Afghanistan: December 22, 2001

Archives

The new interim Afghan government was sworn in. Interim president Hamid Karzai speaks fluent English and has brothers and a sister who live in America and are naturalized American citizens. Karzai was escorted into Afghanistan in October by a team of U.S. special forces. The U.S. troops acted as bodyguards, liaison with the U.S. government. The special forces were also there to call in air support as needed, and this was used to fight off Taliban attempts to kill Karzai. The new president the head of the Popalzai tribe, and related to the former king. Karzai's father was also head of the tribe and a prominent Afghan politician and anti-Taliban. As a result, the family fled to Pakistan when the Taliban took over. Taliban assassins later killed the father, and Hamid Karzai earned widespread respect by fearlessly leading a convoy back to Kandar to bury his father. The Taliban troops stood aside for this, fearing an uprising by the Popalzai tribe if they interfered. 

Hamid Karzai is seen as "owned by the foreigners," but is also recognized as an effective politician. As a Pushtun tribal leader, he also has the support of the largest ethnic group in the country. Most of the ministers in the new government are Pushtuns, although the key posts are held by non-Pushtuns. The swearing in was attended by over 2,000 tribal chiefs, elders and other notables. Karzai diligently schmoozed them all. 

 

Article Archive

Afghanistan: Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 


X

ad
0
20

Help Keep Us Soaring

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month.

Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage. A contribution is not a donation that you can deduct at tax time, but a form of crowdfunding. We store none of your information when you contribute..
Subscribe   Contribute   Close