GENERALLY POSITIVE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002472 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A NSC FOR WOOD OSD FOR MCGRAW E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018 TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: GENERALLY POSITIVE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA REACTION TO US AND ANA TROOP INCREASES KABUL 00002472 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Acting DCM Jim Van Laningham, 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: President Karzai and other Afghan officials generally reacted positively to President Bush,s September 9 speech announcing deployment of additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan and to the JCMB,s endorsement of the Afghan National Army expansion. Those officials who opposed additional U.S. troops primarily cited fears of increased civilian casualties. End Summary. -------------- Afghan Government reaction -------------- ¶2. (U) In a September 11 press conference, President Karzai said that there is &no doubt8 that additional U.S. troops will be effective in the struggle against terrorism, adding that he hopes these troops will be part of a strategy to pursue terrorists in their safe-havens and training areas. He highlighted President Bush,s unwavering support for Afghanistan and U.S. commitment to reducing and preventing civilian casualties. Karzai acknowledged using &very harsh words8 with foreign officials concerning civilian casualties, and said he appreciated that these officials listened and continued to cooperate with Afghanistan. ¶3. (C) FM Spanta characterized the President,s speech as "excellent," hoping the Afghan and U.S. governments can use the announcement of added U.S. troops and the JCMB decision to turn around the increasingly negative political and psychological atmosphere here. Spanta senior advisor Davood Marodian said Spanta also welcomed the President,s remarks on insurgent sanctuaries in Pakistan, which Marodian expects will give Afghanistan room to be less publicly critical of Pakistan. Spanta has instructed the MFA to move its public posture toward Pakistan in a more positive stance towards the civilian government and to avoid public discussion of the role of ISI in the Afghan insurgency. ¶4. (C) MOD Wardak and his lieutenants are ecstatic about both the JCMB endorsement and the President,s announcement. ANA expansion will allow the Afghans to take an increasing role as the lead in military operations and eventually reduce the role of foreign forces, both changes the Afghan public is anxious to see. As ANA expansion is a long term project, the additional U.S. troops will help fill the gap short term especially as voter registration starts and election season approaches. ¶5. (C) Comment: MOD has not made a public announcement in regards to either of these developments. Possible reasons for this silence include the recent civilian casualty controversy and Karzai,s public support of a Status of Forces Agreement. End Comment. -------------- Parliament reaction -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Wolesi Jirga (National Assembly Lower House) Speaker Qanooni described the announcement of additional U.S. troops as a &good decision8 and a &very positive Step.8 The troop increase evidences the long-term U.S. commitment to Afghanistan and demonstrates that Afghanistan is as important to the U.S. as Iraq. It sends a strong message that the U.S. is serious about fighting terrorism. Qanooni recommended that the U.S. and Afghan governments publicize the U.S. troop increase and the ANA expansion as one news story in order to have the most positive impact on the Afghan public. ¶7. (SBU) Other WJ MPs reacted along ideological lines with the majority in favor of the increase. Khalid Pashton (Kandahar) said he welcomed the troops in conjunction with a more comprehensive military strategy aimed at reinforcing the Pakistan border and reducing civilian casualties. Others including Mohammad Dawood Sultanzoy (Ghazni) did not object to the additional troops but argued that the GIRoA KABUL 00002472 002.3 OF 002 must simultaneously renew efforts to fight corruption and strengthen Afghanistan,s economy. Alemi Balkhi (Balkh) stated that more troops were acceptable only under the condition that the troops chase the Taliban to Pakistan and fight them on Pakistani territory. Khlalid Farookqi (Paktika, leader of the Hezb-e-Islami Party) opposed the increase and equated more U.S. troops with more civilian casualties. ¶8. (C) Meshrano Jirga (National Assembly Upper House) Deputy Speaker Hamed Gailani said the majority of MJ MPs oppose additional US troops. Over the past three weeks MJ members have become increasingly negative towards U.S. presence in Afghanistan in part as a reaction to the Shindand operation. These troops are also not welcome because they disregard traditional Afghan values by searching houses and women and taking women away from their homes without male guardianship. ¶8. (C) Comment: Gailani expressed anger that Parliament had not been consulted prior to the announcement of the additional troops and emphasized how little contact he has with President Karzai and representatives of coalition governments. He did not say that the MJ was planning any specific action to express dissatisfaction with the troop level announcement. Additional dialogue with Gailani and other MJ leaders would likely increase MJ support for the additional troops. -------------- Media reaction -------------- ¶9. (U) Press coverage of the announcement was heavy and mixed. An editorial in the leading state-run daily, Anis, positively described the announcement as evidence of the United States, serious intentions in Afghanistan. An independent daily that is usually pro-government, Erada, claimed that the additional troops will lead to increased violence with ordinary Afghans as the victims. WOOD