The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2008

ing interests and longstanding hostilities among the inter- national mediators themselves raised their own set of problems. That agreement was reached is a tribute to the skillfulness of the mediators and to those Afghans who made key and often selfless compromises. A new loya jirga would meet under still-daunting chal- lenges, as set forth above. But its deliberations would be informed by more than six years of experience and a pop- ular consensus that demands an end to corruption; a working justice system that punishes war crimes and malfeasance; and government at the local level that is responsive to local will, especially in the provision of security and prerequisites for development. Those who have accumulated power (and wealth) under the current system can be expected to resist such a restructuring, as it could rewrite the political rules of the game in Afghanistan. But leadership by Pres. Karzai, perhaps in the context of his expected campaign for re- election in 2009, could create momentum for such an initiative. At this point, however, some close observers expect that rather than striking out for a bold program of fundamental reforms, he will continue to opt for the for- mulation of deals with jihad-era warlords, whose antipa- thy to reform in the areas of social development, educa- tion, human rights protections and development of a free media is all too clear. Yet Karzai’s skills as a politician and his standing as a Pashtun leader are on the line. He seems trapped by a system that forces him to deal with local power holders rather than the Afghan people. Moreover, his increas- ingly frequent overtures to the Taliban have raised con- cerns with both Afghans and the international commu- nity. He will be tested as he seeks to distinguish between those within the Taliban who can be reconciled to democracy and those who cannot. A national conference organized along traditional lines could be expected to favor fundamental changes toward re-creation of the system of governance that worked for Afghanistan throughout much of the 20th century. This would include a far more decentralized F O C U S J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 29 Interim Accommodations for Corporate and Government Markets Apartments, Townhouses & Single Family Homes “FOR THE EXECUTIVE ON THE MOVE” h finder5@IX.netcom.com Locations throughout Northern Virginia and D.C. Units fully furnished, equipped and accessorized Many “Walk to Metro” locations Pet Friendly 5105-L Backlick Road, Annandale, Virginia Tel: (703) 354-4070 Fax: (703) 642-3619 Executive Lodging Alternatives