Sounding a cautionary, and cautiously optimistic, note on the eve of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s second inauguration, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed to a crucial “window of opportunity” for Afghanistan as she called for Karzai and his administration to tackle the corruption issue within their government. –KA

BBC:

“We stand at a critical moment on the eve of the inauguration of President Karzai’s second term,” Mrs Clinton told staff at the US embassy.

“There is now a clear window of opportunity for President Karzai and his government to make a compact with the people of Afghanistan to demonstrate clearly that they’re going to have accountability and tangible results that will improve the lives of the people,” she said.

“We want to be a strong partner with the government and the people of Afghanistan – and I always say both. Because it’s not either or, it has to be both.”

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