problem, it's a karzai problem. >> i think it's an obama-karzai problem because the white house don't really know what to do with karzai. remember the last time obama went to afghanistan and general jones and the national security advisor said we're going to lay the smack to him on corruption. that leaked from afghanistan and blew up. this week there was no more hammering him for corruption. we don't know as a country what to do with hamid karzai. >> you mentioned afghanistan also played a major role in the mountain of information disclosed wikileaks. the leaked documents were full of unflatering assessments of enemies and allies alike. but in the end, how much was in politic and how much was actually dangerous, doyle? >> there was a lot that was in politic, unvarnished opinions of leaders, karzai, the president of pakistan and this was a british diplomat's words a num skull. and andrea americale as really, really dull. none of that was really good. but the big surprise was actually out of these thousands of documents that a bunch of newspapers had reviewed that there was no big surpr

and second, karzai government. if we look three years from now and all of our wishes come true, we will then have an army of 240,000 people with 30,000 u.s. that is 275,000 trips that have to replace those that are there right now. -- troops that have to replace those that are there right now. what i s different? troop numbers are less? to quality is down. governance is not solved. pakistan is not solved. is that worth half a trillion dollars and 1500 lives? >> you have written very eloquently on some of the assumptions we have gone wrong afghanistan.ann that assumes that the government's flat lines and the insurgency gets worse or continues. i do not think that will happen. >> why? what is the evidence to refute those assumptions? >> it first off, there have been important -- let me caveat by saying, there been important tactical gains in the south and east. we will not know whether those will hold beyond, and whether they will be semi permanent until next year, and because of the cyclical nature of the afghan con

there's a lot of tension with karzai and with the karzai government about issues like corruption and as we've just seen in some of these leaked wikileaks cables, the u.s. contingent in afghanistan has been very concerned about some of president karzai's somewhat erratic statements about his support for the united states. so there's a lot on the table both in terms of president obama's own agenda what he wants to accomplish in afghanistan and what the afghanistan agenda may be that he confronts while he's there. >> let's take that live picture again, and, barbara, thank you. we don't have the picture. as soon as we get it back, we'll show it to you establishing where the president will be speaking. we expect shortly but we don't have a final time on that. >>> we will be speaking about the november unemployment report. the analysis that is important for the 15 million americans who are out of work, underemployed. let's have that conversation in a couple of minutes in the cnn newsroom. it rushes multiple cold fighters, plus a powerful pain reliever, wherever you need it! [ both ] ♪ oh w

he sought early on that karzai, hamid karzai was corrupt, ineffective, incapable of reform. do much more about the fraudulent presidential elections but in the end was overruled by higher ups in the obama administration and he, like what any good diplomat should, he carried out the instructions that he was given. >> peter, before we let you go, what has the united states lost in its diplomatic efforts, impacts in afghanistan, with richard holbrooke no longer there? the relationships he had, the credibility he brought, who can replace that wealth and depth of knowledge and determination? >> it's of course a saying that, you know, nobody is indispensable. but richard was close to indispensable. he -- i don't think we're going to be -- it'll be easy to find anybody who appreciates and has such a good sense of the different actors of what their interests are. somebody who has this energy. and certainly somebody who could get the u.s. government to focus and to mobilize the resources. he built a terrific staff because he was never solo operator. he understood the support, the imp

we knew the karzai regime was bad, but these cables show just how corrupt u.s. officials believe it really is. according to one cable cited by "the new york times" tonight, after afghanistan's new cabinet took office last january, the u.s. embassy wrote home that the agriculture minister appears to be the only minister that was confirmed about whom no allegations of bribery exist. the u.s. ambassador carl eikenberry wrote in july of 2009, it remains to be seen whether karzai will refrain from this blame america tactic he uses to deflect criticism of his administration. his inability to grasp the most rudimentary principles and his insecurity as a leader, combined to make any admission of fault unlikely. an august of 2009 report says karzai pardoned five border police caught with 273 pounds of heroin in their vehicle. before the august election in 2009, $600 million was drawn out of afghan banks with hundreds of millions routinely flown out of the country. according to "the new york times," a cable quoted one afghan official explaining that there are four stages

