Ending Afghanistan's Rampant Corruption

In congratulating Afghan President Karzai on his "re-election," U.S. President Obama told Mr. Karzai he must tackle the rampant corruption in the Afghan government. The U.S. wants strict oversight of Afghan officials and wants them held accountable for their actions. Will this work?

Of course not. The drug trade drives the economy in this war ravaged, poverty driven nation. Even Mr. Karzai's brother, who is on the U.S. CIA's payroll, is widely believed to be a major player in this trade.

In any case, Afghanistan has its own culture and its own ways of conducting itself and if its people view the government the U.S. has imposed on them as a problem, it is up to them to address it. That means in Washington, DC as well as in Kabul, for the Afghan government is a U.S. puppet that would collapse without the U.S. military.

This farce of an Afghan election made the U.S. control clear. It's so embarrassing to its American overlords, that at least in the U.S. it will be quickly swept away by the news media.

As for corruption and accountability, Mr. Obama would be well advised to focus on America. Congress sells itself to corporate and military lobbyists and as we've seen with the near collapse of the U.S. economy and massive taxpayer funded corporate bailouts, no-one is held accountable for anything!

In fact there is no new powerful agency providing oversight and these companies are back to their old practices and huge paychecks as if this whole horrid financial affair had never happened.

But whether it is the U.S. or Afghanistan, real accountability can only come from one source, its citizens. If they don't get involved, those who do take action, whether they are lobbyists or drug traffickers, will rule as they protect their own interests.

It is as true in Washington as it is in Kabul. If you are an American and haven't been raising your voice and demanding "change" as candidate Obama used to speak of, you can expect more of the corrupt government you've gotten for it will continue its practices in your silence.

Justice begins at home and it starts with you and me. The world is threatened by the U.S. military machine and if we want peace, if we want a republic, it is up to us. You and I can make a difference if we care enough to get involved. Our children and our children's children depend on us to do it.

Dick