Despite growing pressure from political rivals and US demands that he sign the pact immediately, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reiterated that he doesn’t intend to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) until certain preconditions are met.
The BSA would be the legal cover under which the US occupation would continue beyond 2014, through 2024 and beyond. The deal was approved by Afghanistan’s Loya Jirga, but needs Karzai’s signature to go into effect.
Karzai is holding off on signing the deal, saying he prefers to leave it up to his successor, but also demanding the US free Afghan citizens from Guantanamo Bay and make concessions on night raids.
The security demands were further solidified yesterday when a US drone strike killed three in southern Afghanistan. Karzai says he will never agree to the deal if it means similar strikes can happen in the future.
There is another precondition, but this one for Karzai: Find a nice hid out far from Afghanistan so that he can live a few years longer. That deal, with their invaders and occupiers, should anger every living Afghan.
It must irritate the Empire when its stooge decides to defend his own country -used to be a stooge knew his place.
What Karzai failed to understand is, that he is in a no-win situation, if he signed, he is screwed, don't signed he is screwed. The Empire will do what they think is right for the Empire, and not the Afghan people. Drone strike, two women and child killed, was this deliberate? hard to say, but this is probably telling Karzai, "We are here to stay."
He flip flops. He has been flip flopping a long time. I suspect he is going to continue flip flopping. For years he has been griping about the US, then eventually giving in. The US warmongers don't care about the peasants. They are like insects on a windshield. What matters is "the mission" and what IS the mission again ? I suspect the Graveyard of Empires will claim another victim. It's just a matter of time. When one's motives are not good, there are plenty of things that can trip you up.
Every time the US has killed innocent people, Karzai has always said "that better not happen again".
But it always does happen again, and Karzai just says "that better not happen again". Why doesn't he say "That's it. You're outta here!"
Because the US made him an offer he can't refuse…… Keeping him alive.
Probably because he knows that 10 minutes after the US leaves, he's swinging from a lamp post alongside his family and close friends.
How long before the US starts calling him an "evil dictator" and eliminates him?
Karzai has wisely decided to pull out of contention for the Henri-Philippe Petain Treason awards.
It might just be too late, I fear.
do not sign anything with karzai get the hell out of there and let the savages kill eachother not us!
I don't envy his position. His problems started early on when he decided to collaborate with the Big Satan. Once he was bought, everything worsened even more. I can believe he doesn't like the white devil droning his people, but now his own see him for what he is: a traitor. There must be times when he wishes the had never struck a deal with the perfidious foreigners but he must rationalize his behavior somehow believing it's for the good of Afghanistan. The Americans, for their part, will squeeze him until he is absolutely useless -and Karzai is aware of this and that's why he has these bouts of rebellion. The US won't left unscathed, however. As somebody above said, they will be buried. Moreover, the longer they stay, the worse their chances of "succeeding".