officials really think of hamid karzai. we'll ask our sunday panel what happens next in the war there. and our power player of the week. a real-life dr. house trying to solve medical mysteries. all right now on "fox news sunday." and hello again from fox news in washington. with tax cuts and deficit reduction the hot topics in washington, we're joined by two members of the president debt commission. democrat kent conrad chairman of the senate budget committee, and from dallas, congressman jeb hensarling, one of the new house republican leaders. gentlemen, welcome back to "fox news sunday." senator conrad, let me start with you. you voted for the deficit commission plan which would cut $4 trillion by the year 2020 from the deficit. it didn't pass. but you are the chairman of the senate budget committee. how much of this do you intend to put in your plan this next year and what do you think the president is going to do? >> what i think is necessary now that there be a summit that involves the president, and judd greg and i pr

he wanted to also meet with president karzai in kabul but then bad weather rolled in. there were high winds. we are told about 45 miles per hour. a lot of dust, also low cloud cover. so as you pointed out they did have this phone conversation. we're told that that lasted for about 15 minutes or so, brooke. >> dan, briefly, do we have any kind of readout on the call? do we know what was discussed at all? >> reporter: we don't know what was discussed. but as you were highlighting earlier, there is a lot of talk obviously about conversations that were had that have been disclosed by wikileaks about what the administration officials have been saying about the leadership there in afghanistan. and one official was sort of pushing back, dismissing that this morning, saying that there's nothing new here. that a lot has been reported in the past about concerns about corruption in the afghan government. so they don't see this as really being in sort of major hurdle in going forward and working with the government there. >> i want to get to sort of the timing in the wikileaks in

and second, karzai government. if we look three years from now and all of our wishes come true, we will then have an army of 240,000 people with 30,000 u.s. that is 275,000 trips that have to replace those that are there right now. -- troops that have to replace those that are there right now. what i s different? troop numbers are less? to quality is down. governance is not solved. pakistan is not solved. is that worth half a trillion dollars and 1500 lives? >> you have written very eloquently on some of the assumptions we have gone wrong afghanistan.ann that assumes that the government's flat lines and the insurgency gets worse or continues. i do not think that will happen. >> why? what is the evidence to refute those assumptions? >> it first off, there have been important -- let me caveat by saying, there been important tactical gains in the south and east. we will not know whether those will hold beyond, and whether they will be semi permanent until next year, and because of the cyclical nature of the afghan con

karzai does the predictable thing with people in the world. karzai says "you can't say that to me, i'm never going to allow you back in the room." the united states government, the president of the united states should have backed dick holbrooke on that play. because he was telling hamid karzai the only way we had a chance of doing something in afghanistan. instead they said "oh, all right he doesn't have to... dick holbrooke doesn't have to see karzai, we'll work around it." at that point hamid karzai knew he had us. and for the next two years look what he did. dick understood exactly how to go after it but couldn't do it. couldn't be allowed to do it. >> the other thing, charlie, you said before that he said several times thathis was the toughest assignment, toughest challenge he's ever had. but he never slowed down. he never stopped. he was going at it all the time. >> rose: even though people were saying slow down. don't get on another plane and go for another trip because you better take care of yourself. >> and he wasn't doing that. >> y

he did alienate karzai and karzai alienated him as well. but he was a great diplomat.accused of being a big ego by people in washington, the hometown of big egos. i don't know how that distinguished him but as max boot said, he was one of the greatest diplomats who was never secretary of state and some people thinking he should have been. the important thing is that there is improvement in the war. it's not bleak or great but there was a "washington post" story sunday about improvement in the helmand province and we sent more troops. just now is the general petraeus strategy going into effect, making the taliban either beg for negotiations or be extinguished. >> we are in the middle of winter and obama said speed this up. i don't want you to take all the time you think it will take, do it faster. turns out they're there. >> the challenge for the administration is it correct to say that to keep the liberal base from tearing this apart in congress on capitol hill, i mean it's republicans who will support this effort. >> as they always have. yes. i think that's true and i

