Clinton Makes Unannounced Visit to Afghanistan

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton walks with U.S. Ambassador to Afghan Karl Eikenberry
and U.S. General Stanley McChrystal after arriving on November 18, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan.


Afghan President Hamid Karzai, right, speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.

November 18, 2009

KABUL (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton, on her first trip to Afghanistan as U.S. secretary of state, said Wednesday that President Hamid Karzai's inauguration provides a new chance for him to strengthen government accountability and take tangible steps to improve the lives of Afghan citizens.

Karzai, who invited Clinton to dinner at his presidential palace, is under stiff pressure from the U.S. and other nations to fight pervasive corruption in his government. Many hope that in his inauguration speech Thursday, he will make concrete commitments to reform, helping the country move past a fraud-tainted election that undermined trust in the government.

''We stand at a critical moment on the eve of the inauguration of President Karzai's second term,'' Clinton told employees at the heavily secured U.S. Embassy compound in the capital. ''There is now a clear window of opportunity for President Karzai and his government to make a new compact with the people of Afghanistan to demonstrate clearly that they're going to have accountability and tangible results that will improve the lives of the people who live throughout this magnificent country.''

Clinton's trip to Kabul comes just days after U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, in leaked memos, questioned the wisdom of adding American troops at a time when the Afghan political situation is unstable and uncertain. Clinton lauded the U.S. military in her remarks, then went to meet with the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who has advocated sending tens of thousands of additional U.S. troops.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/18/world/AP-AS-Afghanistan-Clinton.html?_r=1&hp

The pics are my addition, they are not part of the original article.

:)

''Nobody knows better than our military commanders that troops alone cannot meet our goals of defeating al-Qaida, of helping the Afghans get the capacity to defend themselves and provide governance that will result in positive changes for the people of this country,'' she said.

''The military has performed brilliantly, time and time again, in confronting terrorism and protecting civilians and training security forces and defending borders, but this has got to be a common joint strategy that we look at from the beginning -- not as an afterthought.''

I'm glad that we are finally pressuring Karzai to clean up the pervasive corruption and demanding results.

;-)

unrecording the cowards way without any explanation.

They unrec my threads no matter the subject. They act like bratty children. I never unrec anyone's threads. If I have something to say, I say it.

:eyes:

Unless it's already been stated in the thread.

Clinton Presses Karzai on Eve of Inauguration



KABUL, Afghanistan — In what amounted to a stern pep talk by a nervous partner, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived here on Wednesday to exhort President Hamid Karzai and his government to do a better job of cracking down on corruption in Afghanistan.

Mrs. Clinton’s unannounced visit, on the eve of Mr. Karzai’s inauguration to another term, was meant to send a message of American support for his government after a chaotic election in which he emerged as the winner despite charges of rampant ballot stuffing and other fraud.

But Mrs. Clinton said she also planned to press Mr. Karzai for tangible results in tackling other forms of corruption, which many experts cite as one of the leading culprits for Afghanistan’s deteriorating security.

“We are asking that they follow through on much of what they previously said, including putting together a credible anticorruption governmental entity,” Mrs. Clinton said to reporters traveling with her from Beijing, where she had been accompanying President Obama on his tour of Asia.

“They’ve done some work on that, but in our view, not nearly enough to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose to tackle corruption,” she said. “We are concerned about corruption. We obviously think it has an impact on the quality and capacity of governance.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/asia/19clinton.html?hp

Seriously.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/hillary-clintons-other-co_n_362018.html

Actually, I do like her coat. It's funky and different.

:D

Edited to add pic. This is a coat that I wish I had, I love the lining.

The leaf-embroidered number is also very stylish. The embroidery reminds me a bit of the tile found on some mosques. Very appropriate. I hope that she is having some fun wearing both.

Around NY we see a variety of styles. The one she wore today looks like a fun coat to wear. The other one is more serious, but the lining adds flair to it. It's also more versatile.

I guess I'm a bit superficial too. LOL!!

:7

I used to work in Manhattan and live between the GW Bridge and the Lincoln Tunnel.

Shopping was great and so was style-watching. I really miss that about New York.

I like clothes, but I simply love shoes. A good shoe can last you for years.

:D

My 7D's don't have a fashionable home right now, and my right hip and left knee can no longer make do with 8B's.

Nordstrom's shoe salon is unrecognizable. I'm looking for somewhere around here that carries Van Eli's. Yum!

Enjoy your shoes! I wonder what Hillary wears?

Could shop for them for hours. LOL!!!

I don't know what she wears, but there are several that I have liked. The latest ones I like are black with patent leather on the tip. They may be Ferragamo. They are elegant, but look comfortable.

:D

I would wear the colorful one for brunch and the serious one for work.

Hmmm, I wonder what Hil does with her old clothes.......

:7

:)

You're welcome.

:pals:

I don't.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/shut-up-and-bring-them-home-if-you-want-our-vote