will this be an important test for hamid karzai? >> it will be an important test for the afghan government and really for the country overall. the planning is well ahead of where the planning was for the presidential elections last year. but clearly, a lot of work to be done in the security arena, and in a variety of other significant details that have to be ironed out prior to the conduct of those elections. >> couric: do you think hamid karzai has gotten an unfair rap? >> i think he's in a very, very difficult position. again, this is afghanistan. this is a country that is not a developed country. it has a checkered past when it comes to issues such as corruption. i don't think anyone has alleged that he is party to any of that. he has in fact just announced, of course, the ending of the private security contractor roles here in afghanistan. at least it's incumbent on us to help with this, to ensure that our money is not undermining our very efforts by ending up in the pockets of those who are not inclusive; they are exclusive whe

but that doesn't mean the head of the city council sheikh hamid al hashim wants u.s. troops back in fallujah or nearby. are you happy to see them go. >> of course i'm really happy. we don't want foreign military in our country. we want the americans to visit us in civilian clothes on civilian airplanes. >> warner: yet sheikh hamid fires trouble after the u.s. drawdown in the unresolved status of the sons of iraq, sunni fighters who joined forces with the u.s. to drive al qaeda out. after the u.s. stopped paying them, he said, the iraqi government didn't pick up the ball. >> you find them umployed, stuck at home, or wandering in the streets. and that is a problem. they could be recruited back by the insurgency. >> warner: back in baghdad sunni sheikh jabar, an early leader of the sons of iraq movement brought a chilling warning. the former fighters are loyal to the government, he says. but some 400 have been assassinated by al qaeda and hundreds more have rejoined the insurgency. >> if the government does not take care of the others, we could go back to the state we we

hamid karzai, president of afghanistan, is he a friend, a foe or something in between?sident of a sovereign country and we have to understand that. in many cases, most cases, we have converging objectives as is the case in any of these situations but in some cases we see things a little bit differently. that's natural. we went through this with prime minister maliki on numerous occasions. there's a situation in which the security forces from outside and the government officials of that particular country occasionally see things or come at things a little bit differently. we've had those moments and we'll continue to have them. when folks ask how's the relationship i say it's a good relationship because we can have those kinds of discussions. >> how often do you discuss things? >> i have talked to the president on average about once a day. a couple times where we've had multiple meetings on a given day. every now and then we'll go a day without talking. we've had numerous conversations. a couple of those have been at his residents walking in his garden out behind his hou

but hamid karzai told me that's the reason he wants the private security out, to allow his own forces to get ready quicker. >> therefore, we have decided the afghan government to bring an end to the presence of the security companies who are running a security to the afghan government causing corruption in this country but to looting and stealing from the afghan people. >> he brings up corruption there and we know the questions about possible corruption there in his government and the election, is he going to allow independent investigators to continue to dr their work? >> to specific crime force task forces to try to combat corruption which he has criticized, u.s.-backed, u.s.-mentored, he today told me he'll allow them to continue but with stiff new rules to the keep them alongside afghan authorities and he said, no foreign interference. >> christiane will have more tomorrow morning with president karzai as well as interview with two women involved in the effort to build the topheral mosque on ground zero tomorrow morning. >>> to iraq, just dat last u.s. combat brigade to leave that

now afghanistan's president hamid karzai issued an order on tuesday to disband private security forces within the next four months so could this be proof that afghanistan really has had enough or is this just another and two threat we'll speak to a defense contractor who is currently in afghanistan to get his take on karzai is actions next new photos on facebook are raising tensions between israelis and palestinians and israeli soldier posted pictures of herself on facebook posing next to tied up palestinian prisoners she says that it's harmless but some are saying that this could be israel's great will host a debate to figure it out that the f.d.a. has dropped an endorsement on a breast cancer treatment that has been proven to be ineffective but some members of the public are outraged aligning this move with the creation of death panels in america so i'll get miss middle america's opinion on the issue and with the overcrowding problems in jail some people are offering up another solution a prison without any walls when we save money and prevent overcrowding by letting some people wear

