November 2, 2009
Posted: November 2nd, 2009 03:45 PM ET


WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama called Monday for a "new chapter" of improved governance in Afghanistan now that Hamid Karzai's re-election as president is complete.

At a brief media appearance with visiting Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Obama said he spoke to Karzai earlier Monday and congratulated him on winning a second term.

"Although the process was messy, I'm pleased to say that the final outcome was determined in accordance with Afghan law, which I think is very important," Obama said of the August election and subsequent turmoil over fraudulent votes for Karzai that were disqualified.

Obama said he told Karzai that for Afghanistan, "this has to be a point in time in time in which we being to write a new chapter based on improved governance, a much more serious effort to eradicate corruption, joint efforts to accelerate the training of Afghan security forces so that the Afghan people can provide their own security."

Filed under: Afghanistan • Hamid Karzai • President Obama


Buck Wheat   November 2nd, 2009 5:25 pm ET

Send Obummer to Afghanistan...maybe they are stupid enough to listen to this kook!

tate   November 2nd, 2009 5:24 pm ET

Could obama look like more of a fool if he tried? The guy is a complete and total fool. This little idiot was told it should not matter who is running things get the troops in crush these animals and then get out of there. This child is killing our men and woman while he plays golf and cant make a decision. you cant vote presedent HUSSIEN.

desertique   November 2nd, 2009 5:23 pm ET

Hey Pres. How about we stop the drone attacks and the massacre of civilians? Osama is dead and Al Qaida is stronger than ever. Who's side are you on?

Dar   November 2nd, 2009 5:13 pm ET

Odumbo droped Kaizai like a hot rock as soon as there was a little problem with the elections and wouldn't say anything untill the new results were given. Kaizai has stood beside us as our friend for all these years and Odumbo had to play his little game just in case Kaizai wasnt re elected. Just turned his back on him like he will and is doing to all of us. What a piece of dog dung this guy has turned out to be. IM done with him, it's all about Obumbo as it always has been. Wake up people.

diridi   November 2nd, 2009 5:13 pm ET

pres. obama, I think, in my opinion, we need to get out of Afganistan...enough of pouring money by Bush in Iraq....looted the nation, dug deep deficit....we need to fix health care with public option...let me dare enough to ask these republican and GOP thugs...what did you acheive in IRAQ....DID YOU BRING OIL ATLEAST...TODAY OIL IS 2.70.$$$
IDIOTS....pres. obama, please get out of Afganistan....hand over to Taliban moderates....just ignore...concentrate on American Soil....period...fix immigration....health care forthwith.....

Stephen A. Johnson   November 2nd, 2009 5:11 pm ET

The U.S. twists Mr. Karzai's arm into agreeing to a runoff election and then backs oput saying that we can not risk American lives at the poling places? What kind of colonialism is this? The kind that never works? U.S. GET OUT NOW!

rudy   November 2nd, 2009 5:08 pm ET

i think that is extremely important to recognize the president karzai in his approval to have an ultimate run-off . it shows his determination to leading a people by putting first the legitamate opportunity for voters to be recognized and to put any re-election fears aside. the time is now for a new chapter to begin. one that puts the security and well being of the afgani people first and a commitment to corruption eradication .

RCasson   November 2nd, 2009 5:07 pm ET

Lets get out Mr. President. Its time.

Loup Garou 782   November 2nd, 2009 5:04 pm ET

Any time there is an obama or someone from the obama administration in the vicinity Hamid Karzi better watch his back. bon't let any of those people get behind you, it could be painful.

W l Jones   November 2nd, 2009 5:03 pm ET

The Afghanisttan people is not dumb, every country we been in in the end the people win because theirs life improved, .

C. Farrell, Houston, Tx   November 2nd, 2009 5:02 pm ET

Bush is like Osama bin Laden, he created this mess and now he's gone leaving the damages behind. Think about it.

David   November 2nd, 2009 4:59 pm ET

What ever he decides I will support his decision.Republicans should just keep quiet,he knows so much they dont know.Its intresting they seem to be offering all these solutions these days.To HC this issue that issue ect.However what exactly did they do when they had the power to solve them from 2000-2006?Obama at least is trying his best to get these issues solved.He may not be right on the approach for everyone to agree, but he is at least doing something about them.These republicans left in the senate and congress need to sit down and for once shut up.If his plans do not work then be a critic.Untill that time let this elected gov proceed.

Bob from Pittsburgh   November 2nd, 2009 4:53 pm ET

Hard to believe..

Once more an American government takes the bait.. Karzai is the most corrupted politicians in the world, at the same level of Arafat, Sadam Hussein, the Shaw of Iran ETC.. his brother is heavily involucrate in the Drug market. The elections were a farce, and now he has the backing of the USA.. give me a break..!! once more you guys are taking the wrong side.. has history teach anything..?

