Chaos On The Grand Chessboard Part II

Karzai threatens to join the Taliban.

A recent New York Times headline "Karzai Steps Up Attacks on NATO, Boxing In the West" is almost an understatement. The article details the developing deterioration between Karzai and his Western backers. As the article states "Many fear the relationship is only likely to become worse, as Mr. Karzai draws closer to allies like Iran and China, whose interests are often at odds with those of the West, and sounds sympathetic enough to the Taliban that he could spur their efforts, helping their recruitment and further destablizing the country"

It gets even worse. An unnamed member of the Afghan parliament speaking on condition of anonymity told the newspaper that Karzai said in a parliamentary meeting "If you and the international community pressure me more, I swear that I am going to join the Taliban."