Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AE ASEC AS AR AMGT AFIN AORC AU AG AF APER ABLD ADCO ABUD AM AID AJ AEMR AMED AL ASUP AN AIT ACOA ANET ASIG AA AGMT AINF AFFAIRS ADANA AY AADP ARF ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC APEC APECO AFGHANISTAN ACAO ASEAN ADM AGAO AND ADPM ATRN ALOW AROC APCS AORG AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL
BR BO BA BM BL BH BK BEXP BILAT BTIO BF BU BD BY BE BG BB BBSR BT BRUSSELS BP BX BC BIDEN BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CA CS CO CD CR CPAS CDG CI CDC CBW CU CVIS CE CONS CH CMGT CASC CY CW CG CJAN CIDA CODEL CWC CIA CBSA CEUDA CFED CLINTON CAC CL CACS CIC CHR CAPC CM CT CTR COM CROS CN COPUOS CV CF CARSON CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CNARC CIS
DEAX DHS DAO DCM DJ DA DR DEA DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DEFENSE DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS
EFIN ECON ETRD EAID EC EU EUN EINV EG ETTC EIND ELAB EAGR ECIN EINT ENRG EFIS ELTN EAIR EPET EZ ET ENERG ECPS EWWT EI ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ER ES EN EMIN ESENV ENNP ENGR ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENVI ECINECONCS ELN EFTA ELECTIONS ENVR EXTERNAL ENIV ESA EPA ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EUR ECUN EXIM EK EUREM ECONOMY EUMEM ERNG EFINECONCS EAIDS ECA ETRC EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA EAIG EUC ERD
FI FR FJ FBI FO FDA FAO FTA FOR FTAA FMLN FISO FAS FAC FREEDOM FM FOREIGN FARC FINANCE FINR FOI
GV GM GH GT GG GR GA GTIP GY GOI GZ GAERC GE GCC GOV GERARD GANGS GLOBAL GTMO GL GF GAZA
HEBRON HSTC HA HUMOR HU HO HR HK HILLARY HYMPSK HI HURI HUMAN
IQ IR IS IN IA IC IZ ICRC ID IDA IT IO IAEA ICJ ICAO IV IBRD IMF IAHRC IWC ILO ISLAMISTS IGAD ILC ITU ITF INRA INRO ICTY INRB ITALY IBET IL INTELSAT ISRAELI IMO IDP ICTR ITRA IRC IRAQI IEFIN IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS INTERPOL IEA INR ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IACI INDO
JA JO JP JUS JM JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE JOSEPH
KPAO KMDR KCOR KNNP KJUS KCRM KDEM KVPR KTFN KPRP KTIP KSCA KSUM KTEX KIDE KIRF KV KTIA KN KG KFRD KWMN KUNR KISL KU KGHG KPKO KOMS KPAL KIPR KMCA KOMC KRVC KSEP KAWC KOLY KWBG KACT KFLO KHIV KZ KGIC KBCT KDRG KBTR KCFE KE KHLS KMPI KAWK KPWR KIRC KRAD KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFLU KPLS KRIM KSTH KDDG KPRV KICC KS KSAF KBIO KREC KCGC KCIP KTDB KWAC KPAI KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFSC KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KMIG KVRP KNEI KGIT KNSD KHDP KSAC KWMM KR KCOM KAID KENV KVIR KHSA KO KCRS KPOA KTER KFIN KSPR KTBT KX KCMR KMOC KCRCM KBTS KSEO KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KTLA KCSY KTRD KMRS KNPP KJUST KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KRGY KIFR KWMNCS KPAK
LE LY LH LU LI LO LG LA LOG LTTE LAB LT LABOR
MARR MOPS MUCN MCAP MNUC MEPP MTCRE MASS MO MIL MX MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MTCR MK MG MA MY MU ML MPS MW MD MARAD MC MR MT MTRE MASC MRCRE MAPP MZ MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC MASSMNUC
NI NZ NL NO NPT NATO NS NU NP NPA NSFO NDP NT NW NASA NSG NE NORAD NAFTA NG NATIONAL NSSP NV NSF NK NA NEW NPG NR NGO NIPP NZUS NH NC NRR NAR NATOPREL NSC
OIIP OPRC OTRA OEXC OREP OSCE OVIP OPAD OBSP OECD OFFICIALS OAS OPDC ODIP OPCW OES OFDP OPIC OCS OIC OHUM OSCI OVP ODC OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OFDA ON OCII
PREL PINR PGOV PARM PE PTER PHUM PO PINS PREF PK PM POL PBTS PNAT PHSA PAS PA PL PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PAK PEL PROP PP PINL PBT PTBS PG PINF PRL PALESTINIAN PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICS POLICY PROV PBIO PREO PAO PDOV PGOF POV PCI PRAM PSI POLITICAL PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
QA
RU RS REGION REACTION REPORT RO RW RCMP RSO RP RM ROOD RFE RICE ROBERT RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL
SENV SY SNAR SCUL SP SF SW SOCI SU SMIG SO SA SR SZ SI SC SEVN SN STEINBERG SK SH SNARCS SPCE SARS SNARN SG SL SYRIA SIPRS SAARC SNARIZ SWE SYR SEN SCRS SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SHUM
TU TSPA TBIO TS TRGY TINT TPHY TN TW TH TZ TSPL TP TBID TI TF TD TT TNGD TL TC THPY TIP TX TV TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TFIN TAGS TR
UK UNSC UNGA UNESCO UNHRC UP UN USTR US UNDC UY UNICEF UNDP UNMIK UNAUS UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UG UNIDROIT UNO UV UNHCR UNEP USEU UZ UNCND USUN UNCHR USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS
VZ VT VE VI VM VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG VAT VC
WHTI WTRO WTRQ WBG WHO WHA WFP WS WTO WB WI WMD WIPO WZ WWARD WITH WEU WMO WA
XS XH XR XL XG XA XM XK XD XF XI XB XV XW XQ XE XTAG XU XT XX XY XZ XC
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZK ZR ZU ZO ZP ZF ZEALAND ZL ZOELLICK ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09KABUL2658, FM BILDT AGREES ON NEXT STEPS IN AFGHANISTAN

