Leaders Worldwide Turn Up the Heat on Afghanistan Corruption
Nov 16th, 2009 • Posted in: NewsThe issue is reported to be one factor slowing Obama administration’s decision on military policy; allies, including Britain and Germany, express concerns about integrity of Karzai administration
KABUL
Pressure continues to mount as the Obama administration tries to decide whether to commit more troops in Afghanistan, and according to world press reports, corruption is one of the major issues holding up the process.
The U.K. Guardian reports that NATO allies, including Britain, are becoming anxious about the delay. Nevertheless, according to a source cited by the paper, the United States is mindful of past attempts to try to prop up corrupt governments and unsure about how to pressure the current Afghan regime into cleaning up its act.
According to an opinion piece carried by CNN, one concern is that in addition to corruption problems under his regime, Afghan president Hamid Karzai also is confronting foreign fears that he stole the election through rigged voting and therefore represents just another small faction in the nation’s turbulent politics.
The Deutsche Welle news service reports that Germany, which has 4,300 troops deployed in Afghanistan, issued an anticorruption ultimatum when Defense minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg made his maiden voyage to the country and demanded reform.
Karzai’s administration hit back at the West last week, saying the government was committed to fighting corruption and that some of the responsibility must lie with the international community in battling graft in aid contracts, notes the Agence France-Press.
Karzai is slated to be sworn in for another term on November 19.
Sources: AFP, Nov. 13 – Deutsche Welle, Nov. 12 – Guardian, Nov. 12 – CNN, Nov. 12.
For more information, see: Related Newsline Commentary, Nov. 9 — Related Newsline story, Nov. 9 — Related Newsline story, Sep. 8 — Related Newsline story, May 18 — Related Newsline story, Mar. 30.
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