FIRST VP FAHIM PRAISES OBAMA STRATEGY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003873 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM AF SUBJECT: FIRST VP FAHIM PRAISES OBAMA STRATEGY Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) First Vice President Marshal Fahim Khan praised President Obama's December 1 strategy announcement during a December 3 meeting with Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs, (CDDEA) Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne. Commenting that "the strategy benefits the United States, but it benefits Afghans even more," he expressed approval at how quickly new troops will be deployed and that the United States will also strengthen its civilian efforts. ¶2. (C) Fahim confided that the announcement of a timeframe was a good "wake up call" to Afghan politicians, who need to stop "being lazy." The timeline will give Afghans reason to "work together to make themselves self-sufficient." However, Fahim also warned that some Afghans have misinterpreted the strategy and believe all U.S. troops will be removed in 2011. He urged us to correct this myth among the Afghan public. ¶3. (C) On development assistance, Fahim commented that all aid should go through the central government, as "Afghanistan is a centralized country, and from the center we empower the provinces." He urged the U.S. to not offer assistance directly at the provincial or district level, but rather to help strengthen the central government and its ties to the rest of the country. Ambassador Wayne explained the US approach, which includes close cooperation with the Afghan government. ¶4. (C) Marshal Fahim conveyed that he intends to use his security and intelligence background to advise President Karzai and the Afghan National Security Council on security issues. (Comment: There are rumors that Karzai is concerned over Fahim's political clout and is unlikely to give him too much control over the defense or interior ministries. However, many contacts have told us that Karzai promised Fahim that, in exchange for his support, his ethnic allies (Tajiks, Panjshiris) would enjoy significant representation in one of these two key security ministries, Interior and Defense. End Comment.) . MUSSOMELI