ONDCP DIRECTOR DISCUSSES COUNTER-NARCOTICS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001904

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SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT),SCA/A, S/CT, EUR/RPM, P
STAFF (MANUEL)
NSC FOR O'SULLIVAN/HARRIMAN/AMEND
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV OTRA OVIP SNAR AF
SUBJECT: ONDCP DIRECTOR DISCUSSES COUNTER-NARCOTICS WITH
PRESIDENT KARZAI

KABUL 00001904 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD NEUMANN, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

1.(C) SUMMARY: ONDCP Director John Walters and his
delegation, accompanied by SCA Assistant Secretary Richard
Boucher, and Ambassador Neumann met with President Karzai on
April 2. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Director Walters began by noting this was his third
visit to Afghanistan and congratulated President Karzai on
the enormous progress he had observed each time, including in
counter-narcotics.


3. (C) President Karzai expressed pleasure that the structure
of government document that he had submitted to the
Parliament had passed, clearing the way for hearings on
Karzai's new Cabinet. The Afghan leader announced with pride
that all of the Cabinet would appear before Parliament the
next day and first Vice President Massoud would give a short
speech introducing the Cabinet nominees and asking the
Parliament to vote for them. President Karzai believed a
"yes" vote was adding to the security of the country, so he
hoped Parliamentarians would feel free to criticize, but
would vote "yes" at the end of the day. President Karzai
then said the country would not be without U.S. help.
President Karzai said that the visit of President Bush and
his meeting with Afghan leaders had been a huge boost for
relations.


4. (C) Launching into counter-narcotics, President Karzai
stated that the GOA had begun a rigorous CN program in
Helmand and had replaced a Governor with tribal roots by
moving him into the Meshrano Jirga. Walters praised the
"astonishing" 95 percent decline in poppy production achieved
in Nangahar last year which showed the way Afghans could
respond to a leadership plea. Noting that addiction was
growing in Afghanistan, Karzai said "we have to speak more
about it" and he asked his Chief of Staff to remind him to
speak about this in his address to the clergy two days hence.
Karzai noted that sometimes people in producing countries
think poppy production is not their problem.


5. (C) The Afghan President noted that Pakistan had become a
net importer of opium even at a time when its production was
growing. He added that his Deputy National Security Advisor,
who was from Farah said that when he was looking for able
people to hire as security guards, he had said that there
were no reliable people to hire because of the prevalence of
addiction.


6. (C) President Karzai recounted his recent trip to Zabol
as an example of progress. Zabol had not had any recent
incidents of violence. The United Arab Emirates had built a
new hospital there with incubators for premature births. The
PRT was running computer classes and girls and boys were now
going to school. With children going to school all around
the country, President Karzai said, people were looking for
quality education. He remarked that Kandahar university and
the Science College in Herat were both looking at standards
to develop education. President Karzai said that now is the
time for standards in education and he intended to provide
them for the Afghan people.


7. (C) Director Walters lauded the fact that Afghanistan now
has a criminal code. He said he had met with Nangahar
Governor Shirzai that day at the Jalalabad RTC. Director
Walters said that as police officials were gradually
increasing in numbers, they are looking for improvements in
the ability to try cases. President Karzai responded that he
had been talking to the Chief Justice about this progress.
Shinwari had recalled that a man had kidnapped two beautiful

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girls from a family three years ago. When the police were
dispatched to the man's house, he had released one but not
both daughters and the police had been powerless to get the
other girl back. Today, Karzai averred, this could not
happen. President Karzai pointed out that he had nominated a
new slate of Supreme Court justices and was waiting for their
confirmation by Parliament. The Afghan leader added that
Afghanistan had not trained any new people in the past
(thirty years). He said that the Attorney-General's office
needed "housekeeping" as did the courts, the MOI and the
municipalities. He opined that in a time of war the GOA had
got used to operating as if it were "boss", but that it was
important that the government learn to see itself as a
service organization.


8. (C) People have become hopeful as stability has increased,
said Karzai. When he ran for President Karzai promised to
raise the average per capita GDP to $ 500 per year.
Afghanistan reached $ 335 which is good progress from $ 180
two years ago. He said with a twinkle in his eye that
Afghanistan should be able to reach this within the next 3
and a half years remaining in his presidency.


9. (U) Director Walters has not had a chance to review this
cable.





NEUMANN