Karzai Says US, NATO Created 'Parallel' Government

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — President Hamid Karzai criticized the U.S. and other foreign countries for creating a "parallel government" in the countryside during a blunt overview of Afghanistan's problems before a U.N. Security Council delegation.

Karzai called Tuesday for the international community to set a timeline to end the war in Afghanistan and asked why — given the number of countries involved and the amount of money spent — the Taliban remains so powerful.

"This war has gone on for seven years, the Afghans don't understand anymore, how come a little force like the Taliban can continue to exist, can continue to flourish, can continue to launch attacks," he asked.

With an entire NATO force in Afghanistan and the entire international community behind them, "still we are not able to defeat the Taliban," Karzai told the gathering at his presidential palace.

Karzai — facing re-election next year and making increasing overtures to conservative Afghan tribes most likely to vote for him — has been criticized for being ineffective and weak, while his government was accused of deep-seated corruption.

The president's Tuesday comments appear to be a response to that criticism and lay the blame for the deteriorating security situation and other woes on the international community.

Foreign governments, the United States in particular, have been ramping up military and aid efforts in Afghanistan. The U.S. has some 32,000 troops in the country, but military leaders say up to 20,000 more could be sent to Afghanistan next year.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD94MIBK80

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Karzai is ready for us to leave. He want's a timetable. The elders in Afghanistan are calling on Karzai and the US to stop bombings and the killing of civilians. It is time for us to change how we are operating in Afghanistan and get the hell out.

K&R

Through history no force has been able to conquer and stabilize the 'stans. Afghan, Paki, Kazakh, Uzbek, Turkmeni, etc.

Europeans have tried it for millennia. This is the toughest neighborhood on the planet.

His area of control has been shrinking, and he is not an effective leader. It's being held together by a string. Karzai is in a very uncomforatble spot. He depends on the US to maintain power, but the people are growing hostile of our presence.

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"This war has gone on for seven years, the Afghans don't understand anymore, how come a little force like the Taliban can continue to exist, can continue to flourish, can continue to launch attacks," he asked.
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When he finds out how that happens, I hope he lets us know.

The Taliban plays the long, long, long game. They can wait us out decades in the mountains, rebuilding and just doing enough to ward off a defeat.

thought they'd have known better, wouldn't you?

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-young-british-soldier/