The White House said late Tuesday that it would consider canceling an upcoming visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai if he continues to make anti-Western public statement. Despite the public reproach, senior administration officials said the tough words were really meant as a warning and a sign of Washington's continued unhappiness with the Afghan leader's comments. The officials, one of whom described it as "a shot across the bow," said canceling Karzai's invitation was not yet being seriously considered.
Karzai, who has until recently been viewed as an American puppet in the region, infuriated the White House with accusations that the United Nations and the international community interfered in Afghanistan's fraud-tarnished presidential election last year. He also threatened to join the Taliban resistance against the American-led occupation of his country if the West continues to publicly pressure him to further their regional agenda.
Karzai, who has until recently been viewed as an American puppet in the region, infuriated the White House with accusations that the United Nations and the international community interfered in Afghanistan's fraud-tarnished presidential election last year. He also threatened to join the Taliban resistance against the American-led occupation of his country if the West continues to publicly pressure him to further their regional agenda.