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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Carville to Advise Karzai Challenger

Says move shouldn't be seen as US looking for change in Afghan leadership

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(Newser) – James Carville is headed to Kabul to advise one of Hamid Karzai’s challengers in Afghanistan’s upcoming election, Bloomberg reports. Carville has close ties to Hillary Clinton, but says the move shouldn’t be seen as a sign the Obama administration is pushing for a leadership change. “I don’t think anybody would veto me doing this,” he said. “I’ve worked in Israel when Bill Clinton was president. It’s what I do.”

A State Department spokesman said Carville was a “private citizen,” and didn’t need the department’s approval. Carville will be backing Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan’s current finance minister, against Hamid Karzai, who came to power thanks largely to US backing in 2001. Currently Ghani is polling at just 2%, in the third slot behind ex-foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, at 7%, and Karzai, at 31%.

US National Security Advisor Jim Jones, center, meets Afghan presidential candidates, from right to left, Ashraf Ghani, Abdullah Abdullah, and Mirwais Yasini, June 23, 2009.
US National Security Advisor Jim Jones, center, meets Afghan presidential candidates, from right to left, Ashraf Ghani, Abdullah Abdullah, and Mirwais Yasini, June 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Political commentator James Carville laughs as he is introduced by his wife Mary Matalin during commencement ceremonies for Tulane University in New Orleans, Saturday, May 17, 2008.
Political commentator James Carville laughs as he is introduced by his wife Mary Matalin during commencement ceremonies for Tulane University in New Orleans, Saturday, May 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai gestures during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday June 27, 2009.
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai gestures during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday June 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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4 comments
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DJM420
Jul 6, 09 11:26 AM CDT
Karzai came into power by US backing? lets say Bush backing, since they were good-ole oil men together... that challenger sure needs help tho, what a lagger at 2%, lol Reply
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RogerMohajir
Jul 6, 09 1:41 PM CDT
This is hilarious! Carville is so out of his depth wading into Afghan politics. Remember when he famously said in reference to Paula Jones, "Drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you'll find." I can't wait until he discovers what you find when you drag a three-dollar bill like him through Kandahar. What a fool Ghani must be to seek, or even just accept, his "help." Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
RogerMohajir
Jul 6, 09 3:29 PM CDT
I regret implying that Ghani is a fool. I don't know enough about him to make that judgment. He may simply be too polite to refuse Carville's offer. Haven't we done enough to Afghanistan, though? Is it really fair to inflict Carville upon them?
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riffran
Jul 7, 09 5:06 AM CDT
"OH I'LL GET YOU NOW HE MAN...HAHAHAHAHAH".... Reply
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