hamid karzai has ordered private security companies to leave the country within 4 months, a move to assert independence from western backers. it does not apply to foreign embassies or non-governmental organizations. two attacks in the north caucasus killed and wounded several people. earlier, a suicide bomber killed a police officer and wounded 3 eop -- people. the trial of the former bosnian serb leader has resumed in the hague following a summer recess. prosecuters say he organized a campaign to destroy muslim and croat communities, includihe massacre of mor than 8,000 men and boys in 1995. the tribunal indicted him on several charges includniing 5 counts of crimes against humanity. >> 2.2% gdp growth in the next quarter. strong growth pace, concerns exist about weakening. investors are concerned about high dependence on exports. the index met expectations. however, investors were upbeat about current conditions. and on the trading floor tuesday, today's trading in frankfurt. >> more than 1.5%, almost 1.6% in today's session. it was a combination of factors. the index came in worse than

even hamid karzai has said his country will need a long te bere it is capable of defending itself. our reporter visited to see how german and american soldiers are rkg realize an exit strategy. >> the budeswehrbase in northern afghanistan. the group is busy early in the morning. for weeks, the u.s. has bn flying in reinforcements. supplies need offloading. the camp is growing. in addition to the german ntge, 5000 american soldiers will be living here. the presence of u.n. troops will boost the capabilities of the german forces as well. >> regarding equipment, we have made a lot of progress. we need to improve in some aasbu e equipment we have now is up to the requirements of crypts going on missions. we are alwayslenian making improvements were necessary. >> the americans, with seemingly unlimited human and material reurs, wl soon take over command in the north of afghanistan. but cooperation is the watchword, like here at the milita hpil. the u.s. and german medical teams are working well together, despite initial difficulties and the language barrier. >> there are no problems wit

during the interview, hamid karzai defend evidence his recent decision to disband private security firms. private guards are used to protect convoys traveling through afghanistan but they have also been accused of corruption. >> i'm appealing to the u.s. taxpayer not to allow this hard-earned money to be wasted on groups that are not only providing less help but actually are god knows in contact with mafia like groups, and perhapsles funding militants and insurgents and terrorists through this funds. >> dan: the u.s. government says it's concerned that afghanistan's police and army are nowhere near ready to take over security duties in the country. >>> president obama will address the nation next week about the situation in iraq. the address comes after this week's withdrawal of u.s. combat troops. we now have the story. >> reporter: as the last u.s. combat brigade from iraq folds up their flag, president obama plans to show he has fulfilled a campaign promise. mr. obama will mark the end of the u.s. combat mission in iraq with a major speech, after seven bruising years of war, and the l

president hamid karzai promised a crackdown but u.s. officials have awaited results. u.s. ambassador carl eikenberry defends karzai now but last fall he privately warned that karzai could not be trusted. my direct question is you made it clear that you did not trust him as a partner in this debate. that may not have been a view that you wanted public but there it is. have you changed your view about that and based on what? >> david, we have a very good cooperation with the government of afghanistan to work at the challenges we have here of helping to build a capable government. this is a hard task and my role here as united states ambassador is to take forward the president's strategy here. we've got a very clear strategy, david. we've got for the first time -- we've got the proper resources. we've got an array of good programs here in working with the afghan government and law enforcement, their judicial sector and we remain cautiously optimistic about our ability to make progress. >> during our visit with general petraeus, he focused on examples of that progress. securit

