Obama Uses Troop Bump to Pressure Karzai

US wants clean election, and could support a coalition government

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 22, 2009 9:14 AM CDT

(AP) – The US built pressure on Hamid Karzai yesterday, with both Barack Obama and John Kerry signaling that a troop increase could hinge on a successful runoff election, and that the Obama administration would be receptive to a power-sharing deal between Karzai and his chief rival. A coalition government could provide a critical internal check on Karzai, who's widely favored to win the runoff Nov. 7.

Kerry, whose meetings with Karzai helped lead to the runoff agreement over the weekend, declared after meeting with Obama that it was "common sense" to wait until after the vote to decide troop levels. "You really want to know that this has worked," he said. Obama himself said the same in a television interview yesterday. One high-level US official in Afghanistan said the US is using the troop decision as leverage to ensure a clean runoff. Karzai's weak and corruption-riddled government has been blamed in part for the resurgence of the Taliban and for widespread Afghan civilian disillusionment.

John Kerry, left, shares a light moment with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. (Musadeq Sadeq)

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, disembarks a C-130 aircraft to attend a meeting with Commanders of Regional Command - North and Afghan National Security Forcein Mazar-e-Sharif, Oct. 21, 2009. (Altaf Qadri)

Kabul city is seen in the background as a U.S. Marine keeps a vigil while sitting at the ramp of a Chinook helicpoter in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. (Altaf Qadri)

John Kerry, who recently returned from Afghanistan, speaks with reporters following his meeting with President Barack Obama, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, at the White House in Washington. (Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Kabul city is seen in the background as a U.S. Marine keeps a vigil while sitting at the ramp of a Chinook helicpoter in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. (Altaf Qadri)

Abdullah Abdullah, former Afghan foreign minister who run against President Hamid Karzai in last August's vote, speaks with journalists after a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Oct. 21, 2009. (Musadeq Sadeq)

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Obama Uses Troop Bump to Pressure Karzai

US wants clean election, and could support a coalition government

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US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

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US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

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More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

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Obama Uses Troop Bump to Pressure Karzai

US wants clean election, and could support a coalition government

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Barack Obama • John Kerry • Hamid Karzai • runoff election • Afghanistan war • Afghanistan election

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

About Us

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Newser By Users

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More News

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