After new Afghan president sworn in drones kill 4 Afghan civilians

Ashraf Ghani the newly inaugurated Afghan president has signed a bilateral security agreement(BSA) with the US to allow US troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the end of 2014 when the present agreement will expire.

While both a meeting of elders, a loya jirga, and also the Afghan parliament had approved the BSA, then president Hamid Karzai refused to sign the document. He cited as a reason that the deal did not do enough to limit US airstrikes in civilian areas. The document had barely been signed when US drones attacked and destroyed a car full of civilians in Khost Province killing four. The Khost police believe that the attack on the car was a case of mistaken identity. Militants reportedly killed a district development council head and then fled in a vehicle similar to the one attacked. The family of the victims insisted that those killed were neither militants nor armed. US authorities have not issued a statement yet on the drone attack.
 The BSA will see 9,800 US troops left behind at the end of 2014. The total number of troops in a new NATO-led mission will be approximately 12,000 in 2015. The agreement also allows for a separate US-led force that will carry out anti-terrorist operations.. There is a separate NATO agreement that will allow about 3,000 troops to remain in Afghanistan led by Germany with Italy and Turkey also contributing some troops.
US president Barack Obama said that the day was historic in US-Afghan relations. He said: "We look forward to working with this new government to cement an enduring partnership that strengthens Afghan sovereignty, stability, unity, and prosperity." Back in 2013, the US threatened to withdraw all its troops if Karzai did not sign the agreement before the end of that year. Now it is finally signed at the end of the third quarter of 2014.
 Present plans call for the 9,800 US troops to be reduced to only 4,900 at the end of 2014, and at the end of 2015 with complete withdrawal at the end of 2016 with perhaps one thousand troops remaining in a security office. The BSA is a followup to the Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement between the US and Afghanistan went into effect on July 4 2012. The agreement set out relationships between the two countries through 2024 but left the issue of the number of US troops that would stay in Afghanistan after 2014 to be negotiated through a BSA. However, the agreement did commit the US to considerable aid and funding for the Afghan military. Among the provisions are: Commitment by the U.S. to seek funding from the U.S. Congress on an annual basis for social and economic assistance for Afghanistan as well as to support the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)
 The new president, Ashraf Ghani, had the support of former president Hamid Karzai. However, his new power-sharing government faces numerous problems as indicated in this article. Ghani will no doubt be looked on favorably in he west as he received his higher education in the US and worked at the World Bank and UN. However, he faces not only the Taliban insurgency but a weak economy. Since he shares power with his defeated opponent Abdullah Abdullah he will need his cooperation to govern effectively. Abdullah believes that Ghani won the presidency through fraud in the runoff election.

Rival Afghan presidential candidates reach deal at last

Rival candidates Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani were said to be close to a power-sharing agreement back on Tuesday Sept. 16 but talks stalled in part because the two could not agree when the results of final vote audit should be released.

Abdullah does not want the results as they now stand made public.Those results are widely thought to show him losing by a considerable margin even though he led by a good margin in the first vote before the runoff. Both Abdullah and Ghani had assured their western backers that they would support a deal brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry. There would be a complete audit of all the votes cast and the formation of a unity government that would see the loser given a new chief executive position.
 The latest report from the Los Angeles Times indicated that the two rival candidates finally reached a deal yesterday September 19 on the formation of a unity government, even though they still have divisions over the final results. The two candidates also had difficulties defining the powers of the new post of chief executive. The reports of an agreement may be a bit premature since aides to both Ghani and Abdullah claimed that the two had not yet agreed on the result of the audit of the all 8 million votes cast in the June runoff. Abdullah claims that massive fraud allowed Ghani to win.
 The Afghan Independent Election Commission is set to announce the results of the election on Saturday afternoon according to one source but the next day Sunday according to another. Ghani is expected to win by a comfortable margin.
Not only Abdullah, but Ghani also had objections to some aspects of a proposed agreement which would see the president along with the chief executive together form the government. Ghani said that this would remove powers from the president granted by the Afghan constitution.
No matter who wins the presidency both rivals have promised that they would sign a bilateral security agreement with the US that has already been passed by the Afghan parliament. It would allow the US to keep up to 10,000 troops in Afghanistan after the present agreement ends at the end of 2014. The US is anxious to have the agreement signed as soon as possible. Abdulllah Abdullah represents northern groups and power brokers while Ghani has the support of many in the Pashtun majority in the south and east of Pakistan. Ghani is a former World Bank official and finance minister and has the support of Karzai. Abdullah is a former foreign minister.
There has been enormous pressure from the US and others for a deal to be made. Even if Abdullah agrees to a deal, some of his supporters may not accept the results of the audit assuming Abdullah is the loser. However, Nasrullah Arsalai, an Abdullah campaign manager said both rivals need to compromise: They need to be responsible, act responsibly. This is not about Dr. Ghani and Dr. Abdullah. This is about Afghanistan. This is about the interest of our allies. This is about all the efforts of these 13 years. This is all about the sacrifices of Afghans and our allies have made. For that reason they need to be responsible."

