CIA Millions for Karzai
Published in Braunschweiger Zeitung
(Germany) on 29 April 2013
by Friedemann Diederichs (link to
original)
Who would have thought that the United States and Iran are in the same boat when it comes to Afghanistan? Apparently, both countries have regularly been bringing sacks of millions in cash to the country in the Hindu Kush to buy influence there.
According to the normally reliable New York Times, those surrounding President Hamid Karzai, who is unloved in Washington, have been targeted by the CIA. However, the problem is that the Karzai clan and Karzai’s political friends also have strong ties to the profitable drug trade.
The CIA and political leaders have thus brought themselves into a dangerous gray area with this cloak-and-dagger operation. Control over how this money is being used in Afghanistan seems almost impossible to maintain. And the love that was supposed to have been bought from Karzai has remained unrequited.
Lately, Karzai has been even more vocal against U.S. troops and on a few occasions his sympathies for the Taliban have not remained hidden. Moreover, it is unclear whether Karzai and local Afghan troops will be able to provide security after the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force troops. The United States, bearer of the heaviest burdens in Afghanistan, must quickly realize: Love and cooperation cannot always be bought, even in politics.
According to the normally reliable New York Times, those surrounding President Hamid Karzai, who is unloved in Washington, have been targeted by the CIA. However, the problem is that the Karzai clan and Karzai’s political friends also have strong ties to the profitable drug trade.
The CIA and political leaders have thus brought themselves into a dangerous gray area with this cloak-and-dagger operation. Control over how this money is being used in Afghanistan seems almost impossible to maintain. And the love that was supposed to have been bought from Karzai has remained unrequited.
Lately, Karzai has been even more vocal against U.S. troops and on a few occasions his sympathies for the Taliban have not remained hidden. Moreover, it is unclear whether Karzai and local Afghan troops will be able to provide security after the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force troops. The United States, bearer of the heaviest burdens in Afghanistan, must quickly realize: Love and cooperation cannot always be bought, even in politics.