Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL1748
2009-07-05 08:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
OPPOSITION CANDIDATES TELL NSA JONES SECURITY AND
how-toVZCZCXRO6208 RR RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL DE RUEHBUL #1748/01 1860817 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 050817Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9945 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001748
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PINR PREL PTER AF
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION CANDIDATES TELL NSA JONES SECURITY AND
GOVERNMENTAL CORRUPTION ARE THE KEY ELECTION ISSUES
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001748
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PINR PREL PTER AF
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION CANDIDATES TELL NSA JONES SECURITY AND
GOVERNMENTAL CORRUPTION ARE THE KEY ELECTION ISSUES
1. In a June 23 meeting with National Security Advisor
General Jones and Ambassador Eikenberry, leading opposition
candidates Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Dr. Ashraf Ghani, and Mr.
Mirwais Yasini cited security, corruption, good governance,
the role of women, and economic development as they key issue
for the Afghan elections. All three candidates agreed that
President Obama's Cairo speech had been well received by the
Afghan public.
Key Political Issues in the Campaign
--------------
2. Ghani cited security, corruption, governance, and the
dysfunctional justice system as the key issues for the
election. He claimed the gap between the people and GIRoA
was growing. People were turning to the Taliban for
administration of justice because the Taliban offered swifter
justice than GIRoA. Cases were typically heard by a single
Talib who rendered his decision on the spot and ensured
immediate compliance. Under GIRoA's formal justice system,
however, cases dragged on for years. People paid bribes just
to have them heard, and favorable decisions were often
bought. Ghani asserted the people would see another Karzai
administration as continuity of bad policies and the
continued decline of effective government.
3. Yasini believed the top political issues in the election
would be: 1) rule of law; 2) national development; 3)
institution building; and 4) ethnic community leaders willing
to trade their support for personal power.
4. Abdullah believed the key issues would be: 1) security;
2) rule of law; 3) unemployment (there are 80,000 graduates
from Afghan high schools each year, 60,000 of which cannot
get into university); 4) conduct of Afghan and Coalition
Forces (CF) military operations; and 5) reconciliation.
Role of Women
--------------
5. The three opposition candidates also discussed the role
of women in Afghan society. In his campaign, Ghani intended
to focus on jobs, education, property rights, and expanding
the role of women officials and legislators in government.
He believed women could prove a powerful voting bloc in this
election. Yasini intended to focus his message to women
voters on the issues of proportional representation in
government, empowerment of women in the political process,
and establishment of women's health clinics. Abdullah echoed
his colleagues' points.
Economic Development
--------------
6. Of all the candidates, Ghani articulated the most
detailed economic development plan. Ghani believed there
were opportunities for sustainable economic growth in six
areas: 1) agriculture, which had been neglected in recent
years; 2) animal husbandry; 3) mining; 4) water management
and distribution; 5) urban construction; and 6)
telecommunications. Ghani asserted that Afghan water sources
produced 80 billion cubic feet of water per year, of which
the Afghans only used 20 billion cubic feet. If Afghanistan
harnessed its water through riparian right negotiations and
hydro-electric production, he believed Afghanistan could be a
net-exporter of electricity within 10 years.
7. Yasini advocated accepting an earlier offer by the Gulf
countries to provide work permits to 100,000 Afghans. He
called for harnessing and diverting water to populated and
agricultural areas. Finally, he argued for forcing foreign
construction operations, both NGOs and private companies, to
stop importing labor, and require them to use local labor
(much like the Arabization programs of some Gulf nations).
8. Abdullah echoed Ghani's views on the agricultural sector,
and Yasini's views on "Afghanization" of jobs in the country.
He regretted the need for skilled labor had led companies to
bring in thousands of Pakistani and other foreign national
laborers. Establishing training programs for Afghans would
help address unemployment problems, promote infrastructure
development and reduce the need for foreign labor.
POTUS' Outreach
--------------
9. The candidates all agreed that POTUS' Cairo speech had
been an important step in improving U.S. relations with
Muslim countries. Ghani believed the speech had set the
stage for what was happening in Iran, and possibly affected
Lebanon's elections. Yasini praised POTUS' use of the
Quranic quote, saying it showed good will towards Muslims.
