President Hamid Karzai on Sunday at the gathering of Afghan leaders whose advice on a security agreement he has rejected. Omar Sobhani/Reuters
Karzai’s Bet: U.S. Is Bluffing in Warning on Security Pact -- New York Times
KABUL, Afghanistan — When President Hamid Karzai met with an audience of supporters gathered by the Afghan state television network, RTA, six months ago, he was asked what he would consider a favorable conclusion to the security negotiations he was conducting with the United States.
“It is favorable if they surrender to us,” he said.
Another question: But what if instead they just left?
He smirked, then said: “The U.S. has come and will not go, brother. It does not go. Therefore, ask for your demands and don’t worry.”
That unguarded moment in front of a friendly audience speaks volumes about the impasse between Mr. Karzai and his American allies.
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My Comment: President Obama does not strike me as a good negotiator .... but the Iraqis made the same bet and the Americans left .... and of the two Iraq was (and is) the most important of the two. But even with this history Karzai is betting that President Obama will knuckle under. What`s my prediction .... Karzai is overplaying his hand .... the mass majority of Americans want to leave and inevitably that sentiment will reach the politicians.
1 comment:
That's the problem with Obama, some of his efforts are not yet enough and convincing.
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