James Carville is Helping Rival of Afghanistan's Karzai

[tekisui]

Source: AP

KABUL (AP) — A Democratic Party strategist who helped Bill Clinton get into the White House is now assisting a former Afghan finance minister in his campaign to unseat President Hamid Karzai in upcoming elections.

James Carville said he joined the team of Ashraf Ghani, also a former World Bank official, so Afghans had a viable choice in the Aug. 20 poll.

"This is probably the most important election held in the world in a long time," Carville told The Associated Press in a telephone interview late Tuesday. "This is probably the most interesting project I have ever worked in my life."

President Barack Obama has positioned Afghanistan as the main front in the war against Muslim extremists and the political component of the conflict is moving to center stage.

The Obama administration has repeatedly said it does not support any of the 41 presidential candidates, and Carville said he is working as a private citizen.

Nevertheless, the involvement of a strategist with such close ties with the Democratic Party — and in particular Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan — is likely to raise questions about Washington's stance.

Karzai is the frontrunner in the presidential race, even though many Afghans and international officials have slammed his performance. U.S. officials have been sharply critical of Karzai's government although they have toned down their rhetoric as the election has approached.

more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jCtf3I5b4SvXZGVMgsP0dRwEP5KwD99ACKRO0

[madrchsod]

1. carville and his thing are the black mold of american politics

[choie]

2. wherever the money is, you'll find consultants -

be they democrat or republican. Makes me sick.

[Lars39]

3. Not the first time he's hired himself out.

I don't care with what kind of patter he snowballs people, he's scum.

[Catshrink]

4. kick