afghanistan's president, hamid karzai, answers the tough questions in an exclusive "this week" interview. does he think the u.s. can defeat the taliban? what kind of deal is he willing to make with them? >>> and then, the controversy over the islamic center near ground zero. >> how is that healing? by building a mosque. an in-your-face mosque at ground zero. >> 9/11 was not conducted by muslims. it was conducted by terrorists. >> as the debate rages, the woman behind the islamic center talks to us. daisy khan speaks out exclusively on "this week." >> we want to reach out to those who don't understand us. >> and she'll be joined by a key adviser on the project. >>> and more dismal news on the economy. what happened to the summer of recovery? we'll tackle that and the week's politics, on "the roundtable" with george will, al hunt, robert reich and judy woodruff. >>> and "the sunday funnies." >> we're out of iraq. and best of all, we got out two weeks ahead of schedule. now, iraq will always be remembered as the war that ended early. >>> as the u.s. surge pushes into afghanistan, kandahar h

. >> i >> in afghanistan today, president hamid karzai said president obama's plan to begin withdrawing u.s. troops next summer has boosted the morale of the taliban. about a dozen insurgents stormed a police checkpoint in northern afghanistan today, killing eight police officers. those u.s. troop withdrawal plans depend on training afghan police and soldiers to take responsibility for their own security as soon as possible. katie couric got a firsthand look at how that is going so far. >> so now you guys can take what we taught you and you keep teaching others. >> couric: this is how you build an army-- one soldier at a time. >> in six months, we've recruited, trained, and aexpiend grown this army and police by about 60,000 people. >> couric: nine years after the fall of the taliban, the afghan security forces are still a work in progress. but they're working hard, and there has been progress. the army is now 134,000 strong. the police just under 110,000. the target is a force of 305,000 in two more years, something general william caldwell says is within striking distance. >> you know

and holding talks with afghan president hamid karzai. >>> and today marks the one-year anniversary ofease of the only man quittinged in the lockerbie bombing. scotland let him return to libya, after a doctor said he had months to live. >>> coming up later on "good morning america," a pretty thought-provoking story. it is the amazing group of strangers who risk their own lives to save a man they have never met from a burning car. >> which begs the question, would you rush into the flames to rescue someone you never even met? robin roberts has an exclusive interview with the heroes who did. >>> for some of you, your local news is coming up next. >> for everyone else, "america this morning" continues after this. (announcer) if you think all batteries are the same, consider this: when a tornado tore through holly, colorado, air life denver took to the air... their night-vision goggles keeping them safe on a perilous flight... and powering those precision goggles--- is the only battery air life trusts: duracell. broad daylight or the darkest night... it just has to work. duracell. trusted

. >>> overseas tonight there is new evidence that america's ally in afghanistan, president hamid karzai, is turning a blind eye to blatant corruption while u.s. troops are fighting and dying for his government's survival. we have exclusive details from nbc news national investigative correspondent michael isikoff in our washington bureau. michael, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, lester. sources tell nbc news an anti-afghan corruption unit working with u.s. investigators developed rock-solid evidence implicating a top karzai national security aide in a bribery scheme. know hammed is a mohammed salahi was caught on wire taps agreeing to a bribe for helping squash a money laundering investigation. american officials pressed for salahi to be arrested. he was, but he was released the same day, a u.s. official tells nbc, quote, at the direction of the palace. karzai himself has now ordered an investigation of the afghan anti-corruption unit. he said in a statement the u.s.-backed corruption investigators are violating, quote, human rights principles. the senate foreign relations comm

afghan president, hamid karzai said this morning he believed the war can still be won. >> we have to win. but we in order for us to do that we must end the business as usual and we must begin to reexamine whether we're doing everything correctly. >> and the u.s. commander here, general david petraeus, says he has the resources he needs. >> by the end of august of course we will have nearly tripled the number of u.s. forces on the ground. we've expanded the non-u.s. nato forces, tripled the number of civilians, increased the funding to enable 100,000 more national afghan forces. >> in addition to the troops, u.s. forces can expect more equipment, much of which will come from iraq now that the combat troops have left. including m-rap armored vehicles, which offer good protection against roadside bombs. by the end of september, the military here expects to have the personnel and material it needs for a major push against the taliban in southern afghanistan. tom aspell, nbc news, kabul. >>> we learn today, president obama is planning a major address on iraq soon after he returns to washi

