Afghanistan's New President is Worried

The mission creep of nation building and eradication of the poppy crops(heroin souce) in Afghanistan is becoming a problem for newly "democratically elected" President Hamid Karzai. On April 13, 2005 Karzai said "The conclusion we have drawn is that the Afghan people want a long term relationship with the United States. They want this relationship to be a wholesome one, including a substantial economic relationship, a political relationship and most important of all, a strategic security relationship that would enable Afghanistan to defend itself, to continue to prosper, to stop the possibility of interferences".

Anything else?

Sounds like Karzai is desperate. I know of no natural enemy that is threatening Afghanistan. The "possibility of interferences" probably refers to the Afghan people who are becoming increasingly unhappy with the disconnect of Karzai ,democracy and the reality of making a living which includes cultivating poppies. The U S has embarked on an eradication program with a toxic fallout effecting other crops,animals and people.

THe U S has to some degree responded positively to Karzai's request for military aid by bumping up to 20,000 from 18,000 the U S troop presence.

Karzai shoul read history. Puppet leaders who are installed and/or supported by foreign powers whether it be the U S , Russia,England et al always have a clock ticking a countdown when those puppets have to leave town.