Tensions? What Tensions? Obama and Karzai Make Nice
To hear President Obama tell it, we got it all wrong when for a few days early last month, it seemed like the U.S. and Afghan governments were at each other's throats - at least rhetorically.
But after a round of talks today with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Mr. Obama said the exchanges were only "perceived tensions" and "a lot of them were simply overstated."
Overstated? Really? His own White House and State Department perceived the tensions and responded in kind.
Karzai had accused the U.S. and its allies of perpetrating "vast fraud" in Afghanistan's elections to deny him a 2nd term as president.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs didn't know what to make of Karzai's comments and called the charge "genuinely troubling." At the State Department, Karzai's accusation was perceived as "preposterous."
Karzai was feeling put upon and bossed around by the U.S. in the days that followed Mr. Obama's March visit to Afghanistan and talks with his host.
"Afghanistan is the home of the Afghans and we own this place," Karzai asserted a few days later, in a statement of sovereignty.
He was even quoted as telling some Afghan lawmakers that "if I come under foreign pressure, I might join the Taliban."
At the White House, Gibbs portrayed the U.S. as baffled by the cracks, calling them "disturbing" and saying "on behalf of the American people, we're frustrated by the remarks."
But in the East Room today, at a joint news conference after a round of Oval Office talks with Karzai, Mr. Obama stressed they share the same objectives for Afghanistan.
"President Karzai agrees that we have to deal with the extremists that are disrupting life in Afghanistan, and our strategic approach has been entirely consistent," said Mr. Obama, though he conceded there will be disputes and setbacks in the relationship.
"There are going to be times where our governments disagree on a particular tactic," he said. "But what I'm very confident about is that we share a broad strategy."
Karzai, too, was inclined to put the harsh words behind them. He said his country's relationship with the U.S. was real, not imaginary and is based "on some very hard and basic realities."
"Afghanistan is grateful," Karzai declared to the United States. "Afghanistan will definitely, with your help, succeed toward the future."
"We are in a campaign against terrorism together," he said. "There are days that we are happy. There are days that we are not happy. It's a mutual relationship toward a common objective."
And today the common objective was to show a united front.
"This is a reaffirmation of the friendship between the American people and the Afghan people," the president said as he expressed gratitude for Karzai's visit.
At the height of last month's nastiness, it's worth noting, a White House spokesman had hinted the visit might be scrubbed.
But perhaps it was only "perceived" that way.
More Coverage:
Obama: I Am Accountable for Civilian Casualties
Obama: Tensions with Karzai "Simply Overstated"
Karzai Deeply Affected by Walter Reed Visit
Kandahar Offensive "Make-or-Break" for U.S.
What Both Sides Want from Karzai's U.S. Visit
Terry McCarthy's Reports Embedded With a Marine Battalion
60 Minutes: Hillary Clinton on Afghanistan and More
CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan
But perhaps it was only "perceived" that way.
