[Mb-civic] NYTimes.com Article: Declaring Independence in Afghanistan

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Declaring Independence in Afghanistan

July 28, 2004
 


 

Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, took a big risk this
week when he declined to embrace the country's strongest
warlord, Marshal Muhammad Qasim Fahim, as his running mate
in October's presidential election. But it was a necessary
step, and Washington should repay his courage with military
support if necessary. 

Marshal Fahim is currently first vice president and defense
minister as well as the commander of Afghanistan's largest
private army. Continued partnership with him would have
destroyed the credibility of Mr. Karzai's campaign to
disarm all the warlords, who protect drug trafficking,
undermine Afghanistan's new Constitution and thwart
peaceful economic development. 

By standing up to Marshal Fahim, Mr. Karzai runs the real
risk of an armed challenge. Yet unless he moved now, his
authority might have become meaningless in many areas.
Nearly 20,000 American troops are now in Afghanistan, and
the smaller NATO force is being reinforced for the
election. If necessary, these forces should support Mr.
Karzai. 

When the warlords emerged in the late 1990's as the only
effective opposition to the Taliban, the most effective
force was commanded by a leader from the Tajik ethnic
group, Ahmed Shah Massoud. Ahmed Zia Massoud, his brother,
is Mr. Karzai's new running mate. Ahmed Shah Massoud was
assassinated by Al Qaeda two days before Sept. 11, 2001,
and Marshal Fahim took command of his army. When American
military intervention drove the Taliban from Kabul two
months later, Washington pleaded with Marshal Fahim to hold
back his troops, but he marched them into the capital. 

October's presidential elections can be an important step
toward constitutional democracy only if the winner truly
rules and warlords like Marshal Fahim disarm their
militias. Mr. Karzai needs more than his own courage to do
that. He needs the armed backing of the United States and
its allies. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/28/opinion/28wed2.html?ex=1092041460&ei=1&en=df1eff230d1d4bbb


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