>> from what i've heard, general petraeus is having the same sort of tough time trying to convince hamid karzai to build a noncorrupt government as everybody else has had. part of the reason why the taliban has the kind of sway to do that sort of disgraceful, disgusting thing is that the afghan government hasn't provided a system of co-- coherent system of justice. to get justice in afghanistan through the government's courts takes months, and you have to pay a lot of bribes. the taliban will issue these disgraceful edicts within a half an hour. the other fact about about this case that's really important is that the judge made the decision but the husband cut off her nose and ears. so we're dealing with a society here that is very, very, very different from ours and very resistant to change. and now you're beginning to hear from the petraeus group-- david killcullen, a counter-insurgency expert who you've had on the show-- is now using a different word. they're using "stabilization operations," for what we're doing in afghanistan. that's a military term of art which means that you're in

corruption investigations some of the people under suspicion was top officials of one one of president hamid karzai as aides he is a military analyst says the afghan leader is doing everything in his power to block u.s. efforts to beat corruption and drug production in this standoff between us i and general betray us ad going to president has scored again in his incipient battle against the american anti-corruption efforts first time as i scored. when he completely blocked and stalled they investigation. chief national security council. and the second time just recently when he can so if they did he has the momentum again the american anti-corruption drive in afghanistan and not only if boy did the american pressure but in the way he should go to the americans in afghanistan and instead of reversing his decision against the extra handed afghan corrupt officials instead he fired one of the senior prosecutors in afghanistan demonstrating to afghans americans and to the whole world he is in charge not only drug production but corruption as well right now this standoff is coming to the hands aga

afghan president hamid karzai wants to kill private security companies and replace them with local security forces the contract is who will be for western companies do everything from building supply convoys to providing personal security to diplomats and business with a government spokesman says the companies will be ordered to disband within four months all this comes as the u.s. increases its military presence in afghanistan ivan eland from washington's independent institute believes is targeting unregistered local warlords more than security companies i think he's probably playing the nationalist card maybe to get rid of some of the try to get rid of some of the foreign contractors but in reality battling these private security companies many of whom aren't registered with the government and operate like gangs around the country if they get rid of everybody in the timeframe that he says there will be more instability because a lot of the convoys that they use the embassies it's outer of the military structures and buildings need to be guarded because there's lots of violence and certain

afghan president hamid karzai wants to kick out private security companies and replace them with local security forces the contractors who work mainly for western companies do everything from guarding supply convoys to possible security for diplomats and business that a government spokesman says the companies will be ordered to disband within four months all this comes as the u.s. increases its military presence in afghanistan but also found zoya a member of the afghan parliament thinks the timing of this decision is just wrong . the president thought that security companies are the problem. and i think it's not the security company by per se it's a poor management and poor implementation of the law i think that not only it will be a blow to the country security wise also employment in a country that very little other employment this would be a very very ill timed decision and announcement and these people will need jobs and their families because sort of h one five or six people in their family just you can imagine what will happen let alone the security situation i don't think that o

out more for vladimir putin had to say by looking on to our website dot com well afghan president hamidkarzai has renewed his criticism of coalition forces he said the counter terror operation in the region was ineffective and only caused civilian deaths although the military analyst believes the afghan leader is trying to block u.s. efforts to beat corruption and drug production you know a standoff between design and general betray us. president has scored again. in his incipient battle against the american anti-corruption efforts first time i scored. when he completely blocked and stalled the investigation. from national security council. and the second time just recently when he can sell it they did he has momentum again the american anti-corruption drive in afghanistan and keep not only if boy did the american pressure but in the way he should go to the americans in afghanistan and instead of reversing his decision against the extra handed afghans corrupt officials instead he fired one of the senior prosecutors in afghanistan demonstrating to afghans to americans and to the whole wo

