Afghan leader steps up criticism during Gates trip

(Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai stepped up criticism of Western institutions and military forces on Tuesday, accusing them of hampering his government and causing unacceptable civilian casualties.

The criticism came on the second day of a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates intended to assess security progress but clouded by Afghan anger over the mistaken killing of nine boys in a NATO air strike last week.

With ties between Washington and Kabul at their lowest point in more than a year -- and Afghanistan facing a series of security milestones within weeks -- Gates arrived in Afghanistan on Monday to be met by a storm of complaints.

Karzai says civilian casualties are the greatest strain on relations with Washington and that international concern has also grown, with the fallout from recent incidents threatening to hamper peace and reconciliation efforts.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/us-afghanistan-idUSTRE7271VS20110308

Karzai accepts Gates' apology over deaths of Afghan children in NATO air strike
Afghanistan News.Net

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accepted an apology of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates for the deaths of nine children in a NATO air strike, a day after he had rejected the regrets of the top US commander in Afghanistan over the same issue.

http://www.afghanistannews.net/story/752893/ht/Karzai-accepts-Gates-apology-over-deaths-of-Afghan-children-in-NATO-air-strike



Even though Karzai apparently accepted Gates' apology today, there is this to think about:



Blackwater set to remain in Afghanistan despite reshuffling private security contractors

Blackwater is set to remain in Afghanistan after President Hamid Karzai has been forced by the Western partners to give up his plans of shunting private security companies out of his country...

...As part of a complex new transition strategy, the government has reportedly given them time up to March 21, 2012 before the Afghan Public Protection Force takes control over security for development projects.

Western and Afghan officials have said that the draft plans drawn up by former Karzai opponent Ashraf Ghani would allow companies to keep supplying private guards and security services to development projects indefinitely, the paper said...

...A senior western diplomat has said that Karzai has been forced by Americans to take the step as he has no other choice, adding that "if he thought in terms longer than just the next 24 hours he would not have got himself into this mess." According to reports, David Petraeus, the top US commander in Afghanistan, has helped to put pressure on Karzai, though the President is unhappy with parts of the new plan. (ANI)

http://www.afghanistannews.net/story/753020/ht/Blackwater-set-to-remain-in-Afghanistan-despite-reshuffling-private-security-contractors



Those mercs aren't necessarily there to guard your back, Hamid. And I thought I would remind you of what has happened to other US puppets once they rebel or are no longer useful to strategy.

Just sayin' Hamid.

Private Contractors Reach Record Number in Afghanistan

(MENAFN - Saudi Press Agency) The number of private security personnel working for the U.S. military in Afghanistan rose to about 18,900 at the end of last year, a U.S.

congressional report said on Monday. The Congressional Research Service report said that the number of private security contractor personnel in Afghanistan has more than tripled since June 2009.

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093397792



Watch your back, Hamid.