afghan president hamid karzai. u.s.ell cnn that karzai's behavior is at times erratic and unpredictable and has become a significant concern for general petraeus and karl ikenberry. -- karzai suddenly storming out of a moting was petraeus and others. soon after the meeting, petraeus, known for choosing his words carefully didn't deny it. >> did he stomp out on you? >> this was not a meeting with me. this was a meeting with the international community. >> petraeus insists he's on good terms with karzai. but when the afghan leader called for downsizing u.s. military operations, petraeus let it be known he thought relations were strained. karzai stunned many when he acknowledged iran gives him bags of cash. then it got stranger all around. >> well, they have -- they have asked for good relations in return. and for lots of other things in return. >> i thought it was a pretty forthright response, actually. he actually told the truth, which is, you know, a refreshing thing. he says karzai may be doing much of this for his own

>> just one footnote to karzai.ou know, the lesson of history is, that if you have a dependent leader who needs you for his survival, but he's the only leader you have, you don't discredit him. you don't undermine him, unless you have a better alternative. we haven't had a better alternative than karzai. and yet, some of our officials have made a sport of maligning him. and this business of corruption doesn't take into account cultural differences. and last, but not least, who are we here in washington to be groaning and moaning about corruption? >> let me ask you then. should ambassador eikenberry leave? has he done a good job, do you think, for the diplomacy, george? >> he has a hopeless job to do. it's hard to say whether he's done it well. but whether or not -- if he should leave because say what was said in the -- >> what he's written in the cable. >> well, who's going to be left in the government, starting with the secretary of state? >> i think he has -- really, he's been damaged very badly by the leaks that

in the long run, everybody understands there is a karzai problem. corruption problem, pakistan problem. however, on the ground, i believe them when they say petraeus is saying there has been improvement. widening the circle and area of control outside the taliban. this country opinion polls show that taliban has 6-8% support. pelosi levels essentially. if the problem is the fear that people have of them, that is a problem you can handle with the military. do surge in iraq and give them protection. as long as it's not trying to change ideology but make them have a sense of security. in principle it's doable. that's why there is optimism. >> bret: this is it for the >> finally tonight, last week, president obama turned to former president clinton for some advice and counsel but we may have missed one of the exchanges.

like help nato and the karzai regime, the karzai government will endure. that's a terrible choice for them. i don't think there's a military solution if there's no political solution to that problem. >> so, you know, in this -- especially this time of year we need to stress how much americans do support the troops, how much we care about the troops and we want to see them safe. let's talk about the fact that these troops are trained to carry out the mission. they want to get the mission done. go they talk about the ones that you got to be with, do they talk about the politics we get caught up in here at home? >> they don't. i don't think that's a problem. they're very much like the police. the police in a certain precinct are focused on the problem in their precinct. they're not evaluating the war on crime. these guys are 19, 20 years old. they're given specific jobs. they don't really need to know what's happening in kandahar or kabul. >> what's your prediction of where we'll be in afghanistan if five years? at the rate we're going now? >> listen, the u.s

karzai is "a weak man." according to wikileaks in february, this same minister also warned the ambassador about sending additional u.s. troops to the country. because mr. karzai was "not an adequate strategic partner." today president karzai defended the minister saying that he was sure the ambassador got the information wrong. >> i have seen ministers talking to me about their presidents, but we will not have a wikileak to reveal that. >> the finance minister said today it will not bees by as usual between key afghan ministers and the ambassador. >>> in baghdad a series of bombings killed at least 17 people. six or more of the dead were shi'ite pilgrims visiting from iran. deadliest strikes targeted a marketplace in a shi'ite neighborhood. >>> and district court-stricken israel, police say two people were arrested, suspected of negligently starting a massive wildfire that claimed the lives of 41 people and still burning out of control tonight. firefighters say the fire began after two individuals fail toget