Karzai chooses warlord as running mate

Karzai is distancing himself from his western supporters. He has good reason, they do not vote in the upcoming presidential election. He seems to be successfully outmanouvering those who want him out. So far there is no challenger likely to beat him in the election for president. Karzai no doubt chose the warlord because he has local power which will be duly used to get him votes.
The west is unlikely to cut off aid because of these snubs to human rights concerns, the occupation will go on with tut tuts etc. emanating from the western press and even officials as protocol demands when the warlord power remains and Islamic law threatens converts to Christianity with death etc. etc.

Afghan president chooses warlord as running mate
Afghanistan's Karzai chooses warlord as vice presidential running mate
JASON STRAZIUSO and RAHIM FAIEZAP News
May 04, 2009 16:13 EST


The selection of Mohammad Qasim Fahim, a top commander in the militant group Jamiat-e-Islami during Afghanistan's 1990s civil war, drew immediate criticism from human rights groups.
A 2005 Human Rights Watch report, "Blood-Stained Hands," found "credible and consistent evidence of widespread and systematic human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law" were committed by Jamiat commanders, including Fahim.
Karzai was "insulting the country" with the choice, the New York-based group said Monday.
Fahim served as Karzai's first vice president during the country's interim government put in place after the ouster of the Taliban in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. During the 2004 election, Karzai dropped Fahim from his ticket in favor of Ahmad Zia Massood — the brother of resistance hero Ahmad Shah Massood, who was assassinated by al-Qaida two days before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Under Afghan law, the president has two vice presidents.
"To see Fahim back in the heart of government would be a terrible step backwards for Afghanistan," said Brad Adams, the group's Asia director. "He is widely believed by many Afghans to be still involved in many illegal activities, including running armed militias, as well as giving cover to criminal gangs and drug traffickers."
The U.S. Embassy would not comment, saying it wasn't helpful for the United States to comment on individual candidates. However, a U.S. statement said, "We believe the election is an opportunity for Afghanistan to move forward with leaders who will strengthen national unity."
Karzai's popularity has waned in recent years, as civilian casualties caused by international military forces have increased and charges of government corruption persist. But so far no candidates who could challenge Karzai's hold on power have registered for the Aug. 20 vote. Candidates have until Friday to register.
The Afghan president formally registered as a candidate on Monday, then immediately left for the United States, where he, Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari are expected to discuss the increasingly perilous security situation in both countries.
The U.S. is increasingly focusing on Afghanistan as it shifts its resources away from Iraq. Obama is sending 21,000 additional forces to bolster the record 38,000 U.S. troops already in Afghanistan in hopes of stemming an increasingly powerful Taliban insurgency.
The choice of Fahim could be an issue for Western countries invested in Afghanistan's success, said Mohammad Qassim Akhgar, a political columnist and the editor-in-chief of the independent Afghan newspaper 8 a.m.
"Perhaps if Karzai wins the election Western countries are going to use this point as an excuse and limit their assistance to Afghanistan," he said. "This is also a matter of concern for all human rights organizations who are working in Afghanistan and working for transitional justice."
Karzai entered the registration room flanked by the two men running as his vice presidents — Fahim and ethnic Hazara leader Karim Khalili, Karzai's current second vice president.
Wearing his trademark green and purple cloak, Karzai told reporters at the election commission headquarters that he wanted to run again "to be at the service of the Afghan people," though he acknowledged there have been "some mistakes" during his five-year term as president.
Massood publicly criticized Karzai in recent months for staying on as president after May 21, the date the Afghan constitution says Karzai's term ends. The Supreme Court has ruled Karzai can stay in office until the Aug. 20 vote, which was pushed back from spring because of lingering winter weather, ballot distribution logistics and security concerns.
In a reminder of the country's perilous security, a suicide bombing, a roadside bomb and a militant attack killed 24 people Monday.
The suicide bomber attacked the mayor of Mehterlam, capital of eastern Laghman province, killing six people, including the mayor and his nephew, the deputy governor said. In Zabul province, a roadside bomb exploded against a family riding on a tractor, killing 12 people, while militants attacked a convoy and killed six security guards, officials said.
Aziz Rafiee, the executive director of the Afghan Civil Society Forum, said Karzai's latest change of heart begged a question.
"If (Fahim) was a good choice, why did (Karzai) remove him" in 2004? Rafiee asked. "And if he was a bad choice, why did he select him again? The people of Afghanistan will answer this question while voting."
Source: AP News

