WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Concerns over corruption in the Afghan government linger as U.S. President Barack Obama puts the final touches on his revised strategy for the war.
Obama and his top military strategist have lingered over deliberations on the best way forward for the war in Afghanistan, considered a lost battle by some analysts earlier this year.
World leaders are weighing their options in Afghanistan, questioning the need to expend military energy on a Kabul government plagued with corruption.
The image of Afghan President Hamid Karzai was tarnished by rampant corruption in the August presidential contest and from his decision to keep warlords in his administration.
Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said the legitimacy of the Afghan government was a troubling matter.
"Let me be very, very clear on this," he said at a special briefing at the U.S. State Department. "We are deeply concerned about corruption."
He noted, however, that a surge in the number of civilian and training components in a revised war strategy would address many of the concerns about corruption and transparency.
Obama is expected to outline his plans for Afghanistan as early as Dec. 1.
