The insidious attacks on Karzai begin.

Having spoken out against Bush's tactics in the War on Terror it was inevitable that "anonymous sources" would soon start questioning the leadership of Hamid Karzai.

And here they come, right on bloody cue.

In today's Washington Post we learn:

Many Afghans and some foreign supporters say they are losing faith in President Hamid Karzai's government, which is besieged by an escalating insurgency and endemic corruption and is unable to protect or administer large areas of the country.

As a sense of insecurity spreads, a rift is growing between the president and some of the foreign civilian and military establishments whose money and firepower have helped rebuild and defend the country for nearly five years. While the U.S. commitment to Karzai appears solid, several European governments are expressing serious concerns about his leadership.

"The president had a window of opportunity to lead and make difficult decisions, but that window is closing fast," said one foreign military official in Kabul who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

You'll notice that these "many Afghans" and "foreign supporters" all remain unnamed.

This is yet another sign of the paucity of Bush's supposed love for democracy, as this represents simply a crude threat that Karzai should get back on message or face being replaced.

Of course, the Bush administration has not publicly said a word about their displeasure at Karzai's criticism of their failings in the War on Terror. They don't have to. The Washington Post has found "many Afghans" and "foreign supporters" to do their dirty work for them.

And then comes the big threat:

While no one is suggesting that any imminent withdrawal of foreign military or economic support is likely, some European governments -- which do not share Washington's investment in Afghanistan as a role model for a modern Muslim democracy -- have begun to question the wisdom of costly long-term economic commitments and the risk of ongoing high battlefield casualties.

"There is an awful feeling that everything is lurching downward," said a Western diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The same people who argue that we must stay the course in Iraq have let it be known, on condition of anonymity, that those pesky Europeans might "cut and run" if you don't stop saying nasty things about little Georgie.

This is simply disgusting, barefaced and cowardly politicineering.

This is the Bush administration warning yet another democratically elected leader that he better do their bidding or face his downfall.

Further evidence that Bush is actually to be trusted to export democracy as much as King Herod was to be trusted to babysit.

Click title for Washington Post article.

Tags: Afghanistan, Karzai, Bush, US, attacks, undermine, threaten,