in the long run, everybody understands there is a karzai problem.lem, pakistan problem. however, on the ground, i believe them when they say petraeus is saying there has been improvement. widening the circle and area of control outside the taliban. this country opinion polls show that taliban has 6-8% support. pelosi levels essentially. if the problem is the fear that people have of them, that is a problem you can handle with the military. do surge in iraq and give them protection. as long as it's not trying to change ideology but make them have a sense of security. in principle it's doable. that's why there is optimism. >> bret: this is it for the panel but stay tuned for guest appearance that may have gotten out of happened. you know. -- happened. we know diamonds. together we'll make her holiday. that's why only zales is the diamond store. where you can get up to $1,000 off now through sunday. that's why only zales is the diamond store. naturally colorful vegetables are often a good source of vitamins, fiber, or minerals. and who brings you more

said -- issued an hamid karzai said -- issued an order to arrest me if i go back. why? because he accused me of organizing the fraud that got him re-elected. in april. which shows you a bit how weird he is. and that's our partner. he steals the election and then he blames the u.n. for conducting the fraud. >> he told general petraeus he considers the u.s. and the taliban to be his enemies and given a choice he would side with the taliban. >> the taliban. >> how do we win? >> this is the nature of the problem and the question comes back to is this worth the kind of effort we're making? do we have other priorities in the world? do we have the better use for $117 billion? and what about those live that is are at risk? >> all right, peter, andrew, thank you both so much for joining us. >> sure thing. >> thank you. >> thank you, guys. thank you. >>> later on "parker spitzer," a tribute to larry king on the last night doing a live program on this network. you won't want to miss it. >> smell the fresh air of london again. if justice is not always an outcome, at least it i

president karzai has been responsible in fulfilling his duties and the results are there twenty provinces i told you earlier have been cleansed of opium poppy some progress has been made in other areas president karzai attitude to these problems is a very responsible i don't agree with what general mcneill had to say. according to the agreements reached before twenty fourteen the afghans will assume responsibility for security in the country i am sure when they've assumed one hundred charge of their own country the efficiency of their work will grow at the same time i can assure you of the struggle against international terrorism or narcotic drugs is not a matter of one or two days it's a very long process this fight will continue for that international efforts are needed to have bases abroad destroyed afghanistan will be fighting for the hearts. thank you very much minister for the time we wish your country and afghan people peace and prosperity in the nearest future thank you very much. we use a special old fridge and accessory clip meant. they are ready for replay. to turn off warm air

i'm not sure without holbrooke putting pressure on karzai that things get much better with karzai, because of him frankly. >> i want to move on from that subject you were talking about and talk about general petraeus. he's reported progress. and if he goes to president obama and he says we need more time, we're doing well, is the political equity there for the president to say we're going to stay longer or we're going to double down? >> well, we have thrown our best military minds at the afghanistan problem. it's been a grave of empires for a reason. i don't think the american people are going to tolerate too much more. and military people always have the can-do attitude. give us more time and we'll get it done. what is the mission we're trying to accomplish there? it's becoming greyer and greyer. and the administration is really facing pressure to withdraw the troops except for from the far right of the republican party. >> greyer and greyer. what does this mean for 2012 and the presidential election? >> it's a good question. it's a nine-year war. the longest war in history. but america h

in fact, i would, people say, well, how is your relationship with president karzai, and my response is that it is a good relationship. and we do need, occasionally, i think, to walk a mile, or a kilometer, in his shoes, and in these mountains, to understand the challenge that he has. >> reporter: and david, we'll get into a lot more of the challenges general petraeus faced tomorrow on "gma." including his answer to the key question we're trying to tackle in this series this week. can we win? >> all right, george, thank you. and our series, afghanistan, can we win, does continue first thing in the morning on "good morning america" with a brand new poll and revealing findings. and then, right here tomorrow night on "world news" with diane sawyer. >>> in the meantime, we turn to iran, where tonight, that country is delivering defiant words on the eve of international talks about its nuclear program. iran's nuclear chief announced just today that his country has produced its first batch of uranium ore, mine and produced without help from other countries. western officials say iran is exagg

