From the ArcaMax Publishing, Religious News Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/religiousnews/s-642232-295166
KABUL, Afghanistan (UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai risks losing
U.S. support if he does not meet a six-month deadline to cut
corruption and oust his brother, Afghan officials said.
Senior Karzai insiders told The Times of London U.S. President Barack
Obama set the deadline while congratulating Karzai on his re-election
to a second term after rival Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from a runoff.
Obama's conditions included cracking down on corruption and appointing
reform-minded ministers, the report said.
"If he (Karzai) doesn't meet the conditions within six months, Obama
has told him America will pull out," one official told The Times.
"Obama said they don't want their soldiers' lives wasted for nothing.
They want changes in Cabinet, and changes in his personal staff."
The Times said if U.S. forces leave Afghanistan British troops would
likely follow.
Karzai has refused to remove his half-brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, a
powerbroker in south Afghanistan, saying there is no proof he controls
the country's lucrative heroin trade.
The report said American diplomats in Afghanistan have told Karzai
they would start collecting evidence against Wali Karzai if he is
removed from his power base. Afghan officials said the government was
trying to find Wali Karzai a new position including sending him
abroad.
Karzai in an address to the nation Tuesday promised to remove the
"dark stain of corruption" from his government.