Gibbs: Team Obama ‘Frustrated’ With Karzai’s Remarks

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Posted on Apr 5, 2010

Wikimedia Commons / The White House

Time for a little more presidential backpedaling? Hamid Karzai’s remark about joining the Taliban didn’t thrill the White House.

Relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan were further strained over the weekend after the White House caught wind of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s musings that he might join the Taliban as a reaction to pressure from the West to make some changes in his country.

Politico reported over the weekend that Karzai called U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday to “clarify” the accusations he’d made earlier that week about the United States’ alleged role in election fraud in his country. However, that call apparently happened before Karzai let fly with his comment about taking up with the Taliban, which spurred White House press secretary Robert Gibbs to voice dismay “on behalf of the American people” on Monday.

“The Two-Way” on NPR:

“On behalf of the American people, we’re frustrated with the remarks,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters this morning.

According to the Associated Press, the news of what Karzai reportedly said came from Afghan lawmakers who met with him Saturday.

“He said that ‘if I come under foreign pressure, I might join the Taliban’,” said Farooq Marenai, who represents the eastern province of Nangarhar, AP reported.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/04/karzai_taliban_white_house_fru.html

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TAGS: afghanistan hamid karzai hillary clinton nato obama president robert gibbs taliban

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By gerard, April 6, 2010 at 11:14 am Link to this comment

In Afghan fields the poppies grow
Between the mountains row on row
That mark our land, and in the sky
Your drones still humming, sneakily fly,
Scarce heard above the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
      In poppy fields

That bloom in sun, careless of war.
They feed the stomachs of our poor
And bring our enemies’ dreams of power.
  If we break faith with U.S.A.
  Just take your guns and go away.
      Leave us alone.

Profuse apologies and thanks to Lt.Col. John McCrae, doctor/soldier of the Canadian Army, World War I
(“In Flanders Fields”  Battle of Ypres, 12/8/1915)

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By Leefeller, April 6, 2010 at 8:02 am Link to this comment

Another puppet gone maverick, when will wonders ever
cease?

We can look at Karzai as sort of like an ex Alaskan
Governor who butters their own bread and guts their
own Moose to a different drummer. You know, an
opportunist who cares for everything especially
themselves, actually no different than any other
opportunist.

After all opportunism is what it is all about!

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By Marshall K, April 6, 2010 at 1:59 am Link to this comment

It’s the perfect gift.  Let’s take it and go home.

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By CaptRon, April 5, 2010 at 9:56 pm Link to this comment

When does the U.S. cut this guy loose? He was an informant the first time when the U.S. was after BinLaden and almost had him. He clearly walks the fence in order to line his pockets to solidify and enhance his regime. He has the knowledge to help, instead he prolongs for his benefit. I say, don’t let him become the next Sadam Hussein and put the cross hairs on his forehead now. He’s a schmuck.

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By PatrickHenry, April 5, 2010 at 4:48 pm Link to this comment

OK, time to leave, last one out is a…..

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By Cynthia, April 5, 2010 at 2:30 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

But if Karzai joins the Taliban, he’s likely to be snuffed out by the CIA and replaced with yet another US puppet.

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By Russian Paul, April 5, 2010 at 1:01 pm Link to this comment

Hilarious! If Karzai would in fact join the Taliban, then maybe he would have a
chance to actually speak for most Afghans instead of his little corrupt town of
drug lords.

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