Karzai Admits to Taking Cash From Iran

On Sunday, The New York Times reported that Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s administration had been secretly accepting millions of dollars in cash from the Iranian government. Sketchy! And on Monday, Karzai owned up to his part in the clandestine funding program at a news conference, taking a swipe at the West while he was at it.  —KA

The New York Times:

“They do give us bags of money — yes, yes, it is done,” Mr. Karzai said. “We are grateful to the Iranians for this.”

“Patriotism has a price,” he said.

Mr. Karzai discounted the importance of the Iranian payments, saying it was a well-known practice that he had even disclosed to President Bush. Mr. Karzai said the Iranian money was used for “special expenses and helping people.” He did not offer more specifics.

[...] At the news conference, Mr. Karzai lashed out at The Times and the United States military, implying that American officials had leaked information about Iran because of disagreements over the private security companies.

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Wikimedia Commons / The White House

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks at the White House during a visit in September 2006.