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Karzai's Brother on CIA Payroll: Insiders

Ahmed Wali Karzai has been linked to Afghanistan drug trade

By Will McCahill, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 27, 2009 8:43 PM CDT

(Newser) – The brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been on the CIA’s payroll for much of the past 8 years, a time during which he’s boosted his personal power in a large area of southern Afghanistan—and been linked to the opium trade. Ahmed Wali Karzai denies the claim, made by current and former US officials to the New York Times.

Among the services Karzai provided in return, the sources say, was recruiting a CIA-directed paramilitary force operating around Kandahar. The report runs counter to the US strategy of fostering an elected central government, not encouraging shades of Afghanistan’s warlord past. “If we are going to conduct a population-centric strategy in Afghanistan, and we are perceived as backing thugs, then we are just undermining ourselves,” says a military intelligence official.

Ahmed Wali Karzai, brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. (AP Photo)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

bewilderbeast

Oct 28, 2009 11:11 AM CDT

@freeyourmind, you should be in the pentagon (maybe you are). "it would be smarter to foster the establishment of a dictatorship" in Afghanistan!?! Just in case you ARE meeting with other geniuses soon, here's something to put on your agenda: Let's consider leaving other people alone and let them run their own country. Crazy, I know, but just maybe you geniuses might consider it.

bewilderbeast

Oct 28, 2009 10:58 AM CDT

The CIA has been RELIABLY off-target in virtually all its dealings since WW2. If America truly was a "by the people" democracy a list of every person on the CIA's payroll would be published monthly. We would then know who NOT to back in that particular country.

Netstorm2k10

Oct 28, 2009 2:55 AM CDT

Facepalm.

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World • Politics • US

Afghanistan • CIA • Hamid Karzai • intelligence spending • opium • drug trade • Afghanistan war • Ahmed Wali Karzai

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Karzai's Brother on CIA Payroll: Insiders

Ahmed Wali Karzai has been linked to Afghanistan drug trade

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Afghanistan • CIA • Hamid Karzai • intelligence spending • opium • drug trade • Afghanistan war • Ahmed Wali Karzai

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Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

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

CIA Fills Void in Iraq, Afghanistan

Agency expects to maintain large stations there for years

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

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Karzai's Brother on CIA Payroll: Insiders

Ahmed Wali Karzai has been linked to Afghanistan drug trade

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • CIA • Hamid Karzai • intelligence spending • opium • drug trade • Afghanistan war • Ahmed Wali Karzai

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

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

CIA Fills Void in Iraq, Afghanistan

Agency expects to maintain large stations there for years

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

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?