You will have no credibility in the eyes of any Afghanis..

Jane/Seattle   November 2nd, 2009 4:52 pm ET

END THESE WARS OF OCCUPATION AND BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW. This staying is just what Osama and military contracotrs want. Who are you supporting? You are helping these greedy Military Industrial Contractors and not asking We The People if WE WANT to Pay for it! I bet if you ask every school child in America, they'd all mostly say, "Can we have some good schools AND TEXTBOOKS?" Or "Can we have a home to live in"? Instead you appoint Wall Street CRIMINALS TO "FIX" WHAT THEY ARE NOW BEING UNACCOUNTABLE FOR CREATING! Get out of Bush et al's WARS! Code Pink Rocks!

Rob   November 2nd, 2009 4:45 pm ET

Hey Obumbles, how many chapters you gonna add til you finally help the troops? It'll probably be too late when you do, then you'll try to blame Bush for it. Enjoy the next 3 years, cuz in 2012 you are out the door.

Kevin in Ohio   November 2nd, 2009 4:43 pm ET

Obama...."new chapter" should mean you decide to WIN this war and give our military what it needs to get the job done and help rid the world of terrorists. Or will you do the predicted thing, characteristic of liberals and those that hate the American way of life....surrender and apologize?

The Lonely Libertarian of Liverpool NY   November 2nd, 2009 4:42 pm ET

End the WAR ! Bring our children home! Now!
No more wars for corporate profit.

New Yorker   November 2nd, 2009 4:41 pm ET

Obama was the one who said this is a "war of necessity".So why doesn't he just listen to those who specialize in fighting battles and give them what they request? Perhaps he doesn't want to win the
"war of necessity".

Mark   November 2nd, 2009 4:38 pm ET

obama speaks about eradicating corruption? He needs look at the people he hires first. We should not have tax cheats in the white house or congress.

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 4:37 pm ET

What is it about wingnuts and war? Maybe the taste of victory over Grenada with a population of 100,000, in 1983, makes these draft dodgers think they are military leaders.

Sniffit   November 2nd, 2009 4:37 pm ET

Waffler In Chief

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 4:34 pm ET

We surrendered our constitutional rights and succumbed to allowing torture under Bush/Cheney.

db   November 2nd, 2009 4:34 pm ET

A "new chapter"? It was bad enough when Obama used such meaningless phrases during the campaign, but now that he's in charge the consequences of his nonsense are potentially grave. The Taliban and Al Qaeda are a hair's-breadth from seizing control of Pakistan's nukes, and all we get from this clown is blather about "a new chapter"!

mjm   November 2nd, 2009 4:33 pm ET

Now can we send McCrystal the troops he needs?

What are we waiting for this time?

victim of republican greed   November 2nd, 2009 4:32 pm ET

Once again, Obama increased the troop levels in Afghanistan by over 20,000 in March 2009, after Bush left that request unfulfilled on his desk for over 8 months. Bush's unnecessary war in Iraq cost us in excess of 4000 troops killed.

me happy- at 4:20 each day   November 2nd, 2009 4:32 pm ET

The only new chapter we should have is to : GET OUT AND BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!!!

DJ   November 2nd, 2009 4:31 pm ET

Take care of business Obama...I trust you and appreciate your dedicatoin to a REAL strategy in Afganistan.

peter   November 2nd, 2009 4:30 pm ET

Uh, superior weaponry and tactics allowed Alexander to win and colonize Afghanistan. However he had the guts to see it and do it. Now that the Pakistan army is finally in South Waziristan the time for a pincer movement, as the militants move into afghanistan, is ripe. Instead of the Nato forces meeting them head on, they have free reign of the Afghani countryside,. Instead of defeating them in this pincer, they have free reign to plant IED's and truck bomb the cities. WHERE ARE THE US TROOPS???? Where is the guts. waffles for breakfast, waffle for lunch, Obama waffles all day long. Am I ever sorry I voted for him.

Anonymous   November 2nd, 2009 4:28 pm ET

Get out of Afghanistan NOW .... They keep repeating the same STUPITY , its their Civil War ...

mohamed   November 2nd, 2009 4:21 pm ET

No one is making any fuss about the corrupted election there??
Where is CNN, FOX and the others. That's fine it will happen in Egypt next year. As long as it's not Iran.

Russ in Benton   November 2nd, 2009 4:15 pm ET

No foreign country has ever won a war in Afghanistan, what makes Obama think we are different.

Mike Syracuse, NY   November 2nd, 2009 4:15 pm ET

So what has changed? Karzai was the elected President before this, and now he's been re-elected. Meanwhile Obama continues to waffle on troop levels while soldiers die daily at an increasing rate.

Obama Victim   November 2nd, 2009 4:10 pm ET

we surrender

Pepou   November 2nd, 2009 4:07 pm ET

We need to get out of Afghanistan. It is a losing battle.

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