Afghanistan Wants Some Love, Pentagon Style

Despite a raging insurgency, corrupt government, drug-based feudal economy, and billions in aid already pouring in, Karzai wants Afghanistan to be designated a "significant U.S. ally" to get access to even more US defense know-how.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his advisors are pressing the Obama administration to designate Afghanistan as a significant U.S. ally and to draft a new security agreement, requests that have made this week's White House meetings particularly delicate.
A senior Afghan official said that both objectives reflect Karzai's desire to use his visit to Washington to lay the groundwork for a closer, long-term security relationship with Washington.

Afghan officials are particularly interested in the "major non- NATO ally" designation, a status enjoyed by Japan, Australia, South Korea, Israel and other strategically important countries outside Europe. The designation brings with it access to U.S. military technology and other benefits.

Look over that list again:
Japan - democratic, modern economy, internally stable, low governmental corruption, minimal crime, transparent government
Australia - democratic, modern economy, internally stable, low governmental corruption, minimal crime, transparent government
South Korea - democratic, modern economy, internally stable, low governmental corruption, minimal crime, transparent government
Israel - democratic, modern economy, (mostly) internally stable, low governmental corruption, minimal crime, transparent government
Afghanistan - eh, not so much.

By: Brant