Obama's Visit and Afghanistan's Corruption
Created by Administrator Saturday, 03 April 2010 12:34
Killid Commentary
Unannounced and under the cover of darkness, United States President Barack Obama made his first trip as President to Afghanistan Sunday 28th April.
He arrived at Bagram Air Base after dusk and was immediately ushered on to a convoy of armed helicopters for the 50 mile ride south to the Presidential Palace in Kabul where his Afghan counterpart, President Hamid Karzai, awaited. After exchanging pleasantries both leaders took part in a press conference. Once the cameras stopped rolling, Obama returned to Bagram to deliver a short speech to U.S. troops before departing as quickly as he arrived-his whirlwind tour of Afghanistan clocking in at dizzying 6 hours.
Since moving into the West Wing, the Obama administration's ties to the Afghan government have been 
strained, at best. Obama along with other international leaders attribute the failures of the eight year campaign in Afghanistan, at least in part, to the short comings of Karzai's government.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden have all publicly expressed frustration against instances of corrupt practices by the Afghan government. Karzai, instead, also blames foreign influences in Afghanistan, especially of the American stripe, for propagating corrupt practices. Obama, however, continues to chastise Afghan leadership and has seriously warned the Afghan president to tackle not only corruption, but his country's narcotic fueled insurgency as well.
National Security Advisor James Jones told reporters that Obama is going to impress upon Karzai the long list of tasks that need to be accomplished in his second term.
After returning to Bagram, Obama removed his suit and donned a brown bomber jacket before addressing a makeshift hangar full of troops. He noted his high regard and appreciation for the sacrifices made by American men and women in uniform here in Afghanistan and their role in ensuring that al-Qaeda be prevented from attacking U.S. soil ever again. The president acknowledged that there were still hard days ahead and that the enemy is well prepared but that the U.S. always finishes what it starts. At this point, he stated that it's impossible to predict when coalition forces might conclude their war, introducing some flexibility surrounding U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan. And this was of crucial importance because failure could mean a return of not only the Taliban but also al Qaeda.
Obama also touched upon insurgents' infiltration from across Afghanistan's borders and warned of continued U.S. drone strikes over insurgents' safe havens along the Pakistani border and its tribal areas. This is a clear message for Pakistan to halt support of insurgents' activities and to expand their military raids over al-Qaeda and other groups operating inside their borders.
President Obama strongly stressed the elimination of corruption and narcotics in his first visit to the war zone. Corruption has not only hampered development in Afghanistan but has also fuel U.S. frustration towards Afghan leadership.
It is difficult to know in detail what message Obama delivered to Karzai on the topics of corruption and narcotics. The U.S. may be investing a considerable about of blood and treasure in the war but they are aware that until the issues of narcotics and corruption are addressed, no amount of military actions will bring stability to Afghanistan. For their part, Afghans have little confidence that their current officials will be able to surmount these imposing obstacles. Granted, Karzai has formed many anti-corruption committees but few are expecting any radical change in the immediate future.
Moreover, Afghans also fault the influx of foreign funds for abetting the scourge of corruption. Actually, the Afghan government is only allowed to spend approximately 15 percent of international aid, leaving the other 85 percent for international donors and NGOs, which are beyond the oversight of the Afghan government.
Lieutenant General Arnold, who leads SIGAR (Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction) and arrived in Afghanistan last year, believes there's significant corruption in foreign nongovernmental organizations operating in the country, especially U.S. NGOs. Also several private foreign contractors are being investigated. Arnold seconds Karzai's claims that it is foreigners who are most responsible for corruption in Afghanistan.
Obama's surprise visit signals Afghanistan's importance in the president's foreign policy. Consequently, the Afghan government should take advantage of U.S. assistance to revamp Afghan security and economic growth as much as possible. The Karzai government and the international community must act soon, for Afghans are growing impatient for the day when their children can enjoy every opportunity in life.
- U.S. and Iran contest, Bring Negative Points over Afghans
- Public Concerns about Karzai's Remarks
- The Battle for Baghlan Taliban vs. Hekmatyar
- Kabul: India and Pakistan's Battlefield
- Iraq Lessons Ignored at Kabul Power Plant
- Pakistani Taliban Willing to Join Afghan War
- Abdullah Plays For Time
- Pakistani Offensive, Afghanistan’s Risk
Freedom of speech
