It is almost common knowledge that a typical Afghan spectator, an average Afghan Joe, who claims the wisdom of forty Viziers, is tempted to go with the concept of the glass being half empty. The other day I just felt like that Afghan average Joe. My local paper the Argus of December 8th, on top of its first page in the space for its signature icon, carried a picture of Hamid Karzai, whose term as the first-ever elected president of Afghanistan had begun the day before in a solemn ceremony in Kabul. The picture showed him in now his familiar attire, a Karakul cap and a striped green cape. However, this picture differed from previous ones carried by American media in that the color of the cap was black. His older cap was gray. The cap was pointed and was a little too tight to cover the president's temporal area and revealed the fact, he is so eagerly trying to hide, namely his balding head. Now, if I did not feel like an average Joe, I would have noticed that instead of seeing that his cap was small for his head, I could have seen that his head was big for his cap.

And now that I think of it, I nearly understand that his head must have been bigger with a variety of thoughts, concerns, worries, and the feeling of responsibility, a huge burden of having to shoulder the historic mission of leading his country from a tragic era of war, turmoil, insecurity, mass displacements, hunger and disease into a new period of democratic rule, of freedom and of hope.

All of the above prompted me to read over his very concise, to the point and politically balanced inaugural speech delivered to an elite group of local and foreign guests on December 7, 2004.

After customary words of formality, Mr. Karzai stated: " Today, as I take oath as Afghanistan's president, I reflect on the past three years - on ups and downs, on moments of both joy and gloom." He further said: " Nothing makes me more hopeful to the future of this country - and my ability to serve it - than the incredible experience of our people's participation in the recent elections."

Indeed, Karzai, as a person and as a leader saw much of the ups and downs of Afghan politics in a short period of time and witnessed his nations determination to embrace democracy as evidenced by their participation in the process of election. Mr. Karzai prudently acknowledged this by saying that every vote that was cast in the election, whether for him or any of the other candidates was a vote for Afghanistan. The fact shows the resilience of the Afghan nation and its maturity in rising to the occasion for unity, for peace and for claiming their power. In his inaugural speech Mr. Karzai mentioned the many stories he had heard about his people's participation in the election. Yet many of these he has heard indirectly from tribal elders that by design meet with him off and on in the high wall heavily guarded presidential palace in the heart of Kabul.. He should and must establish procedures whereby he contacts the people first hand. Yet it is a good sign that at least he has fully understood, as he acknowledged in his inaugural statement, that: "I am confident, and proud, that this nation is determined to rebuild Afghanistan, and rebuild it fast; to live in security, and to stand on its own feet." Any nation would be fortunate when their and their leader's objectives match. However, it is not so much the issue of understanding the need by the leader that it is an issue of action and effective action in that, to realize those objectives. The Afghan nation that jubilated mostly on Kabul streets and the stadium on the day of Karzai's inauguration, would like him to take effective action in reaching the stated goals which include much more than the above. So when he said: "I and my colleagues in the new government feel deeply compelled, not only by your votes in the elections but also by your determination, to respect your aspirations and serve your goals. We will stand by the promises, which we have made for the good of this nation. We will be steady and unflinching; we will invoke Allah the Almighty for His blessing, and will depend on you for courage and support," the nation would surely take him up on it.

Mr. Karzai renewed his promises to the nation in these concise statements: "During our election campaign, we presented a manifesto for the future to the people of Afghanistan. Our principal promises are concerning the strengthening of security sector and ensuring lasting stability throughout the country; the elimination of poppy cultivation and the fight against processing and trafficking of drugs; the disarmament and demobilization of former combatants; the eradication of poverty, generation of wealth and the provision of public services especially to the rural areas; the rule of law, and the protection of civil liberties and human rights; the acceleration of administrative reform to strengthen administration, root out corruption, stop the abuse of public funds, and ensure meritocracy; the strengthening of national unity; the rebuilding and building of the country's infrastructure; and of course the strengthening of understanding and cooperation with the international community. We feel obliged to work to deliver on these promises, with the help of God the Almighty, over the next five years."

He further touched on two other issues namely the upcoming parliamentary election and his government's appreciation of international help especially those by the United States that is considered among his principal sponsors.

Overall, the measured speech delivered partially in Pashto and partially in Dari, the national languages of Afghanistan, was at par with what a rather seasoned politician would make on an occasion like his inauguration. But the Afghan nation wanted to hear more from their leader on the make-up of his team, on the priorities of his undertakings and on expediting the so far sluggish, snail paced government planning and plan implementation. Situations like this leave space for speculation and already reports are appearing in the press about active involvement of the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan in the process of selection of a new cabinet for Afghanistan. Rumors like this are certain to injure the standing of the country's legitimate president and reduce his lofty position to that of yes-man to foreign interests. It is strongly hoped that President Karzai would take firm steps in order to kill such notions in the bud by showing his nation that he is his own man and that he himself makes decisions regarding his government and in choosing his team he takes into consideration the true needs and priorities of his nation first and foremost. People have also started questioning one of his government's first actions immediately after his inauguration namely his directing of his attention to the issue of drugs and the convening of a conference on drugs in his presidential palace. Poppy is indeed the flower that poisons societies near and far and has wide adverse effects on the country's embarkation on the process of democracy. It nurtures warlords and helps terrorism. The Afghan government must join the international community in dealing with this scourge. However, there are more pressing problems in Afghanistan as well that perhaps require priority attention. Health, education, agriculture, industry, security in the form of the national army and police, building and reparation of the infrastructure and putting the wheels of economic productivity in operation all require earnest work. Jointly all of the above would also help the international community's interests in solving once and for all the problem of drugs that is indeed a priority for the West and especially for Britain where over 90% of heroin on its streets is reportedly smuggled in from Afghanistan.

So far the little action that has been taken mostly in the area of construction and commerce in Kabul and in Afghanistan in general has been by individuals and private investment. Few projects in the area of social services such as education and health and some in agricultural development have been taken under aid programs and carried out by local and international non-governmental organizations. The government has only waited to claim credit for the work of others.

Let us hope that Mr. Karzai is not only aware of all these pressing issues, but that he would now, take off his cape and his cap, notwithstanding their sizes, roll up his sleeves, gather his team of the best servants of the nation, plan for social and economic development of his next five years in office and expedite the election of the parliament with which he should work hand in hand to determine the country's true priorities and to vote Afghanistan's truly reconstruction programs into law. Only then his name will have secured a lofty place in the annals of Afghan history. 12/10/04