|
Obama, Karzai agree to continue 'partnership'
  [Dawn] United States President Barack ObamaThis is a teachable moment... and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Maybe I'll join the TalibanKarzai ... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtunface on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use... agreed in a video conference on Thursday to continue a "partnership" tested by violence sparked after US troops burned Holy Korans. The two leaders also discussed regional security and Afghan-led reconciliation talks with the Taliban, White House front man Jay Carney said. "The leaders noted progress toward concluding a strategic partnership that reinforces Afghan illusory sovereignty while addressing the practical requirements of transition," he added, referring to the deal that would lay out US involvement in Afghanistan beyond 2014, when most foreign combat troops are due to leave. The agreement has been held up for months by disagreement over night raids and control of detention centers now managed by foreign forces. Carney also noted an agreement by both leaders to stay in close contact as the transfer of power nears. Posted by: Fred 2012-03-09 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=340536 |