Posted on 05/11/2010 6:55:16 PM PDT by Bad~Rodeo
Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his advisors are pressing the Obama administration to designate Afghanistan as a significant U.S. ally and to draft a new security agreement, requests that have made this week's White House meetings particularly delicate.
A senior Afghan official said that both objectives reflect Karzai's desire to use his visit to Washington to lay the groundwork for a closer, long-term security relationship with Washington.
Afghan officials are particularly interested in the "major non-NATO ally" designation, a status enjoyed by Japan, Australia, South Korea, Israel and other strategically important countries outside Europe. The designation brings with it access to U.S. military technology and other benefits.
Pakistan, Kabul's fierce rival, is already on the list, a fact that exacerbates Afghan worries that it holds second-class status in Washington's eyes.
The issues are being discussed this week, but U.S. officials are leery of steps that would significantly expand future U.S. security commitments. No new agreements are considered likely as part of this week's visit.
U.S. officials want to use the discussions to reassure Karzai that the U.S. remains committed to Afghanistan beyond plans to begin withdrawing troops next year. But they don't want to commit themselves to keeping American forces deployed indefinitely.
At the same time, President Obama does not want lose leverage
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Hah. That’s a laugh. I thought in alliances, both parties had something to contribute.
They’ll probably get it.
Get out now. We are broke.
Uh no, I don’t think so.
They can give us good airspace vis-a-vis Russia, China, and Iran. Also Opium.
Keep in mind this is the same status Pakistan has and last I checked they haven’t given us much except terrorists.
Thanks Bad~Rodeo. Checking out the choices in the region, they’ve got a pretty good shot.
Why would they want to be designated as an Ally?
Haven’t they suffered enough?
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