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Karzai, US Stuck With Each Other

Afghan prez must act quickly to restore legitimacy

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2009 4:04 AM CST

(Newser) – Hamid Karzai is suddenly the only game in town after Abdullah Abdullah’s withdrawal from a runoff election, and the Obama administration must figure out how to restore legitimacy to the Afghan president’s government and extend his influence outside of Kabul. It's critical that Karzai wins back the support of the Afghan people by tackling corruption and by strengthening the Afghan army, say US officials.

More than any other single factor, it's the strength of the Afghan army—and its ability to resist a Taliban takeover—that will determine whether the US can justify a military withdrawal. Karzai must act quickly. “We’re going to know in the next three to six months whether he’s doing anything differently—whether he can seriously address the corruption, whether he can raise an army that doesn’t lose troops as fast as we train them,” an official tells the New York Times. “Needless to say, this is not where we wanted to be after nine months.”

Afghanistan's presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah announced his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference in Kabul last week. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

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Karzai, US Stuck With Each Other

Afghan prez must act quickly to restore legitimacy

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Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

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

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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

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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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Karzai, US Stuck With Each Other

Afghan prez must act quickly to restore legitimacy

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Hamid Karzai • Abdullah Abdullah • Afghanistan election

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

Tools

More News

What is Newser?