Bush denies Karzai on prisoners, military ops

The press is buzzing with Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit to the States. After giving the key-note address at Boston University on Sunday, he spoke on late night news programs, softening his harsh criticisms of US military conduct. Then it was off to the Whitehouse, where he had a private meeting with President Bush. Following the meeting, in a joint news briefing, Karzai was told by a smiling Bush that "of course" the US would maintain control over its military operations. Absolutely no concessions were made on the issue of intrusive raids by US soldiers. As for control of prisoners, this was also denied.

See New York Newsday's editorial: Afghanistan Left in the Lurch by US; the New York Times' Bush Deflects Afghan's Request for Return of Prisoners, Radio Free Europe's Afghanistan: Prisoner Abuse Scandal Overshadows Karzai's Talks With Bush; The Chicago Tribune's Karzai softens criticism during visit.

Bottom line: Karzai came in like a lion, and left like a lamb. No improvements can be expected in the area of detention or contentious raids of homes and residential compounds.

More over, Karzai was repeatedly chastized for his inability to reign in the opium trade in Afghanistan, and, as expected signed a "Strategic Partnership" allowing the US to continue to occupy Bagram Airbase with future bases to be "mutually determined." How will his visit be portrayed in the Muslim world, where he is already perceived like a puppet of America?