This is a bad idea:

The US and its European allies are ­preparing to plant a high-profile figure in the heart of the Kabul government in a direct challenge to the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, the Guardian has learned.

The creation of a new chief executive or prime ministerial role is aimed at bypassing Karzai. In a further dilution of his power, it is proposed that money be diverted from the Kabul government to the provinces. Many US and European officials have become disillusioned with the extent of the corruption and incompetence in the Karzai government, but most now believe there are no credible alternatives, and predict the Afghan president will win re-election in August.

So America will now be in the business of deciding who leads Afghanistan? This is not what we went there for. We had every right to depose the government that supported those who attacked us on 9/11. We also had a responsibility, in doing so, to help them establish a new government. They have it. We don’t now get to decide it’s not quite good enough for us. There are some better ideas in the story, however:

As well as watering down Karzai’s personal authority by installing a senior official at the president’s side capable of playing a more efficient executive role, the US and Europeans are seeking to channel resources to the provinces rather than to central government in Kabul.

We made the mistake early on of trying to do to much at a “federal” level instead of in local communities.  Afghanistan is not a country where the people are used to looking to a far away capital for leadership.  Focusing our efforts on empowering local leaders to solve problems will do more for the country than working exclusively, or principly, with Kabul.

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