Karzai's Cronies

Meet the unsavory characters surrounding the Afghan president and his new government.

BY JORDANA TIMERMAN, DAVID KENNER | NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Ahmed Wali Karzai: Rumors are swirling about the president's younger half-brother and his mafia-like grip on Kandahar and involvement in the opium trade. He is also accused of fabricating ballots through the use of ghost polling stations, which never opened but somehow reported massive majorities for Karzai in this year's presidential election. A recent New York Times story said he has received regular CIA payments for the past eight years for activities that include involvement with a paramilitary force operating outside Kandahar. The relationship points to the tangled nature of the corruption surrounding President Karzai, which seems to enable him to rule and undermine his government at the same time. Above, Ahmed Wali Karzai talks on a cell phone as he celebrates his brother's reelection in Kandahar on Nov. 3, 2009.

BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images

 SUBJECTS: AFGHANISTAN, MIDDLE EAST
 
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ENGUZEL

3:27 PM ET

November 21, 2009

gizlesene

i hate Karzai
gizlesene

 

MUSICMASTER

8:09 AM ET

November 22, 2009

Typical disinformation

I think this list is rather typical of how the US is misinformed in order to have it follow a pro-Pashtun policy. Dostum had some Taliban killed in containers in the sun. But nobody mentions that the Taliban used the same method to kill its adversaries. And against the dozens of Pashtun killed by Hazara warlords are thosuands of Hazara killed by Taliban (=Pashtun). Like it or not: Taliban rule was also Pashtun rule, these are also tribal conflicts and it could only be expected that there would be some revenge. But I find it stupid that the US lets itself be manipulated by the Pashtun to use this as a reason to disqualify the leaders of the other tribes to play a major political role.

What Karzai wants is clear. He is a Pashtun and the Taliban are Pashtun. So they will find a way to work together. Karzai's brother is already cooperating with the Taliban and Karzai himself will find a way too. In the meantime he is obstructing the northern tribes so that they can't provide effective resistance against the Taliban - who will be thankful. And of course he is blasting every Westerner who dares to suggest negotiations with the Taliban. Karzai is a nobody from a small tribe. If the West would negotiate directly with the Taliban he would loose his pivotal position and his play would fall apart.

 

MAIWAND RAHIULLAH

1:26 AM ET

November 23, 2009

STOP DISCRIMINATION

DEAR MUSIC MASTER :
What is this bro why do you always blame pashtuns, Do u know who are talibans and who is supporting them? and about killing of innocents its shame for talibans as well for Hazaras and for you aswell because ur encouraging one tribe to revenge from another tribe, who had not done bad acts like killing civilians robbery etc...? If u says me then ur wrong and if i say me then i am wrong. every one was directly or Indirectly involved. But every tribe has bad people and good people so please NEVER BLAME ANY TRIBE BUT PERSONS WHO ARE REALLY INVOLVE. thnx in advance khuda hafiz...................

 

JOSHUAROBERT144

8:46 AM ET

November 23, 2009

Other lists worth publishing

Karzai's Cronies is a useful exercise, and he has certainly made some shameful choices. But there are also a number of competent and courageous Afghans working to rebuild their country, Interior Minister Atmar, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation Zia, competent Finance and Commerce Ministers, etc. Not to mention the talent individuals working for the Human Rights Commission and heading up a variety of NGOs. The Warlords get enough attention as it is. Perhaps FP should explore these islands of integrity next.