The Af-US Relationship

Post by Leah Downey, Great Decisions student

This is an article about a recent flare up between Hamid Karzai and the Obama Administration. The article demonstrates the line that the Obama administration walks between the "strong Afghan partner (that) is key to the Obama strategy of winning over the civilian population and turning Afghans against the Taliban" and not getting to close to a leader who has been wrapped up in election fraud, threatens to join the Taliban if his parliament doesn't back his decisions, and calls on foreign powers to stop "meddling" in Afghan affairs. I do not envy the Obama Administration. They're in a tough spot. It is quite obvious that they need to support Karzai and the Afghan parliament to some extent, in order to form a stable and timely government for the country of Afghanistan. However, what is most frightening to me is that if the Administration leans too far the other way, the US could end up in another situation (like that of the Shah of Iran or Batista in Cuba) in which we were in bed with a corrupt, power hungry leader who may have been corporative, but who's government lacked checks and balances, sustainability, efficiency and respect for human rights. Ultimately, that type of governments doesn't last. Will the Obama Administration be able to walk the line? Will the new Afghan government endure? More importantly, when this all shakes out, will AfPak be a US ally?