Obama Engages Karzai on Corruption, Nepotism

On Sunday, President Obama made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan. President Obama arrived under cover of darkness at Bagram Air Force Base at 7:25 p.m. local time after a twelve hour and forty-six minute non-stop flight from Andrews Air Force Base aboard Air Force One. Obama was met by General Stanley McChrystal and Ambassador Karl Eikenberry shortly after he landed. The president and his entourage were then flown by helicopter into Kabul, a short fifteen minute flight away. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told the press that the Afghan Government was told of the President's visit on Thursday.

Obama Talks Tough to Afghanistan's President Karzai

During the press briefing delivered by National Security Advisor James Jones and the NSC's LTG Doug Lute on Air Force One on the way to Afghanistan, reporters were told that President Obama would "engage President Karzai... to make him understand that in his second term, there are things that have not been paid attention to, almost from day one." Among them were "a merit-based system for appointment of key government officials, battling corruption, and taking the fight to narco-traffickers, which... provides a lot of the economic engine for the insurgents." President Karzai has been accused of being a little too close to Afghanistan's powerful drug-lords. Indeed, President Karzai's brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, is believed to be heavily involved in Afghanistan's opium trade despite allegations reported by the New York Times in 2009 that he was also put on the CIA's payroll under the Bush administration.

Karzai Welcomes Obama to Afghanistan

President Obama was welcomed by President Karzai in a ten minute ceremony on the parade grounds of the presidential palace. The two presidents were seen talking as they walked from the palace to the parade grounds, where the national anthems of both the United States and Afghanistan were played. Obama and Karzai then reviewed the troops in silence, walking side by side before returning to the palace.

Obama to Meet with Karzai One on One

Pool reporters were told that Presidents Obama and Karzai would meet "one on one," with Jones, Eikenberry and the deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough also present. After the initial discussion, the group would meet with President Karzai's cabinet and be joined by General McChrystal, Deputy Ambassador Riccardoni, deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

President Karzai Thanks American Taxpayers

In a press statement after the meetings, President Karzai welcomed Obama to Afghanistan for the second time, though the first as President of the United States. Karzai thanked America for the help prvided over the last eight years and US taxpayers for "rebuilding and reestablishing the institutions in Afghanistan."

Obama Cites Need to Battle Corruption, Strengthen Rule of Law

President Obama, in turn, thanked Karzai for his hospitality and said that America is encouraged by Afghanistan's progress. Obama continued, "we also want to continue to progress on the civilian process," citing governance, rule of law and battling corruption. President Obama also reached out to the US military saying "One of the main reasons I'm here is just to say thank you for the incredible efforts of our US troops and our coalition partners. They make tremendous sacrifices far away from home, and I want to make sure they know how proud their commander in chief is of them."

Sources:

Compiled from a series of pool reports by Peter Spiegel of the Wall Street Journal and forwarded by Michael A. Harris, White House Press Examiner.

Filkins, Dexter, Mazzaetti, Mark, and Risen, James. Brother of Afghan Leader Said to be Paid by C.I.A. New York Times. October 27, 2009. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/world/asia/28intel.html on March 28, 2010.