Afghan Corruption Frustrates Congress

Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is increasingly worried that Afghanistan's corruption problems are going to permanently get in the way of progress. "The strongest message President Karzai could send is one that elevates the credibility of his government, and that he is to be viewed as a genuine reformer,” Kerry said ahead of his visit to Kabul this week. “Right now, he is not, and we have to be concerned about this.” Military and intelligence feedback from the region has documented a system functioning on graft and bribery at various levels of government. "Almost every analysis underscores the fact that the biggest single recruitment tool for the Taliban and the biggest single factor undermining [Afghan] government support is corruption," said Kerry, adding, "The governance problems are more significant than anything else."