Obama exposed by Karzai bunker shot
Barack Obama visited Kabul’s heavily guarded bunker otherwise known as the presidential palace yesterday to “listen” to Afghanistan’s leader Hamid Karzai.
Having come under sniper fire last week for a television interview in which he injudiciously criticised his host’s track record, the aspiring commander-in-chief was careful not to repeat his message so it is worth recalling what he said.
“I think the Karzai government has not gotten out of the bunker and helped to organise Afghanistan, and the government, the judiciary, police force, in ways that would give people confidence. So there are a lot of problems there,” Obama told CNN.
His trip will also take in Iraq, Israel, France and Britain so while he is listening perhaps he will also be able to glean from Messrs Maliki, Olmert, Sarkozy and Brown what it is like to be unpopular with the electorate. Much can be learned from how leaders deal with domestic adversity.
Of course, Obama could have stayed at home and listened instead to George W Bush, who was busy trying to restore confidence in the battered American economy at the weekend.
A United States president is required to tick all the boxes and whether they care or not voters will be force-fed foreign policy from now until November courtesy of the John McCain camp.
Republican advisers were quick to pounce on Obama’s remarks about Karzai and McCain was left to deliver an early blow in what is likely to be a bruising encounter. “Apparently, he’s confident enough that he won’t find any facts that might change his opinion or alter his strategy. Remarkable,” he said.
Polls suggest that the Arizona senator and Vietnam veteran is favoured as a “war leader” by three to one but public opinion also suggests that Americans have had enough of conflict in far-flung places.
So while Obama can expect support for saying that the US military would be withdrawn from Iraq within 16 months of him being at the White House the prospect of a troop surge in Afghanistan, which is becoming increasingly violent, is a big pre-election gamble.
However, McCain wants a bigger presence in Afghanistan as well so the pair may cancel each other out on this issue come polling day.
The Republicans also reminded the public that Obama predicted a surge in Iraq would not reduce sectarian violence so McCain, who supported the Bush initiative, can claim that he backed a winner while his opponent’s judgment was flawed.
Obama charmed his way to the Democratic nomination and now it is time for him to prove to the American people that he has a tough streak as well. The 46-year-old was able to overcome his perceived inexperience against Hillary Clinton but the wily McCain, 71, will deliver constant reminders that youthful exuberance does not inspire confidence.
From his Kabul “bunker”, Karzai would probably agree.