11:30, Green Park, London
Hamid Karzai's speech this morning includes the strongest bid for a sound bite slogan: "Afghan leadership, Afghan ownership." One cynical observer, a former New Delhi-based correspondent, says he might have added "Afghan public relations."
The cynic suggests that Karzai will have to do a better job of selling his program than he has so far. In his speech, the ever-dapper Afghan leader outlined a six-point program that included reconciliation, security, good governance, anticorruption efforts, economic development, and regional cooperation. Anything left out there? Just a lot of specifics.
"Will India be included in the regional cooperation group?" a Pakistani journalist asks. Iran, as reported earlier, apparently doesn't want to play.
Journalists put in requests for face-time with the delegates, but the distance between the tent and Lancaster House is wide. In the meanwhile, journalists interview journalists.
-- Jay Tolson
Hamid Karzai's speech this morning includes the strongest bid for a sound bite slogan: "Afghan leadership, Afghan ownership." One cynical observer, a former New Delhi-based correspondent, says he might have added "Afghan public relations."
The cynic suggests that Karzai will have to do a better job of selling his program than he has so far. In his speech, the ever-dapper Afghan leader outlined a six-point program that included reconciliation, security, good governance, anticorruption efforts, economic development, and regional cooperation. Anything left out there? Just a lot of specifics.
"Will India be included in the regional cooperation group?" a Pakistani journalist asks. Iran, as reported earlier, apparently doesn't want to play.
Journalists put in requests for face-time with the delegates, but the distance between the tent and Lancaster House is wide. In the meanwhile, journalists interview journalists.
-- Jay Tolson