Published: November 07, 2009 06:55 am      

Other View: Afghanistan a political loss

The dimensions of the unfolding disaster in Afghanistan are becoming bigger and more daunting by the day. Once-staunch defenders of the "good war" are starting to break ranks. ...

Afghanistan is a political failure, a fact over which the international community continue to be in denial. If they were not, neither America nor Britain would be toying with the notion that they can pressure Mr. Karzai into forming a clean government.

Mr. Obama is now left clinging to one tarnished man, not an institution or national assembly of tribal chiefs, to deliver the central plank of his fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida. And while he clings to him, any hope of re-centering aid efforts on local communities or on reforming parliament will be subverted just as the election was. Wait for the next announcement on troop levels. It will be groundhog day all over again.

The Guardian, London