Expert On U.S. Role In Afghanistan

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RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

For the Obama administration, a reliable partner would be one willing and able to crack down on the rampant corruption in Afghanistan. It is the single biggest reason that many Afghans are disillusioned with their government and their president. This week on PBS NewsHour, President Hamid Karzai put some of the blame on the West and the flow of international money into Afghanistan. He called it, quote, a new kind of corruption.

(Soundbite of TV show, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer)

President HAMID KARZAI (Afghanistan): The lack of transparency in the award of contracts. The serious corruption in implementing projects. Its the international community also that shares the responsibility with us.

MONTAGNE: Our next guest agrees with Karzai. Joanna Nathan was based in Kabul for five years, most of that time as senior analyst for the International Crisis Group.

Ms. JOANNA NATHAN (International Crisis Group): The vast majority of the money in Afghanistan flows outside Afghan government budget. And these large contracts, many of the big companies there that supply everything from sort of gravel to roads to translators have high level connections. That was a sort of decision to work with a few people rather than get into this messy nation building. Thats meant very little accountability.

MONTAGNE: In a recent blog post on Foreign Policys Web site, you first applauded this new focus on high level corruption, but you also said its hypocritical of the U.S. not to acknowledge the part it plays in encouraging and enabling this corruption.

Ms. NATHAN: I think to me its just very much about processes rather than individuals. Its basically dull work. There is no silver bullet. You know, you have people in systems now entrenched at the very heart of government after eight years, and if we become fixated on the fighting with the leadership there to get rid of this figure or that figure, it distracts from the wider issues and tackling it in a manner that will be sustainable.

MONTAGNE: What would be an example of how the West or in particular the U.S. has acted that actually encouraged corruption?

Ms. NATHAN: Sure. I think very much they have to be very clear that allies they work with, theyre not prepared to turn a blind eye to their illegal activity which they know about. What we see again and again is a very fractured, fragmented approach by the contingents around the country. So you have the Americans largely in the east, increasingly the south, the British, Canadians in the south, the Spaniards and Italians over in the west, the Germans in the north.

And I think each of these countries often does not want a strongman in their particular area upset because it might be destabilizing in their area. So again and again we have a sort of short-term focus, people don't want to rock the boat in their areas that they have troops.

MONTAGNE: So President Karzai has not only admitted there's corruption, he said he's going to do something about it. He's pointed his own finger at the international community, says he needs help from them. What do you think? I mean, is he capable of being tough himself in trying to solve some of this rather systematic corruption?

Ms. NATHAN: I would very much hope so. I think this is what the Afghan people are crying out for. And more than that, it is actually required if there is to be stability in the country. It creates such disillusionment and alienation, and it is fuel to the insurgency.

MONTAGNE: Joanna Nathan spent five years in Afghanistan. She now writes about Afghanistan/U.S. policy on the Web site of Foreign Policy magazine. Thanks very much for joining us.

Ms. NATHAN: Thank you.

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