ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY APPROVAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003227

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP HOLBROOKE FROM AMBASSADOR EIKENBERRY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2029
TAGS: PGOV KJUS AF
SUBJECT: ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY APPROVAL

Classified By: Deputy Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Corruption in government may be the greatest obstacle the
Afghan government faces in its quest for legitimacy in the eyes of
the Afghan people. Corruption directly and indirectly feeds the
insurgency.


2. (C) Mission, SRAP and other Washington staff have worked hard to
develop a good overarching anti-corruption strategy. We are
transmitting what we hope will be the final version of that strategy
via email. But we must recognize that our strategy explicitly
depends on the Afghan government's will and ability to lead this
effort to fix itself. Convincing Afghan government leaders to take on
this role is our diplomatic and development challenge. Success will
require significant U.S. and international human and monetary
resources, increased information collection, and changes in the way
international entities -- including U.S. intelligence and military
entities -- do business in Afghanistan.


3. (C) I want to flag a particular program and policy issue in our
strategy. I am not convinced that the High Office of Oversight (HOO)
needs to be dismantled and replaced by a new independent
international anti-corruption or oversight commission. We will
separately communicate our analysis of the pros and cons of two
alternative courses of action: keeping but strengthening the HOO,
including by making it more independent; versus dismantling and
replacing the HOO. Adopting the first option does not preclude
gradual evolution toward the second.


4. (SBU) I commend the excellent staff work on this complex issue and
important program, and ask your timely approval of our
anti-corruption strategy, as transmitted to you separately.

EIKENBERRY