KABUL 00001748 002 OF 002
10. NSA Jones has not cleared this cable.
EIKENBERRY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PINR PREL PTER AF
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION CANDIDATES TELL NSA JONES SECURITY AND
GOVERNMENTAL CORRUPTION ARE THE KEY ELECTION ISSUES
1. In a June 23 meeting with National Security Advisor
General Jones and Ambassador Eikenberry, leading opposition
candidates Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Dr. Ashraf Ghani, and Mr.
Mirwais Yasini cited security, corruption, good governance,
the role of women, and economic development as they key issue
for the Afghan elections. All three candidates agreed that
President Obama's Cairo speech had been well received by the
Afghan public.
Key Political Issues in the Campaign
--------------
2. Ghani cited security, corruption, governance, and the
dysfunctional justice system as the key issues for the
election. He claimed the gap between the people and GIRoA
was growing. People were turning to the Taliban for
administration of justice because the Taliban offered swifter
justice than GIRoA. Cases were typically heard by a single
Talib who rendered his decision on the spot and ensured
immediate compliance. Under GIRoA's formal justice system,
however, cases dragged on for years. People paid bribes just
to have them heard, and favorable decisions were often
bought. Ghani asserted the people would see another Karzai
administration as continuity of bad policies and the
continued decline of effective government.
3. Yasini believed the top political issues in the election
would be: 1) rule of law; 2) national development; 3)
institution building; and 4) ethnic community leaders willing
to trade their support for personal power.
4. Abdullah believed the key issues would be: 1) security;
2) rule of law; 3) unemployment (there are 80,000 graduates
from Afghan high schools each year, 60,000 of which cannot
get into university); 4) conduct of Afghan and Coalition
Forces (CF) military operations; and 5) reconciliation.
Role of Women
--------------
5. The three opposition candidates also discussed the role
of women in Afghan society. In his campaign, Ghani intended
to focus on jobs, education, property rights, and expanding
the role of women officials and legislators in government.
He believed women could prove a powerful voting bloc in this
election. Yasini intended to focus his message to women
voters on the issues of proportional representation in
government, empowerment of women in the political process,
and establishment of women's health clinics. Abdullah echoed
his colleagues' points.
Economic Development
--------------
6. Of all the candidates, Ghani articulated the most
detailed economic development plan. Ghani believed there
were opportunities for sustainable economic growth in six
areas: 1) agriculture, which had been neglected in recent
years; 2) animal husbandry; 3) mining; 4) water management
and distribution; 5) urban construction; and 6)
telecommunications. Ghani asserted that Afghan water sources
produced 80 billion cubic feet of water per year, of which
the Afghans only used 20 billion cubic feet. If Afghanistan
harnessed its water through riparian right negotiations and
hydro-electric production, he believed Afghanistan could be a
net-exporter of electricity within 10 years.
7. Yasini advocated accepting an earlier offer by the Gulf
countries to provide work permits to 100,000 Afghans. He
called for harnessing and diverting water to populated and
agricultural areas. Finally, he argued for forcing foreign
construction operations, both NGOs and private companies, to
stop importing labor, and require them to use local labor
(much like the Arabization programs of some Gulf nations).
8. Abdullah echoed Ghani's views on the agricultural sector,
and Yasini's views on "Afghanization" of jobs in the country.
He regretted the need for skilled labor had led companies to
bring in thousands of Pakistani and other foreign national
laborers. Establishing training programs for Afghans would
help address unemployment problems, promote infrastructure
development and reduce the need for foreign labor.
POTUS' Outreach
--------------
9. The candidates all agreed that POTUS' Cairo speech had
been an important step in improving U.S. relations with
Muslim countries. Ghani believed the speech had set the
stage for what was happening in Iran, and possibly affected
Lebanon's elections. Yasini praised POTUS' use of the
Quranic quote, saying it showed good will towards Muslims.
KABUL 00001748 002 OF 002
10. NSA Jones has not cleared this cable.
EIKENBERRY