As Expected, Karzai to Lead Afghan Transitional Government

In his speech before the large group, Karzai outlined his plan for clearing Afghanistan of warlordism and ethnic rivalry. He invoked the presence of the former king, warned about the evils of corruption, and asked for God's help in reconstructing the ravaged nation. He also blamed the country's destruction, according to reports, on "foreigners" – presumably Osama bin Laden, a Saudi, and the other largely Arab al Qaeda fighters who supported the Taliban from 1996 to 2001.

Karzai's smooth election marked a downshift in the council's tone. On Wednesday, when insults flew and a brawl broke out, delegates failed to elect a speaker for the Loya Jirga proceedings. At 6:40 a.m. on June 13 – nearly 24 hours after the fist working session started – Ismael Qasimyar, the United Nations-appointed chairman of the Loya Jirga commission, was voted speaker. This vote and the roster of voters qualified to select a president also triggered some controversy.

The original number of Jirga delegates was to be 1,551 as of last Friday, but government officials yesterday said that 45 had been added at the last minute, leading to charges that the interim administration was packing the Jirga. 50 had been added on Friday, as well, reportedly at Karzai's request. In a press conference, Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said the extra delegates – many of them warlords – had joined the convention for the sake of "national unity." Many delegates were angry about "backroom deals" which allowed warlords to attend, despite provisos in the Loya Jirga procedures that banned delegates with "blood on their hands."

Despite enjoying the support of Zahir Shah and most foreign governments, Karzai has faced accusations that the United States brokered his election by pressuring Zahir Shah to withdraw. Some delegates still mistrust former Northern Alliance leaders like Abdullah, Panjshiri Tajiks who dominate the Karzai cabinet. This mistrust sparked a movement to draft Zahir Shah to run for the presidency. Karzai looked uneasy earlier this week during early sessions of the Loya Jirga. In his victory speech, he grinned.

Even as he appeals for national self-determination, though, Karzai's fortunes depend in large part on the deeds of foreign governments. He will serve as president of a transitional government, which will set up a constitutional commission and convene another Loya Jirga to take up a draft constitution in slightly less than two years. Aid from the United States and other countries will play a large role in determining how broadly Karzai's administration can establish security and services around Afghanistan.

United States State Department spokesman Philip Reeker applauded the vote in remarks in Washington. "We have had excellent working relations with Chairman Karzai and the Interim Authority, and we would expect to continue that close cooperation as the entire international community works with Afghanistan's own indigenous authorities to help reconstruct and rebuild the institutions that are so important for the future of the Afghan people," Reeker said.

While the applause Karzai received seemed to certify his legitimacy, further Loya Jirga business may cause more squabbling. The delegates still have to choose a new cabinet, which will probably retain most of the Northern Alliance veterans who dominate the interim cabinet.

Ashraf Ghani, Karzai's senior adviser, said the manner of selection would be up to the 21 member United Nations-appointed Loya Jirga commission. They would then submit this to the Jirga for approval, he said.