Kerry wants Afghan expectations lowered

Days after he persuaded Karzai to agree to a Nov. 7 runoff election following widespread allegations of fraud, Kerry told the Council on Foreign Relations that the United States should radically lower its expectations for Afghanistan. In his most comprehensive remarks yet on his view of the way forward in Afghanistan, Kerry said there are no good options, but that transferring responsibility to an Afghan government that is capable of battling the Taliban offers the best chance for US troops to be able to come home.

“Achieving our goals does not require us to build a flawless democracy, defeat the Taliban in every corner of the country, or create a modern economy,’’ Kerry said. “What we’re talking about is ‘good-enough’ governance, basic sustainable economic development, and Afghan security forces capable enough that we can draw down our forces.’’

In his speech, Kerry rejected the idea of adding as many as 40,000 US troops for a broad counterinsurgency campaign as General Stanley McChrystal has requested, saying that the general’s plan goes “too far, too fast.’’

But he also said the United States could not quickly withdraw its 65,000 or so troops and focus only on a narrow counterterrorism mission, as Vice President Joe Biden appears to be advocating.

Instead, Kerry appeared to be arguing for a middle path: keeping enough US troops in Afghanistan to train enough Afghan security forces to keep control over enough of the country to allow for a US exit. Some US officials expect President Obama to choose a similar course.

“Absent any truly good choices, we must ask a simple question: What is doable?’’ Kerry said. “We don’t have to control every hamlet and village.’’

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said he would support a moderate increase in US troops, but only if effective Afghan forces were there to hold the areas that have been cleared of insurgents.

Kerry spoke on one of the deadliest days for US troops in Afghanistan, as 14 Americans perished in separate helicopter crashes. His speech also coincided with Obama’s sixth war council session, as top advisers met to reexamine US strategy before responding to McChrystal’s request.

Obama visited the Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida yesterday, telling his military audience: “I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm’s way. I won’t risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary.’’

Some of Kerry’s most pointed remarks came in response to questions about Karzai, whose government was once celebrated for bringing new hope, but is now viewed by many as deeply corrupt. One questioner asked whether Karzai could be a trusted US partner given that his own brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, is widely believed to be involved in narco-trafficking.

Kerry said he had asked US intelligence agencies for hard evidence regarding Karzai’s brother, but that “nobody has given me anything.’’ Kerry said Karzai himself brought up the public perception of his brother during a talk last week just before the president announced he would accept the runoff.

In his speech and his remarks afterward, Kerry offered a passionate defense of Karzai, recounting his family history of fighting the Taliban and noting that accusations of election fraud and irregularities also happen in the United States.

“This man, I believe, is a patriot,’’ Kerry said.

Kerry said he had confidence that Karzai would overhaul his government, and that the United States should require such improvements from the winner of the runoff election before committing to a significant increase in support.

Kerry estimated that there are only “a few thousand hard-core, ideological, irreconcilable Taliban,’’ representing about 30 percent of the total. He said US assistance could be used more effectively to neutralize the remainder of those fighters.

“Many can be lured away by the right combination of money, diplomacy, reintegration into society, and smart outreach to Pashtun tribal leaders, including those who currently back the Taliban,’’ he said.