Kerry is in Afghanistan

[karynnj]

U.S. Senator John Kerry is in the Afghan capital to meet President Hamid Karzai, Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and other top American officials, who are pushing Karzai to address government corruption

A statement Tuesday by Karzai's office says he sent a letter to President Barack Obama saying the war strategy needs review. Without mentioning neighboring Pakistan, Karzai said in the letter that there is a need to forcus on the "roots and sanctuaries" of terrorism outside Afghanistan instead of only fighting the war in Afghan homes and villages.

In the meeting at the palace, Karzai also pressed his desire to disband private security companies, which he says have created a separate security structure that is undermining the nation's army and police.

http://www.todayonline.com/BreakingNews/EDC100817-0000220/US-Senator-John-Kerry-meets-Afghan-president-on-corruption,-private-security-companies

Here is CNN's article, which has more details, which are interesting. (The title is weird - "Karzai meets with U.S. Senator on war" - what's up with that?

Karzai said that the war won't be successful until there's "a clear explanation of who is friend and who is foe and until we focus on the bases and roots" of terror.

"This is why there is a need for reviewing the goals and strategy of war," Karzai said.

Participants in the meeting included Dr. Rangin Spanta, Afghanistan's national security adviser; U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and Gen. David Petraeus, the top international military official in the country.

Karzai told officials that they should avoid actions that disturb Afghans and discussed his plans to shut down private security firms.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/17/afghanistan.karzai.kerry/