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A Doubting Washington Greets Karzai

Afghan president has 'plateaued,' diplomats say

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 6, 2009 7:46 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Nearly eight years after the fall of the Taliban, Hamid Karzai comes to the White House today to meet an administration distinctly unimpressed with his governance of Afghanistan. In interviews with two dozen Washington officials, the Washington Post finds anger and frustration with a president overseeing a weak and corrupt government, but who nevertheless seems a shoo-in for reelection this summer. "On all fronts," said one senior official, "Hamid Karzai has plateaued as a leader."

Barack Obama was unimpressed by Karzai's "happy talk" on drugs and security when they met last year in Kabul, and since his election they have only spoken twice—while Karzai and George W. Bush held videoconferences twice a month. Washington is seeking to bypass Karzai, collaborating with other cabinet members and local governors, and is eager to see challengers in the election. "We have to build a bottom-up dynamic to counterbalance Karzai," said one senior official. "We don't have a choice."

Nancy Pelosi greets Afghan President Hamid Karzai, as House Minority Leader John Boehner watches at right, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
Nancy Pelosi greets Afghan President Hamid Karzai, as House Minority Leader John Boehner watches at right, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, right, shakes hand with an election worker after registering for re-election at the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, May 4, 2009.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, right, shakes hand with an election worker after registering for re-election at the election commission office in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, May 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Hamid Karzai greets visitors at a lunch to mark the anniversary of the mujahedeen's victory over invading Soviet forces in the 1980s at the presidential palace in Kabul, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
Hamid Karzai greets visitors at a lunch to mark the anniversary of the mujahedeen's victory over invading Soviet forces in the 1980s at the presidential palace in Kabul, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini, Pool)
Afghan president Hamid Karzai looks on during a joint press conference with Polish President Lech Kaczynski, unseen, at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
Afghan president Hamid Karzai looks on during a joint press conference with Polish President Lech Kaczynski, unseen, at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
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World • US

 
Afghanistan • Barack Obama • Taliban • diplomacy • Hamid Karzai • corruption • Afghanistan war

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