Gates, Clinton defend Afghan president

Gates, Clinton defend Afghan president:
Pentagon chief Robert Gates and top U.S. diplomat Hillary Clinton Have Come To The Defense of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, despite a rift over His controversial remarks damage. President Barack Obama's cabinet officers weighed in Sunday on behalf of Karzai after days or Tensions between Washington and Kabul triggered by the Afghan president's foreign Powers That claim was fraud in last year's Orchestrated Elections. Clinton told CBS That "we recitals HIM a 'reliable partner' and Gates Said Karzai had excellent relations with the head of U.S. and NATO-led troops in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal. "What I Can Tell You Is That General McChrystal Continues To Meet regularly with HIM. They Have a very positive relationship. He gets very good coopération out of President Karzai," Gates told ABC's "This Week." The comments Came amid a show of unity at a conference in Kabul on Sunday, with Karzai appearing along side U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke and senior commander General David Petraeus, head of the regional U.S. Central Command. Also Karzai made a trip to Northeastern Kunduz province with McChrystal, as the Americans Tried to bolster the Afghan leader's position before pivotal military offensives. Offering an Explanation for Karzai's recent angry tone, Gates Said to tread cautiously in Washington had ITS public remarks about the Afghan president, as sharp criticism of His Performance Could Be Received in Kabul as Afghan disrespect for Sovereignty. "Frankly I think we Have to be sensitive in our own comments about President Karzai in terms of being mindful That he is the Embodiment of Sovereignty for Afghanistan," He Said, Noting Karzai "has domestic audiences as well as foreign audiences." Speaking to NBC's "Meet the Press," Gates Said That "when there are attacks on HIM, on His Family, and what he perceives to be on Afghanistan Itself, or insult to the Sovereignty of Afghanistan, he's going to react. "And he's going to react Strongly." Clinton, who appeared with Gates on Sunday television talk shows, Said Karzai - like someother foreign leaders - suspected harsh words in American newspapers May reflect the official U.S. government's stance. "He's not alone in wondering if he's attacked by That Some newspaper in the United States, our government is behind it?" She told NBC. "And that's not unusual for us to encounter, I see it all the time That I deal with in leaders." That Clinton added she had "a lot of sympathy for President Karzai and the extraordinary stress everytime he lives under single minute or Every Day." She Also Called Some allegations in the U.S. media Against Karzai "outlandish" and "really unfortunate." A senior United Nations official performer in Afghanistan, Peter Galbraith, HAS Said That Karzai's "mental stability" was in doubt And That Could he be taking illegal drugs. But Clinton insisted Karzai was "absolutely" stable. U.S. officials pointedly declined / Karzai to call an ally early on Tuesday and hinted an invitation to visit the White House next month if he Could be drawn with repeated anti-foreigner His Outburst. But officials since scaled back possessions Their tone, making it clear the talks Were Still On May 12, with Clinton Saying "we're looking forward to visit historian." The Afghan President's Claim That the election HIM That Returned to power last year was manipulated by foreign Governments Came after Obama consistently a visit to Kabul, pressed to act on HIM Tackling corruption. Analysts say Karzai's Outburst May Have Been a direct reaction to U.S. pressure or an Attempt to boost flagging support domestically, Where Opposition groups and the Taliban insurgency, as HIM Portray a Western "puppet." Karzai reportedly told lawmakers last week That the United States was interfering with the Taliban Afghan affairs And That Would become a legitimate resistance movement if it did not stop. In the private meeting, the Afghan president here Suggested Could he join the Taliban himself, if parliament did not support His effort to take control of the country's election commission, the Wall Street Journal said.Gates, defend Afghan President Clinton: Pentagon chief Robert Gates and top U.S. diplomat Hillary Clinton have come to the defense of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, despite a damaging gap over his controversial remarks. President Barack Obama's Cabinet officers held on behalf of Karzai Sunday after days of tension between Washington and Kabul in response to claims by the Afghan president that foreign powers had orchestrated fraud in elections last year. Clinton told CBS that "we consider him a reliable partner" and Gates said Karzai had excellent relations with the head of the U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal. "What I can tell you is that General McChrystal continues to meet regularly with him. They have a very positive relationship. He gets a very good cooperation of President Karzai," Gates told ABC's "This Week". The comments came in the middle of a show of unity at a conference in Kabul on Sunday, with Karzai appear along side U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke and senior commander General David Petraeus, head of the regional U.S. Central Command. Karzai also made a trip to the northeast of the province of Kunduz with McChrystal, as the Americans tried to empower Afghan leader before key military offensives to strengthen. Offering an explanation for the recent angry tone Karzai, Gates said Washington had to tread carefully his remarks about the Afghan president, such as sharp criticism of its performance can be received in Kabul as a lack of respect for Afghan sovereignty. "I think we honestly need to be sensitive to our own observations on President Karzai in terms of being aware that he embodies the sovereignty of Afghanistan," he said, noting Karzai "the public has the domestic and foreign public. Speaking of NBC's "Meet the Press," Gates said that "if attacks on him, his family, and what he considers to Afghanistan itself, or insults to the sovereignty of Afghanistan, he will respond. "And he will react strongly." Clinton, who appeared with Gates on Sunday TV talk shows, said Karzai - as with some other foreign leaders - the probable harsh words in American newspapers, the U.S. government's official position display. "He not only agreed that if he was attacked by a number of newspapers in the United States, our government is behind it?" She told NBC. "And that's not uncommon for us to meet, I see it all the time that I deal with the leaders." Clinton added that she "a lot of sympathy for President Karzai and the extraordinary excitement he lives every minute of every day." They also have a number of allegations in the American media against Karzai "strange" and "very unfortunate." A former senior official of the United Nations in Afghanistan, Peter Galbraith, has said that Karzai "mental stability was in doubt and that he could take illegal drugs. But Clinton insisted Karzai was "absolutely" stable. U.S. officials declined sharply to a Karzai ally call early Tuesday, and he hinted an invitation to the White House visit next month may be withdrawn if he repeated his anti-foreigner outbursts. But the officials have scaled back, as their tone, making it clear that May 12 was still in talks with Clinton saying: "We look forward to his visit." Afghan President claim that the elections, who returned to power last year was manipulated by foreign governments came after Obama, during a visit to Kabul, pressed him to intervene in the fight against corruption. Analysts say Karzai eruption may be a direct response to U.S. pressure or an attempt to support the flagging domestic market to stimulate, where opposition groups and Taliban insurgents, to portray him as a Western "puppet have been." Karzai reportedly told lawmakers last week that the United States was interfering in Afghan affairs and that the Taliban would be a legitimate resistance movement as it became unstoppable. In the private meeting, the Afghan president suggested he was the Taliban themselves, join as the parliament does not agree his efforts to control the election of the country it take, The Wall Street Journal said.