Rohrabacher has requested an investigation by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) to see if President Hamid Karzai is diverting foreign aid money to family and cronies. Rohrabacher is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on oversight and investigations. Corruption in Afghanistan has been a huge problem and Karzai is responsible for much of the corruption that takes place. Read a news report on this topic at "US lawmaker wants Afghanistan's Karzai investigated", Google Hosted News, March 10, 2012.

President Karzai Meets Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee

The text below is from the Voice of America (February 12, 2014).

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has met with members of the Monitoring Evaluation Committee whose job it is to monitor corruption in carrying out projects funded by the international community.

The committee, which also is responsible for the development of clear and objective benchmarks in fighting corruption, briefed the president on its findings.
Mr. Karzai reminded the committee members “it is their responsibility to evaluate the international assistance in Afghanistan and bring transparency.”

He urged the members to continue working in close coordination with other relevant anti-corruption agencies, including the High Office of Oversight. That office coordinates and monitors the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy

Text from "Afghan President Meets Anti-Corruption Monitoring Committee", Voice of America, February 12, 2012.

I wonder if the Monitoring Evaluation Committee informed President Karzai that he was the biggest part of the corruption problem?  Learn more about corruption in Afghanistan.

Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan has Harsh Words for Karzai

The WikiLeaks documents show that Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan has a dim view of Karzai and his corrupt half-brother in Kandahar.  Read more in "Canadian envoy didn't mince words about Hamid Karzai", The Globe and Mail, December 3, 2010.

Corruption and the Karzai Clan in Kandahar

The WikiLeaks has released thousands of documents that clearly will endanger lives and harm the war effort.  On the other hand, it has certainly exposed just how corrupt the Karzai regime is.  Money is pumping into the pockets of the extended Karzai clan, being dumped into overseas bank accounts, and the US and its allies are being taken to the cleaners.  Read more in "Cable from Kandahar: You can't buy peace", The Globe and Mail, December 4, 2010.

Strategic Achilles Heels of Afghan War

The two biggest impediments to success in the Afghan War are the sanctuaries in Pakistan that the Taliban enjoy and the lack of progress by the central government to put personnel into areas cleared by combat operations.  A correspondent recently visited Afghanistan and interviewed General Petreaus where these issues and others were discussed.  Read more in "Worldview: Petreaus has answers on Afghanistan, based on hope", Philadelphia Inquirer, December 19, 2010.

The New Karzai - Is he our Friend? Maybe not!

The west has been bewildered by the recent behavior and statements coming from Karzai.  Here is our man in Kabul who, without the support of the west, could soon be living with the rest of his extended corrupt family in one of their lavish mansions in either Switzerland or Dubai (bought with western aid money).  It is important to discover the source of his discontent with the U.S. military and the west.  He opposes the constant air strikes that continue to kill innocent Afghan civilians and the night raids conducted by U.S. special operators that violate the sanctuary of the Afghan home.  He would like to see his regional neighbors (Pakistan and Iran) engage in negotiations with the Taliban that would resolve the conflict - but sees no real hope of that occurring.  He blames the U.S. for problems with his corrupt and ineffective government.  So where does Karzai come off with his attitude?  One columnist, Ahmed Rashid - the author of Descent into Chaos, provides us with a portrait of who the new Karzai is.  Read "NATO's Dangerous Wager with Karzai", The New York Review of Books, November 22, 2010.

Karzai is Hurting His War Effort

Karzai has been critical of the U.S. and coalition effort in the war in Afghanistan.  It is difficult to determine what he supports and what he does not support.  His critical statements about the CT efforts (night raids, etc.) are not helping his cause.  Read more on this topic in "Karzai's Worst Enemy", Hoover Institution, November 16, 2010.

The Karzai Clan of Kandahar, Afghanistan

Led by Hamid Karzai's half-brother, the Karzai clan is consolidating its hold over the Kandahar area.  While supposedly fighting the Taliban - it is more likely that the Karzai's are lining their pockets for now and the future.  There are actually three governments vying for control of Kandahar.  There is the half-hearted attempt by the inept and corrupt Afghan government propped up by the coalition forces, there is the Taliban "shadow government" most ascendent in the rural areas around Kandahar and there is the Karzai clan and its associated allies.  Read more in "US embassy cables: President Karzai's half-brother is kingpin of Kandahar", The Guardian, December 2, 2010.

Are There Any Alternatives to Karzai?

There is a lot of sniping about Karzai, how he is corrupt, inept, and probably not the best U.S. ally.  But nowhere on the horizon is there an alternative.  If there is one - he is not well-known.  Read more on "If not Hamid Karai, then who?", The National Post, December 2, 2010.

Karzai Supports U.S. Afghan War Strategy - Says U.S.

U.S. spokesmen and other high level officials are trying to downplay the words of President Karzai of Afghanistan when he criticizes U.S. operations.  His criticism of U.S. Special Operations Forces conducting "night raids" has been reported heavily in the press.  See more in "U.S:: Karzai supportive of Afghan war strategy", USA Today, November 22, 2010.

Afghan Government Compared to a Medieval Court of Centuries Gone By

The current regime in power in Kabul (the Karzai extended family) has been compared to a medieval court of times gone by.  Read more in "Miss the Middle Ages? Try Afghanistan", Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2010.