afghan president hamid karzai is expected to dissolve all private security firms in the country a government spokesman says the companies will be ordered this band within a just four months will this comes as the u.s. is increasing its military presence in afghanistan to discuss this in more detail now joined by we have a member of the afghan parliament many thanks for joining us what's behind this planned move do you think. well this is think you're one of those things that they probably. slipped something that they will probably regret regret in the next few weeks or months because the president thought that security companies are the problem. and i think it's not. the security company by per se it's the poor management and poor implementation of the law but the president made a statement and now he is caught in a very difficult situation. from it and more than fifty private security firms with some twenty five thousand staff the staggeringly high number they all currently work in afghanistan so we are going to be a huge blow to security in the country when they disband. i think. not only

afghan president hamid karzai wants to kick out private security companies and replace them with local security forces the contractors who work mainly for western companies do everything from guarding supply convoys to providing personal security for diplomats and businessmen a government spokesman says the companies will be ordered to disband within four months all this comes as the u.s. increases its military presence in afghanistan. from washington independent institute believes that. unregistered local. security companies many of whom aren't registered with the government then operate. around and they get rid of everybody in that timeframe that he said there will be more instability because these are the structures and buildings need to be guarded to take advantage of the two. places and also companies have been accused to let their convoys go through the taliban territory so we have this corruption in there as well but to get rid of them i thing. there's probably going to be more taliban attacks but it clears. out to any time but despite all the progress we're returning to an impe

meanwhile, a spokesman for afghan president hamid karzai said today all private security companies in his country should be disbanded within four months. about 26,000 contractors guard convoys and installations there, but many afghans complain those guards are trigger happy and shoot at civilians without provocation. and this program note. at this critical juncture in the war, i'll be reporting from kabul on thursday and friday as we continue our coverage of afghanistan, the road ahead. now the man who once headed up nato forces in afghanistan is getting a new job. yale university said today it's hired general stanley mcchrystal to teach a graduate level course on leadership. mcchrystal was relieved of his command in june for disparaging comments he and his aides made about their civilian bosses. right next door to afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis in pakistan is getting worse by the day. monsoon rains have flooded a fifth of the country, at least 1,500 people have died and anger is growing. yesterday, people in punjab province burned tires to protest the government's slow response

were able to find and kill thirty militants throughout the entire month and according to president hamid to the beauty of the stories are not going to back down all these counter terror operations. the militants killed during these recent operations brought it upon themselves by their own criminal law back when the mosque. mitchell bombings took place. all be found and eliminated is the only way to treat the president mentioned the two deadly blasts the two attacks on moscow's metro at the end of march just last week we have to go to these killed the man suspected of organizing these attacks. and we've also located his or so which contain information on terrorist activities in russia and also prove according to the f.s.b. the prove his links with international terrorist organizations and the f.s.b. has also said that the have information that the last phone call made on. mobile phone was international as well though they didn't see which country it was with just to remind you on march twenty ninth two female suicide bombers attacked two stations of the moscow metro at the very peak of th

afghan president hamid karzai wants to kick out private security companies and replace them with locals contractors work mainly for western organizations guarding supply convoys and providing personal security for diplomats and business men and afghan government spokesman said the companies will be ordered to disband within four months we asked nathan park a contractor in afghanistan whether the country can do without private security forces. at this point it's simply not logistically possible to survive to keep this war going without private security running logistics the bases and providing security at the bases and for that matter running security for n.g.o.s and other international organizations it's not the first time he's made that claim or or this request. in fact two or three years ago he made the same demand. but he knows well enough that you cannot keep this country together without cooperation from my staff and i say i cannot operate effectively without cooperation from security companies. their bases are supplied by security companies and he doesn't want them to go home so i

