Updated on
Summary
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is an unworthy partner who does not deserve a big boost either in US troops or civilian aid, US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. Pelosi, a skeptic on sending more troops to Afghanistan, also said in an interview with National Public Radio aired that there was not strong support among her fellow Democrats in Congress for any big ramp-up of troops to oppose resurgent Taliban forces. She told in the interview that she had asked fellow Democrats to give President Barack Obama room to decide his Afghan strategy, which is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Once Obama, also a Democrat, announces his decision, lawmakers would not be shy about responding, she said. The president of Afghanistan has proven to be an unworthy partner. We can not fund a mission where we don't have a reliable partner and where whatever civilian investments we want to make, which are so necessary, will be diverted for a corrupt purpose, Pelosi told. Congress appropriates funding for military campaigns. But the controversial Iraq war has demonstrated that many lawmakers are reluctant to cut off money for US troops even for a conflict they dislike.
