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CNN Sunday Morning

Karzai to Arrive in U.S.

Aired January 27, 2002 - 08:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. later today. His visit will be both symbolic and practical. CNN's Michael Holmes explains from Kabul, Afghanistan -- Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Miles. Well, yes, as you said, Hamid Karzai on his way to Washington. A significant day for him and for Afghanistan, really. He took off from here today. He has been, I can tell you, just a little delayed. He's now expected to arrive in Washington at around 12:00 noon. That's Eastern Standard Time.

His visit, as you said, is symbolic. The fact that he's there, of course, representing the victory over the Taliban and al Qaeda. It also represents success for the United States on that very issue. Now when he gets there, he wants to tell the people of the United States that the people of Afghanistan sympathize, even empathize with the people of the United States over September 11. And he also wants to thank the U.S. for military support.

Also on his agenda, something that's been on everybody's lips from the very start of this conflict, and that is security. This is still a very dangerous place in the cities and particularly outside of the cities. There's very much a feel of the wild west. I can tell you, we were out of town yesterday -- about six hours out of town -- and it's got that very feel to it.

Now one of the things that may come up -- is actually quite likely to come up -- is that Mr. Karzai might request that the U.S. get a little more involved with ISAF -- that is the International Security Assistance Force -- multi-national, British led, they're patrolling the streets of Kabul at the moment. And they're going to be at about a strength of 4,000 by the end of the month. His foreign minister has already indicated that may be on the talking list. He said that that would be a positive thing for Afghanistan, were the U.S. to get involved.

The feeling, I think, among the Bush administration is the answer might be too positive. They don't want to get involved with ISAF because it's going to be here a long time doing the groundwork at a time when the United States is chasing the war on terror, al Qaeda and others, in different parts of the world. Money, also an issue -- the war on terror costing a reported $1 billion a week. Now the -- when the U.S. continues its (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the money being a factor, the other thing that might come up is national army. The army is being started up here, and Mr. Karzai may well ask for U.S. support in terms of equipping and training that army -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Michael, a quick question for you before you get away there. Hamid Karzai is head of an interim government, and I believe its life-span is about 18 months. Correct me if I'm wrong on that. Meanwhile, this so-called (UNINTELLIGIBLE), which is essentially a grand council of all these tribes as (ph) meeting to consider the what next question. Is there a growing consensus that Mr. Karzai is the odds-on favorite to lead the country after that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) makes its determination?

HOLMES: Yeah, just a -- just a thing on the time frame, his government has five months or so to run -- not government, interim administration, I should say -- has about five months to run. And then there'll be a transitional government. That's where the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) comes in. And they will decide on that transitional government before, eventually, elections will take place.

Odds-on favorite -- not really. Hamid Karzai, despite becoming well known internationally in the last few months, is not, surprisingly, all that well known around his own country. There are various factions and regional leaders who fancy themselves and have their own support base. There's also a large number of Afghans who want to see the king come back in some capacity. Of course, he is in exile in Italy at the moment. Odds-on favorite, probably not, Miles. But he's certainly one of the contenders.

O'BRIEN: All right. Michael Holmes in Kabul, thank you very much. We appreciate that.

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