John Lynch

5/31/15
War On Terror Essay
President Karzai of Afghanistan was recently elected president and now faces the
challenges of governing a country that is blighted in insurgency and corruption. (MWH) He faces
problems of security, corruption, and drugs, along with many other problems that weaken the
government and its power to enforce laws and keep the country safe.
The biggest problem that the Karzai administration faces is the growing security problem
in Afghanistan. The growing Taliban insurgency is causing major organized problems all over
the country. The Taliban is dangerous because they have the ability to strike at will in an
organized manner.(BBC) This is scary for the government because the Taliban could be
planning to get corruption in the government at any moment. The Taliban recently attacked a UN
meeting in Kabul, showing their power of organized efforts. Hamid Karzai wants the Taliban to
stop attacking and embrace their countrys rebuilding process.
Another problem that the Karzai administration faces is corruption in the government and
other official positions. Corruption such as the Taliban bribing low-level officials and police is a
cause for dissatisfaction in polls conducted among Afghans. The UN also believes that key
Afghan drug traffickers have sponsors in the top levels of government. Many government
officials have been accused of corruption, including relatives of Hamid Karzai. Even though the
public knows of the widespread corruption, Just one day after Hamid Karzai was declared
president, he vowed to remove the "stigma" of corruption. (BBC) Years after he made this
statement, there are still major problems that the Karzai administration faces with corruption.
Afghanistans flourishing drug trade has been a major source of income for the
Taliban. The Afghan poppy cultivation has only kept the Taliban in riches. In October 2009 a

UN report said Afghanistan's illegal opium production had devastating global consequences.
The UN classifies Afghan opium trade as global terrorism because it caters to 15 million
addicts, and kills 100,000 people every year. (BBC) The corruption of officials only helps their
drug trade because there are no seizures of drugs. The challenge for the Karzai administration
will be to strengthen local law enforcement and their ability to combat the cultivation of drugs.
The U.S. will still back the Afghan president even though there are alleged
allegations. (PBS) The UN will also provide funds to help pay for upgrading law enforcement
troops, so that they can help stop the drug trade. This will stagnate the money coming in to the
Taliban so that it may help slow down their organized attacks on the government. Taking away
their main source of income from drugs will also take away the government officials that they
payed off because they will not have enough money to keep them quiet. With the UNs help, the
Karzai administration should prevail in their recent troubles with the Taliban.

Bibliography
"The Karzai Question." PBS. PBS, 28 Oct. 2008. Web. 31 May
2015.
Modern World HIstory, McDougal Littell
Doucet, Lyse. "Afghan Challenges for President Karzai." BBC
News. BBC, 03 Nov. 2009. Web. 31 May 2015.

Timeline: Karzai Administration and the Problems That They Face

December 22, 2001

Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Karzai and his

transitional government assume power in
Afghanistan.

July 6, 2002

Afghan Vice President Hajji Abdul Qadir is

assassinated by Afghan warlords. Some
believe that Qadir was assassinated by opium
warlords upset by Qadirs efforts to reduce the
rampant opium farming and processing that
has taken place since the US occupation.

September 27, 2004

President Bush, campaigning for reelection,

says in a speech, And as a result of the
United States military, Taliban no longer is in
existence. And the people of Afghanistan are
now free.

October 9, 2004

Hamid Karzai wins the first-ever presidential

election with 55 percent of the total vote.

Summer 2006

President Karzai losing support in

Afghanistan

September 2006

A Central Intelligence Agency assessment

conducted, warns that Karzais government is
increasingly weak and unpopular, and is
failing to exert authority and security beyond
Kabul.

February 4, 2009

No strategy made by the Pentagon for the

fight of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Proposals
are being passed on to Obama for review.

May 4, 2009

Karzai chooses warlord accused of rights

abuses and protecting drug trade as running
mate in re-election bid; human rights groups
protest.

August 8, 2009

Afghan presidential candidate denies agreeing

to secret Karzai election deal; Holding out for
a better offer.