Are you optimistic that Karzai can deliver services and governance for his people while cracking down on corruption?
CONGRESSMAN ROHRABACHER: Nobody can provide services from using a completely centralized approach. Whenever you centralize too much power there will be more and more corruption. To fix corruption the government must be de-centralized. We need to focus at the tribal, village, city and provincial levels. Again, Karzai’s mannerisms were very pleasing to Westerners, but not very pleasing to Afghans. He did not have a political base at the local level whatsoever. Zahir Shah was the king of Afghanistan for 40 years and was successful because he didn’t try to rule the entire country from Kabul. The King had a mandate from God- but he still let the people rule themselves locally. MICHAEL HUGHES: President Obama indicated the U.S. would support Karzai’s reconciliation efforts with the Taliban. Do you think it’s a good idea to try and negotiate with the Taliban at this point – even the “moderate” elements? CONGRESSMAN ROHRABACHER: First of all, we drove people into the hands of the Taliban by se
