Afghanistan won’t receive any more civilian aid from the United States until it proves that corruption is being dealt with, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said this morning on ABC’s This Week.
“I have made it clear that we’re not gonna be providing any civilian aid to Afghanistan unless we have a certification that if it goes into the Afghan government in any form that we’re going to have ministries we can hold accountable,” she said, adding that an anti-corruption commission must be established.
There does have to be actions by the government of Afghanistan against those who have taken advantage of the money that has poured into Afghanistan in the last eight years.
“There’s no impunity for those who are corrupt,” she said.
Clinton insisted, however, that she’s under “no illusions” about Afghanistan’s prospects.
We have no illusions. This is not the prior days when people would come on your show and talk about how we were gonna help the Afghans build a modern democracy and build a more functioning state and do all these wonderful things. That could happen. But our primary focus is on the security of the United States of America.
“Our goal is very clear: we wanna get the people who attacked us.”
Regarding the recently-announced civilian trials in New York City for Gitmo detainees, including self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Clinton expressed no opposition. “I’m not going to second guess the attorney general,” she said.
And Sarah Palin, the former GOP vice presidential nominee whose much-anticipated memoir will be released this week?
“I’ve never met her,” Clinton said in response to a question about Palin praising Clinton in her book. “And y’know, look, I’d look forward to sit down and talk with her.”
Clinton also tried to put to rest rumors that she was interested in running for governor of New York.
“That’s another one of those stories that never will die and I hope maybe we can put it to rest today,” she said. “I am committed to the job that I have.”
