Real men don’t care what others think.
Real men don’t ask; they tell.
Real men impose discipline.
Real men make tough decisions.

While visiting Afghanistan last July, I met a key provincial governor who every U.S. official told me was the best and most honest in Afghanistan—and then, they added, “We have to fight Karzai every day to keep him from being fired.” That is what happens to those who buck the Karzai system.

This is crazy. We have been way too polite, and too worried about looking like a colonial power, in dealing with Karzai. I would not add a single soldier there before this guy, if he does win the presidency, takes visible steps to clean up his government in ways that would be respected by the Afghan people.

If Karzai says no, then there is only one answer: “You’re on your own, pal. Have a nice life with the Taliban. We can’t and will not put more American blood and treasure behind a government that behaves like a Mafia family. If you don’t think we will leave—watch this.” (Cue the helicopters.)

So, please, spare me the lectures about how important Afghanistan and Pakistan are today. I get the stakes. But we can’t want a more decent Afghanistan than the country’s own president. If we do, we have no real local partner who will be able to hold the allegiance of the people, and we will not succeed—whether with more troops, more drones or more money.

—Thomas Friedman, “Not Good Enough,” The New York Times, Oct. 13, 2009, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/opinion/14friedman.html?_r=2 (via digby, “Hey, Pal,” Hullaballoo, Oct. 14, 2009, available at http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/hey-pal-by-digby-while-i-appreciate.html).