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09KABUL2658.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09KABUL2658 | 2009-09-01 14:52 | 2010-12-02 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Kabul

`

    VZCZCXRO6131
    PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
    DE RUEHBUL #2658/01 2441452
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 011452Z SEP 09
    FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1284
    INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3054
    RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0304

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002658

    SIPDIS

    EO 12958 DECL: 08/25/2019
    TAGS PGOV, PREL, AF
    SUBJECT: FM BILDT AGREES ON NEXT STEPS IN AFGHANISTAN

    REF: KABUL 2636

    Classified By: PolCouns Annie Pforzheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

    ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt agreed, in an August 31 meeting with Ambassador Eikenberry, to a post-election course of action for the international community in Afghanistan. Minister Bildt expressed his fears over Afghan perceptions of the upcoming conference of Special Representatives for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) to be held in Paris September 2. We corrected his misperceptions over a reported rift between SRAP Holbrooke and President Karzai. End Summary.

    ------------------------------
    Looking at the Next Five Years
    ------------------------------

    ¶2. (C) Looking ahead to the resolution of the presidential election, Ambassador Eikenberry laid out five key steps which we recommend that the international community should observe, as we have, when engaging with both Abdullah and Karzai, but particularly the incumbent:
    -- first, both leading candidates should understand we are paying close attention to their conduct in this interim period before the certification of the vote, and that their conduct will impact their relationship with the international community thereafter, whether as President or in another capacity. -- secondly, the next President shoudl understand that we will scrutinize closely his ministerial appointments for competence and commitment to good governance. -- third, the next President’s first major policy speeches, including his inauguration speech, will set the tone for his second administration and offer an opportunity to establish a compact with his people. Minister Bildt noted that Karzai might use such a speech to confront the international community. -- fourth, as the President begins his new administration, he must take significant, visible acts to deliver his compact, for example by acting boldly against corruption. -- fifth and finally, if the next President accomplishes the first four steps well, we should accept an invitation from him to a ministerial conference in Kabul, to solidify the relationship between the international community and the new administration and to bolster its legitimacy domestically and internationally.