Karzai unable to change presidential election date.

This is rather bizarre. The "independent" election commission in effect violates the constitution while Karzai's suggestion would be in accord with it. Of course the US and NATO are all for the later time since they expect to have more control over security in August. Also, no doubt they will have arranged for one of their favorites to have the inside track. They probably will not even countenance Karzai remaining president from the time his term ends until the election. Karzai has just been an uppity puppet who does not understand he must do as he is told and not criticise the US and NATO much if at all.

Afghanistan confirms August poll

Afghanistan's election commission has said that presidential polls will take place on August 20, rejecting a request from Hamid Karzai, the country's president, for them to be held in the spring.

In a decree issued last week, Karzai said the elections should take place in April in line with the constitution that requires the vote to take place 30 to 60 days before the end of his mandate on May 21.

But on Wednesday, election officials repeated their belief that a fair vote would be impossible in spring because of the threat of violence and snow in the country's remote mountainous areas.

"While we respect and accept the president's decree, its implementation is not possible because all the problems which we listed previously, which are mainly security and weather conditions, are still in place," Azizullah Ludin, head of the Independent Election Commission (EC), said.

"This is why after a thorough study the EC came to the conclusion that we have to hold transparent, free and fair elections. That's why we confirm the date of August 20."

Security fears

There are fears that the election could be plagued by violence as the Taliban, which has said it will not take part in the process, is gaining strength in large areas of the country.

About 17,000 additional US troops being sent to Afghanistan will be in place for the August vote, but would not have been available to help provide security for a spring election.

In a sign of the challenges faced in Afghanistan, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside an air base used by US forces on Wednesday.

A number of people were injured in the blast at the Bagram air base, about 60km north of the capital, Kabul, US military officials said.

Abdul Jabar Takwa, the governor of Parwan province, said that the bomber was in a car that exploded after he drove past a police checkpoint.

A Taliban spokesman told Al Jazeera that it carried out the attack.

Opposition objections

Afghan opposition groups and rival presidential contenders, as well as the United States, had all backed the original August date.

But with that date being confirmed, it is now unclear who will be president after Karzai's term ends.

Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Kabul, said: "Hamid Karzai would like to stay on as president, but those who are planning to challenge him for the job say that is unfair.

"They say if Karzai was the interim president ... he would have all the advantages of the presidency in this war-ravaged country.

"He would have security around him, the ability to fly anywhere he wanted by helicopter, giving him an unfair advantage in this election."

The National Front, the main political opposition group formed of a fragile coalition of opposition parties and some other candidates welcomed the commission's decision and called for "national dialogue" on an interim administration.

Separately, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), which is fighting alongside US forces in Afghanistan, said that three of its soldiers had died in a roadside blast in the south of the country.

A Nato statement said that the troops were killed in the blast on Tuesday, but did not release the exact location of the attack.

Brigadier-General Jon Vance, the commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, told the Canadian press that the three were Canadian.