President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, center, speaking with his chief of staff, Umar Daudzai. Officials say Mr. Daudzai serves as a conduit for Iranian cash into the Karzai government and may be trying to poison Afghan relations with the United States. Ahmad Masood/ReutersIran Is Said to Give Top Karzai Aide Cash by the Bagful -- New York Times
KABUL, Afghanistan — One evening last August, as President Hamid Karzai wrapped up an official visit to Iran, his personal plane sat on the airport tarmac, waiting for a late-running passenger: Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan.
The ambassador, Feda Hussein Maliki, finally appeared, taking a seat next to Umar Daudzai, Mr. Karzai’s chief of staff and his most trusted confidant. According to an Afghan official on the plane, Mr. Maliki handed Mr. Daudzai a large plastic bag bulging with packets of euro bills. A second Afghan official confirmed that Mr. Daudzai carried home a large bag of cash.
“This is the Iranian money,” said an Afghan official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Many of us noticed this.”
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My Comment: I am sure that the Iranians are not the only ones who are bribing Karzai officials this way .... nor will they be the last.
I take solace that at least the financial restrictions on Iran are having some impact.