December 10th, 2012
08:18 PM ET
10 years ago
McKeon: 'Tough' to work with Karzai
(CNN) - Rep. Buck McKeon, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, criticized Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday for blaming the United States over insecurity in Afghanistan. Asked if he thought the U.S. could continue to work with Karzai, the congressman said it's "a tough situation."
"When you figure all the sacrifice that we’ve made to try to help that country to try to help them have the ability to stand on their own feet and decide their own destiny – and then you get that kind of response. It’s a tough situation," he said on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront.
Erin Burnett will report live from Kabul on Thursday.
The Taliban will re-take Afghanistan within six months of our leaving, and frankly, they can have it. We came for al-Qaida and bin Laden. We did what we could, but if the Afghans prefer burkas and executions, that's their choice.
Karzai should never be trusted and the same goes most of those who hold political power in the region, cut them loose, and see how long Karzai stays in office, he'll run and when he does he will take everything that has been given to him and that which was stolen from his" people". He's a bum and a thieve. Wouldn't trust him to hold a balloon for me.
Lucid One
Well – It isn't like they actually asked for our help.... So it isn't like they are obligated to be happy or anything.... We had our reasons for going into Afghanistan and it had NOTHING to do with making it a better place for Afghans. I am pretty sure had we not been looking for Bin Laden, we'd never have sent anyone there...
And before people get angry.... That statement is NOT somehow being disrespectful of those who served. Respecting the Military (which I spent 10 years in) does not mean one can't discuss the merits of specific deployments.
why are we in afghanistan again?
Please let Karzai defend Afghanistan himself since he's always blaming the U.S. for every problem they have. Then we'll see how much he appreciates the U.S.
If what is promoted here of what Karzai said re blaming US for insecurity in Afghanistan is accurate. Then even though its not a "... " quote if it is as blunt as that suggests.
Then diplomatic speak from our side is no longer required. I would plain speak to him as follows:-
1) We have trained ( plus ISAF support) a police force of over 400,000 and many soldiers. Use them as the lead security force under your control.
2) Get rid of corruption in your own government or we stop any more funding for Afghan national security and speed up the withdrawal of ours and other ISAF troops. and you President Karzai must negotiate with the Taliban and its terrorist arm in the interests of your own nations security and government.
3) We will assist only in economic development projects and Education projects and during development to final launch and will assist with military and civilian advisors under US and ISAF protection, but financial control of funds and project development tenders and payments controlled by our civilian staff, against agreed investment returns shared between developers the US agencies financing and the Afghan government.
That said all other security matters outside protection of civil/economic projects and defending your citizens against Taliban politics, military interventions, suicide attacks etc .... over to you.
We will protect our remaining military and civil advisors by any means if attacked by weapons of any kind. If collateral damage ensues it will be the " blame of the " attacker" as those will be our rules of engagement no firing until fired upon.
Regards,
Hodgson..
Then DON'T work with him.
Pull us out of there.