deep concerns about karzai were confirmed this week by the flood of wikileaks documents in which karzai's government was repeatedly described by u.s. officials as "corrupt," awash in bribes, illicit cash transfers and massive embezzlement. >> i don't think the american public understood the extent to which corruption reigned supreme in the current afghan government. >> reporter: the white house is scheduled to complete a review of the afghanistan troop surge later this month and already white house officials are dropping strong hints that no major changes are planned. katie? >> couric: chip reid at the white house tonight. as always, chip, thank you. now, as for wikileaks, it's been hounded by governments and hackers since posting all those secret diplomatic cables earlier this week. the people who run the website spent the day struggling to keep it online-- even changing its web address. meanwhile, wikileaks' founder is still hiding from the police. but today elizabeth palmer reports he did speak out online. >> reporter: julian assange doesn't have to be out and about to communicate. fro

karzai taking money from everybody. the good news, the president went over there to visit the troops, always a good thing to do. on the other hand, we've been fighting this war longer an any war in american history. they said we're going it be there at least till 2014. the regime we're propping up is as corrupt as anything the world has seen or known. al qaeda left to go to pakistan. i don't know why we're there. the american people need answers on what's going on over there and what the strategy is. on the job front, the unemployment number today up to 9.8%. it's worse when you look at what's going on in our economy. things are grim, indeed, at never level. >> the jobs report would suggest maybe there was something to the timing of president obama's trip to afghanistan? some of our guests are going to disagree with this and you will maybe publicly disagree but i know you think this is true. it seems to be the fact that the president ain't there. there's no there there. the republicans said that all along. people who di

the counsel meets in qetta and tell karzai, it's broader than karzai, the people of afghanistan, we'reway in july or whatever it is just because that's the timeline. we are going to leave when you're ready to take over and build your own country and until we get that all lined up, you will have problems. it is confusing. they don't know if when we're gone the taliban isn't large and in charge. certainly on the western part of afghanistan, the only commerce, the only place to get 24-hour electricity because the iranians run it across the border. all of those allegiances are incredibly important to people trying to make it in a tough neighborhood. >> congressman, you heard congressman rodgers say you can't have an artificial deadline. we have to get this done and don't set a date on the calen r calendar. the president said he thinks the progress is because of his commitment to start a draw down next year and get out ultimately in 2014 and jane horman, she said this, we need a clear public timetable to end our military mission in afghanistan responsibly and soon. sounds like she wants to

official cables describing karzai as not of sufficient strategic partner.ption of the afghan government is no secret, but of course seeing it laid out in such detail is, you know, quite disappointing to all concerned. >> and since 2001 the u.s. has thrown roughly $52 billion or so in aid at afghanistan. how much is the u.s. really to blame here? we are in many ways fueling the corruption with the funs we're providing, aren't we? >> absolutely. and that corruption pushes people to support the insurgency. if you understand that a lot of the insurgency, a lot of the fighting in afghanistan is really very localized, it's almost like a hatfield and mccoy type situation. not only are we backing up the hatfields against the mccoys, we're also making the hatfields rich and the mccoys don't see any value in all that money we're spending there. so all that money actually pushes people to support insurgency because it's the reason why the government is there, provides the government to be so corrupt, and it really creates a real rift between the haves and have nots in

we are supporting president karzai's efforts. i expect that we will be evaluating that. we believe that the increased military pressure is a necessary component of getting to a point where there would be a genuine discussion about reconciliation. >> thanks very much. >> now a state department briefing on the president's afghanistan and pakistan strategy. it is a little less than half an hour. >> since i just came from a long briefing front -- with the president and the vice president, i wanted to say a few words about our team here at the state department who have worked so hard on this review and have worked so hard from the beginning of this administration. for these men and women who spend their days and often their sleepless nights to make this crucial mission a success, richard holbrooke was a mentor, a friend, and a boss. he was a leader that pushed each and every one of them to reach further, see better, and think deeper. he took enormous pride. even representatives from other governments are working together. i have heard