afghanistan is not just going to make the security situation worse in the country you know president hamid karzai and he is brother who is considered to be the top drug lord of going to stone they have their own agenda and their gender is very different from the one for all for america russia and european pantries so in this situation corazon wants to rule his country and to lead the business go on the basic problem of going to see via corruption and the local reputation and respect of the kabul government among the people in this situation russia has to deliver this clear message to afghanistan that political reform is needed to solve the situation and no foreign aid nor true cisterns would help to talk of the contre back on track again. to restore peace and of guinness that isn't so hard for them in practical terms what sort of coup steps the measures do you think between these four countries russia afghanistan to stand on pakistan can be taken to stop drug traffickers in the region russia tries to solve this problem and offers lots of military and political expertise to the jigger stand

been officially ended i believe the occupation of iraq will go on for many years of can president hamid karzai has renewed his criticism of coalition forces he said the counter terror operation in the region was ineffective and then equal civilian deaths. on its believes the afghan leader is trying to block u.s. efforts to be corruption and drug production in this standoff between. general betray us. president has scored again in his incipient battle against the american anti-corruption efforts first time scored when he completely blocked and stalled the investigation or his chief of national security council. and the second time just recently when he consolidated he has momentum again the american anti-corruption drive in afghanistan and he not only if voided the american pressure but in a way he could go to afghanistan then instead of reversing his decision against the handed. corrupt officials instead he fired one of the senior prosecutors in afghanistan demonstrating to afghans to americans and to the whole world that he is in charge not only of drug production but corruption as wel

on the way to the funeral of a flood victim when they were bombed by nato planes afghan president hamid karzai has launched an inquiry into the incident the deaths come a day after the us commander general petraeus urged troops to avoid civilian casualties. later tonight i'll tease to a guy james brown heads to southeast rusher in our quest to discover the world's biggest country this time he's off on one of these off to one of siberia's oldest cities but with a modern perspective a real passion for art. just . setting sewer tomsk in just over an hour's time we're on our tape for that though we explore the identity of the european union and how it's changed over the past few years and ten minutes time after the thursday night business next from charlotte. hello welcome to the business program hey on our russia is imposing a temporary ban on crane exports primus appears in says the measure is a necessary to help farmers in the country and prevent the cost of food rising. due to the abnormally high temperatures and the courage drought i think we should impose a temporary ban on the export

-backed government of hamid karzai has agreed to negotiate with the taliban in return for ending the war, they're even more fearful. >> history tells us what they want. they don't want girls in the work force, they want girls to stay home. they want absolutely no education for girls. they're not going to back out of their demands. >> reporter: this shelter is one of a handful in the country that offers women a safe haven from physical abuse or rape. recent statistics are grim. violence against women is up 50%. over 60% of marriages are forced. the shelter tries to help women begin a new life, but the odds are stacked against them. qandi was sold into marriage to a much older man. her brother got $3,000. she was 12, too young to be legally married under afghan law. but no one was charged. they rarely are. still, qandi is determined. >> ( translated ): i want to do something, stand on my own feet, to not be dependent on anybody. >> couric: but for qandi and so many others, these angst times, caught between wanting an today an end to the war and worried that women's rights will be the p

afghan president hamid karzai wants to kick out private security companies and replace them with local security forces the contractors he worked mainly for western companies do everything from guarding supply convoys to personal security to diplomats a businessman a government spokesman says the companies will be ordered to disband within four months when all this comes as the u.s. increases its military presence in afghanistan all to discuss this in more detail all of joined in the director of the center for peace and liberty at the independent is achieved many thanks for speaking to us just now if they then the last year calls i said the firms would be phased out by late twenty eleven so why do you think today he's suddenly changed his mind what's the wrong. well i think you know he is probably playing the nationalist card to periodical a because the u.s. occupation of afghanistan is unpopular with the people he appears to push back and do these things and he may actually be using this as a front to get rid of a lot of the big security companies that are afghan and not foreign becaus