In this late-breaking article from BBC we find some details regarding what the Secretary has been discussing with our European friends. I find that note below very interesting. The reporter found her somewhat hesitant on the subject of Hamid Karzai should he win.
BBC NEWS
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said whoever wins Afghanistan's recent election will be expected to do more to address the country's problems.
Speaking to the BBC while in London, Mrs Clinton said the next leader needed to build better relationships with the US, the army and the Afghan people.
She said America's goal in Afghanistan was still to defeat al-Qaeda.
But the current US review of the conflict was "leading to some welcome clarity" on the best tactics, she said.
Mrs Clinton, currently on a European tour, told the BBC's Today programme that the US was "anxiously awaiting" the outcome of the presidential elections which were held in Afghanistan in August.
The results have been delayed over accusations of fraud and malpractice.
Incumbent Hamid Karzai leads preliminary results with about 55% of the vote, considerably ahead of his nearest rival Abdullah Abdullah, who has 28%.
'Welcome clarity'
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the secretary appeared unusually hesitant when asked whether the US would be proud to stand beside Mr Karzai if he emerged as the winner.
She said simply that the president had been "very helpful on many fronts".
"We often overlook the progress made in Afghanistan, because of the serious challenges that still exist," she said.
"But we are very clear that if this election results in him being re-elected, there must be a new relationship between him and the people of Afghanistan, between his government and governments which are supporting the efforts in Afghanistan to stabilise and secure the country."
Read the rest of the Story from BBC NEWS
Published: 2009/10/12 02:53:48 GMT
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