Those Americans who have advocated against a drastic drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan have a difficult task persuading their fellow countrymen this war is still worth fighting. But Afghan President Hamid Karzai is making it even harder than it needs to be. Playing to some of his local constituencies, Karzai lashed out at NATO forces on the radio Saturday, calling them “occupiers” and denouncing them for causing civilian casualties and for serving their own interests in the country. He also made some confusing remarks about the coalition negotiating with the Taliban, a tactic he has supported.
U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry responded to Karzai today during a speech. His comments were remarkably frank for a diplomat but very much to the point:
When we hear ourselves being called occupiers and worse, and our generous aid programs dismissed as totally ineffective and the source of all corruption, our pride is offended and we begin to lose our inspiration to carry on.
Alls this makes one wonder if Karzai has a clue as to how tenuous support for continuing the fight in Afghanistan is in the United States. If the Afghan president’s goal was to undermine support for the U.S. role in the conflict, he couldn’t have said anything more likely to encourage anti-war activists and to discourage those who think the cause is still worthwhile.
Many Americans are under the misapprehension now that Osama bin Laden is dead the war in Afghanistan has no point. But we are not just fighting al-Qaeda. The Taliban, which hosted the terrorist group and which oppressed its own population during their reign of terror, is integral to the Islamist terror network at war with the West. Allowing them to prevail in Afghanistan would be a terrible defeat for both the United States and the Afghan people. That is why a precipitate U.S. withdrawal would be a disaster for both countries.
For all of his bluster, it is hard to believe that Karzai really thinks his government can survive in the long term without foreign assistance. But if he wants to try his luck without American help, statements such as his speech on Saturday are the best way to achieve that purpose. Any more such encouragement from our ally will further undermine support for continuing the war there.
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