US Ambassador Disagrees on Afghan Troop Surge

Wants Karzai government to shape up first

By Will McCahill, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 11, 2009 6:49 PM CST

(Newser) – The US ambassador to Afghanistan—a former general who served there as recently as 2007—is against increasing troop levels until the Afghan government gets its act together. In classified cables ahead of President Obama’s deliberations on a surge, Karl Eikenberry cites rampant corruption and mismanagement in Hamid Karzai’s administration. His dissent isn’t sitting well with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan and an ardent proponent of increasing troop levels, the Washington Post reports.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, left, and US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry. (AP Photo)

Karl Eikenberry, US ambassador to Afghanistan. (AP Photo)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

citygirl

Nov 12, 2009 5:44 AM CST

That's pretty much sums it up, ronimaca.

ronimaca

Nov 12, 2009 2:11 AM CST

get out now, send in special forces kill Binny

fancygapva

Nov 12, 2009 2:10 AM CST

@quack quack--There would have been a lot less bloodshed if we had not gone into Iraq in the first place. We went for WMD which weren't there and after that were never given a decent excuse except that we were going to make Iraq a model for Democracy. Hell. WE'RE not a model for Democracy any more, haven't been for quite a while. @ the rest of you, what's wrong with just pulling out? Why bombs, why agent Orange to mutate a generation of their children? The people you would bomb, like in Viet Nam, are mostly dirt farmers and goat herds who are certainly no threat to the US. The Taliban? They are selling religion and ideas and opium. Why not buy the damned opium from them? Money quiets the savage beast. In Iraq it wasn't the Surge that worked, it was PAYING the Sunni Awakening forces, they already knew how to fight and they knew who the threats were. In Iraq it's the government that we put in power that's running death squads. Al Qaeda? Send in special forces and pick them off one by one, after we get everyone else out of there.

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Washington Post (Source Grid »)

Politics • US • World

Afghanistan • troop surge • Hamid Karzai • corruption • Afghanistan war • dissent • President Obama • Stanley McChrystal • Karl Eikenberry

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(NEWSER) - Political leaders in Afghanistan are concerned that President Obama's decision to start withdrawing US forces could lead to a repeat of the US withdrawal in 1989, when Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence was allowed to gain major influence. "We don't want to go back 20 years when [ISI was] making the decisions about Afghanistan," one mayor tells the Wall Street Journal . Adding to the concern is the fact that billions of dollars in aid cuts will likely accompany the withdrawal, Reuters reports. For his part, Afghan President Hamid Karzai appeared supportive of Obama's speech. More»

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US Ambassador Disagrees on Afghan Troop Surge

Wants Karzai government to shape up first

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Afghanistan • troop surge • Hamid Karzai • corruption • Afghanistan war • dissent • President Obama • Stanley McChrystal • Karl Eikenberry

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More Newser Stories

Obama Eyes 30K+ Troop Surge

Said to be close to decision as Asia trip looms

In Afghanistan Debate, Obama Focuses on Exit

White House wants to make sure surge will enable handover

CBS: Prez Will Grant McChrystal Troop Request

White House denies decision made

Sources: Obama Will Send 40-45K More to Afghanistan

White House denies a decision has made, but UK's move would make more sense

Once Burned, Afghans Fear Repeat of 1989

Troop withdrawal could lead to instability, some fear

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US Ambassador Disagrees on Afghan Troop Surge

Wants Karzai government to shape up first

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • troop surge • Hamid Karzai • corruption • Afghanistan war • dissent • President Obama • Stanley McChrystal • Karl Eikenberry

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Obama Eyes 30K+ Troop Surge

Said to be close to decision as Asia trip looms

In Afghanistan Debate, Obama Focuses on Exit

White House wants to make sure surge will enable handover

CBS: Prez Will Grant McChrystal Troop Request

White House denies decision made

Sources: Obama Will Send 40-45K More to Afghanistan

White House denies a decision has made, but UK's move would make more sense

Once Burned, Afghans Fear Repeat of 1989

Troop withdrawal could lead to instability, some fear

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Newser By Users

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What is Newser?