Obama and Karzai: Endlessly Entwined
Susanne Koelbl, Der Spiegel | November 17, 2009
Obama and Karzai may be “hopelessly at odds” but they are “condemned to the mutual pursuit of success in Afghanistan.” ++ US policy now depends on how well Karzai can stabilize his country and not only on military impact. ++ Despite pressure Obama cannot afford to reduce aid as a sanction as this would “delay the timing of a US withdrawal even further.” ++ “The Americans' ultimate threat is also ineffective” as withdrawing would undermine the whole mission and allow the country to become a freehouse to extremists once again.
