Weeping Karzai laments Afghan woes (in a nationally televised address to teachers and pupils)

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

President Hamid Karzai has broken down in tears during a speech at a high school, as he lamented the problems plaguing Afghanistan.

In a nationally televised address to teachers and pupils in central Kabul, Mr Karzai said he feared the war might make his young son leave his homeland. He lamented that Afghan children and teachers were afraid to go to school because of bombs and threats.

=snip=

Mr Karzai's speech on Tuesday was designed to promote education in a country whose literacy rate is about 30%. The Afghan president began crying as he said he wanted people in his country to get an education and be self-sufficient.

"Our sons cannot go to school because of bombs and suicide attacks. Our teachers cannot go to school because of clashes and threats of assassination. Schools are closed," he said. Referring to his three-year-old son, he added: "I want him to go to school here, I swear to God I'm worried, I'm worried, oh people, I'm worried. God forbid Mirwais should be forced to leave Afghanistan."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11424198

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Video at the link.

The article brings up the claims in Woodward's recent book that Karzai suffers from manic depression. That would explain a lot.

[qb]

1. Maybe if he hadn't been such a tool things would be going better.

[msongs]

2. uh oh sounds like his money supply and graft is being threatened nt

[speppin]

3. Then get serious about ending the corruption!

[Enrique]

4. last refuge of scoundrels: education n/t

[sonomak]

5. Afghanistan president questions NATO mission in teary speech

Source: Los Angeles Times

President Hamid Karzai broke into tears Tuesday while delivering a speech in which he questioned the efficacy of the NATO military mission in Afghanistan and condemning an epidemic of violence gripping his country.

In the same speech, the Afghan leader called on Taliban "compatriots" to lay down their arms. The government Tuesday named a nearly 70-member council to make peace overtures to the insurgency, whose leaders have rebuffed Karzai's appeals to come to the bargaining table.

The presidential outburst was apparently prompted by the assassination of a deputy governor in Ghazni province, south of Kabul, which has become a hotbed of insurgent activity. A suicide blast aimed at the convoy of the deputy governor, Kazim Allayar, killed him and at least six other people, Afghan officials said. Karzai's office issued a statement condemning the attack, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.

The president's display of tears coincided with the release of a book by longtime Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, who cited intelligence reports asserting that Karzai, known for his mercurial temperament, has been diagnosed as manic-depressive and is on medication.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan-assassination-20100929,0,4701395.story

[activa8tr]

6. Sometimes he is on medication, sometimes not, Bob Woodward just said on

NPR's all things considered.

Lots of other amazing facts about the paranoia of the Pakistani leader, how hopeless and un-winnable this war may be, and Obama knows it well. Obama is giving the war the best effort possible, given the conditions and national leadership over there. according to Woodward.