Article: An Afghan pressure cooker: President Hamid Karzai is caught between foreigners and citizens, between tribes and ethnic groups. His indecisiveness baffles even allies.

Byline: Kim Barker

Jun. 21--KABUL, Afghanistan -- President Hamid Karzai sat at the head of the long table and told the tribal elders he would try to help them with a personnel problem. But he had to balance the needs of Afghans and the desires of foreigners. "Do you agree with me?" Karzai asked. The room of 60 men was silent. "Why are you quiet? Do you agree with me? Do you support me?" "No!" several men shouted. Not unless Karzai reversed his decision to remove the eastern Afghanistan border police commander. "You are the president," said elder Payandagul Shinwari. "You can do it. You should do it for us. Otherwise we will not support you." This was ...

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