Karzai's Betrayal

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 6, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

                Selling the U.S. down the river, Afghan President Hamid Karzai revealed openly his loyalty to the Taliban, the once Islamic slave-state before Operation Enduring Freedom liberated Afghanistan Nov. 13, 2001.  Karzai threatened over the weekend to join the Taliban, if U.S. and Afghan officials didn’t get off his back since rigging elections Aug. 24, 2009 over challenger 49-year-old physician Abdullah Abdullah, finally declaring victory Nov. 2.  Karzai was especially irked by President Barack Obama’s unexpected March 28 visit in which he reportedly told the 52-year-old Afghan president to end corruption or face a possible early withdrawal of U.S. troops.  Obama went against his instincts adding 30,000 more troops Dec. 28.  While no surprise, Hamid’s brother, Ahmed Walid Karzai, reportedly has close ties to the CIA and Afghan’s heroin trade.

            Rejecting foreign pressure, Karzai reportedly told lawmakers behind close doors that he would quit the government and join the Taliban if provoked.  “He said that if I come under foreign pressure, I might join the Taliban,” said Farooq Marenai, an official from Afghan’s Nangarhar province.  Appearing erratic, Marenai observed Karzai looked “nervous,” suggesting he could join the “resistance” regarding foreign forces as “occupiers.”  “He said rebelling would change to resistance,” telling lawmakers in closed session that he might join the Taliban resistance.  While U.S. casualties have been cut in two since Fall 2009, 135 troops have already lost their lives in 2010.  White House officials—including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton—expressed dismay after Karzai blamed “foreign forces” for last year’s election fraud.  Karzai’s comments this week take the cake.

            Called the “mayor of Kabul,” Karzai’s government only controls portions of the capital, ceding the rest of the country to the Taliban, drug-lords, warlords and the lucrative opium trade.  Karzai’s unexpected survival since named Afghan president Dec. 7, 2004 belie his close ties to the CIA and U.S. government.  Karzai was never slated to become Afghan president. He inherited the mantle of Ahmad  Shah Massoud when he was assassinated by the Taliban Sept. 8, 2001, three days before Osama bin Laden launched attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.  Since former President George W. Bush initiated the Iraq War March 20, 2003, Afghanistan was low on the food chain, leaving the Taliban to regroup and Osama bin Laden to dig in the ungoverned mountainous tribal lands along the Pakistan border.  Once Bin Laden escaped Tora Bora Dec. 14, 2001, Bush diverted attention to Iraq.

            Recent revelations about Karazi should prompt and immediate reevaluation of the U.S. mission.  Given Karazi’s relationship to the Taliban, U.S. soldiers should not be spilling more blood in Afghanistan.  U.S. Afghan Commader Gen. Stanley McChrystal can’t trust Karzai not to betray U.S. forces, giving Taliban important intel from which to attack U.S. troops.  “On behalf of the American people, we’re frustrated with the remarks,” said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, in the most feckless response imaginable under the circumstances.  Knowing Karzai’s realationship to the Taliban and opium trade, it’s beyond outrageous to say the U.S. is frustrated with Karzai.  Defense intelligence must reassess the safety of U.S. forces currently engaged in an offensive against the Taliban in southern Kandahar region.  White House and Pentagon officials can’t trust Karzai.

            Karzai’s comments that he might join the Taliban don’t reflect a nervous breakdown as Marenai suggests.  Marenai indicated Karzai looked “nervous” and couldn’t understand why Afghan legislators wouldn’t give him authority over Afghanistan’s electoral institutions.  Karzai can’t comprehend that his fraudulent Aug. 24, 2009 election has anything to do with why Afghan’s parliament rejected his legal reforms.  Given Karzai’s recent behavior, Obama should meet urgently with Centcom Commander Gen. David Petraeus and McChrystal to plot new strategy in Afghanistan.  U.S. and NATO forces should demand Karzai’s immediate resignation.  U.S. and coalition forces can’t be safe with Karzai’s incestuous relationship with the Taliban.  Because of extreme dangers to U.S. and allied forces, all combat operations should be temporarily halted.

            Kazai’s betrayal requires the U.S. and coalition forces to immediately reevaluate the Afghan mission.  Karzai can’t be trusted with any intel about U.S. and coalition troop movements or operations against the Taliban.  Obama should demand immediately that Karzai step down as Afghan president.  Karzai’s vanquished opponent in the Aug. 24, 2009 election Abdullah Abdullah should be named interim president until new elections can be held.  No U.S. administration can support a corrupt figurehead that provides aid-and-comfort to the enemy.  Karzai’s “threat” to join the Taliban belies the fact that he’s been a Taliban ally for years, while U.S. and allied forces spill blood and waste treasure defending Afghan security.  Karazi’s recent comments about the Taliban can’t be satisfactorily explained away by Hillary and the State Dept,  White House officials can no longer deny reality.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.