Obama's Afghan Strategy Raises Concerns -- NPR

President Obama's newly unveiled strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan is drawing praise for outlining clear goals in the nearly seven-year war, but it's raising concerns over what it didn't mention: the role of a strong Afghan state.

"It's not very clear what they want do about the Afghan state," he says.

U.S. distrust of the Karzai government, Dorronsoro says, has led American officials to deal directly with the heads of government ministries or with local strongmen in the Afghan provinces. He says that weakens the state, whch will need to be strong when foreign troops eventually withdraw.

"The risk is that they will build a strong Afghan army, with only a weak state to control it. Even if it's not a democratic one," he says, "you need an Afghan state."
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