    ¶3. (C) Minister Bildt assented to all five points, and noted that the conference of foreign ministers could be a key moment in which to emphasize more Afghan ownership of the political landscape following the election.

    --------------------------------------------- -
    Setting the Stakes for a Second Administration
    --------------------------------------------- -

    ¶4. (C) Expressing concern that President Karzai still seems to think that we are here on an expeditionary mission to kill foreign fighters operating in Afghanistan and that he is just renting land to us for that purpose, Ambassador Eikenberry proposed that the second administration could be an opportunity to clarify anew the relationship between the international community and the Karzai administration. First, we must disabuse President Karzai of the notion that we are just another imperialist force or that we are really here because of China and because we want bases here for strategic regional purposes. Heretofore, President Karzai has expressed negligible political interest in the development of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP), key components of a successful sovereign nation. We need to give him long-term security guarantees so that he will understand the importance of investing in these institutions, Eikenberry said, while assuring him that we will continue to support Afghanistan’s security infrastructure as an element of their sovereign nation.

    ¶5. (C) A key agenda item for a second Karzai administration could be the reconciliation process. Ambassador Eikenberry questioned Bildt whether this would pose a public relations problem with the domestic audiences of the European Union. The reconciliation effort, he noted, could be a key opportunity for the Karzai administration to show progress in the development of Afghan governance. Until now, the reconciliation process has been marred by a lack of infrastructure and resources, both of which the international community could help to provide. Bildt assured us that reconciliation would not be a problem in Europe unless it was perceived as rolling back women’s rights, educational development, and other key human rights issues. He noted
    KABUL 00002658 002 OF 002
    there were constitutional constraints in Europe to supporting programs representing an erosion of human rights in Afghanistan, but affirmed that he did not see any evidence that could support an argument along those lines. The delegation called for the Afghans to establish a precise concept for integration before the process can begin.

    -------------------------------------------
    Maintaining the Legitimacy of the Elections
    -------------------------------------------

    ¶6. (C) Minister Bildt expressed concerns that the legitimacy of the election was being called into question. He noted that while the conference in Paris of special representatives was “perfectly normal and routine,” it had been “blown up” by the press, who were insinuating that the special representatives would emerge from closed doors at the conference and declare the winner of the election. Ambassador Eikenberry said that the same message had been relayed to him by a group of pro-Karzai parliamentarians who had called at the Embassy on August 30 (reftel). Likewise, Eikenberry noted that Karzai has begun to express great frustration with the international media, whom he claims are pitted against him and are trying to undermine the credibility of the elections by exaggerating claims of fraud.  Eikenberry also noted that Karzai and his supports may attack the findings of the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) as biased, because it has foreigners in key leadership positions.

    -----------------------------------
    Smoothing Relations with the Palace
    -----------------------------------

    ¶7. (C) Responding to Minister Bildt’s statement that both President Karzai and Foreign Minister Spanta had “stern words” that were “not directed at me,” on the subject of post-election posturing, Eikenberry explained the miscommunication that had occurred between Karzai and SRAP Holbrooke regarding the possibility of a second round of elections: Holbrooke had stated in a phone call with other Special Representatives that, if there were to be a second round, the international community would need to coordinate to support the effort. This was misreported to the Afghan government as USG advocacy for holding a second round, no matter the final results of the IEC’s election process. Eikenberry reassured Bildt that he had worked closely with FM Spanta and President Karzai to dispel this myth; the story seemed to have blown over, and relations between the U.S. and President Karzai were and back on track. EIKENBERRY

`