A delegation from the United Nations Security Council wrapped up a three day tour of Afghanistan today with a veiled swipe at recent complaints by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Touting a cabinet reshuffle as grounds for “cautious optimism,” delegation head Giulio Terzi declared that the situation in Afghanistan was “not a security crisis,” and warned against presenting it as one to avoid “disillusionment and frustration.”
Karzai used the delegation’s visit to highlight his growing frustration with the worsening security situation after seven years of war. He further petitioned the UN Security Council to end the civilian casualties caused by the UN-mandated international forces operating in Afghanistan.
America’s National Intelligence Estimate on Afghanistan has described the situation as “grim” and cautioned that the nation is in a “downward spiral.” Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen predicted the situation would be even worse next year, and Britain’s outgoing commander in Afghanistan said he believed victory in the nation was “neither feasible nor supportable.” When petitioning NATO allies for an anti-drug war, Gen. Craddock quipped of the situation in Afghanistan “how can it be any worse?” This collection of assessments from high ranking officials must surely spawn the question: if this is not a nation in a security crisis, exactly what would be?