Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un3afghan070109.html
UNITED NATIONS, July 1 -- While Paddy Ashdown, who had been slated to be the UN's "Super-envoy" to Afghanistan until President a shot down the idea, says that the war against the Taliban is being lost, Karzai's Ambassador to the UN Zahir Tanin on June 30 wry told the Press that "people have different views." He became more expansive when Inner City Press asked, "Some are saying that President Karzai is assembling a war lord ticket, Mr. Fahim in particular, and that ministries have to promised to supporters." Video here, from Minute 501.
Ambassador Tanin said, "This is what we read. There are political players in Afghanistan... Whether you call them warlords or not... Any candidates including President Karzai try to have their support... if not with Karzai, other candidates will try to have them with him."
Tanin went on, "they have "influence.... if they support one or another incl President Karzai, it is very different than the idea of warlords on one side and non warlords on other."
While Tanin left the stake out after this statement, it seems fair to summarize it as a preference by the Karzai administration to have the warlords inside his tent rather than outside. But how far does this go?
The UN's envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide briefed the Security Council, but walked by without stopping at the stakeout microphone where Tanin was to speak. Part of a UN envoy's job is to speak and explain his positions. His deputy Peter Galbraith has also yet to speak to the press. Watch this site.And see, www.innercitypress.com/un3afghan070109.html
