While the Iraq War has been very controversial, the Afghan conflict is viewed as a “just war” due to the need to prevent the resurgence of al-Queda in the region.

Recently, it has become obvious that Afghanistan has a problem with corruption and two-faced leaders. Enter Hamid Karzai.

In a closed-door meeting, Karzai responded to the coalition’s insistence on a crackdown by threatening to join the Taliban. While his public relations machine has tried to spin his way out of this, there is reason to believe his words are sincere.

If Karzai was being truthful, the US has a huge problem with Karzai. President Karzai showed that he has no regard for the amount of US effort expended in his country, something the US is fully aware of. 98 servicemen have given their lives and the budget now totals $65 billion this year. Given such an investment, the US has at least some leverage for a more open government.

In the end, the Afghan president will either push for a more transparent government or continue along the path towards tyranny and dictatorship. If Karzai chooses the latter the United States should back away from the Afghan government as fast as possible by moving the withdrawal date forward.

America has fought one Vietnam War, and propped up one “corrupt democracy”; we cannot fight another. Sadly, this is where we will be if Karzai keeps the status quo.

Gregory Poole is an alumnus in metallurgical engineering