Foreign policy

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/world/asia/gulf-widens-between-us-and-an-increasingly-hostile-karzai.html?scp=38&sq=us%20foreign%20policy&st=cse
Summary

In response to the recent burning of the Koran by an American unit at Bolgrom Airbase and the murder of seventeen Afghan civilians, President Karzai of Afghanistan has released statements condemning U.S as a “demon” and its acts “satanic”. However, many view that Karzai’s condemnations are primarily aimed to gain support from Afghanis rather than admonish U.S. While the recent events have strained U.S.-Afghanistan’s positive relationships, the U.S doesn’t believe that they will destroy their relationships as President Karzai relies upon American aid to sustain his power as well as Afghan stability.


Connection
U.S employs multiple ways of implementing foreign policy - economically, military, diplomacy. In the case of Afghanistan, all three are implemented, with U.S military and economic aid and diplomatic dialogues. Nevertheless, discontent with American presence in Afghanistan is palpable, as President Karzai demonstrates through his increasingly more bold tirades.

Reflection
American military presence in the Middle East inciting discontent is old news. With an already short-tempered population, any U.S missteps can cause uproars resulting in violence and more deaths. Thus, President Karzai's condemnation of U.S is unsurprising, perhaps even mild, compared to the reaction of the public toward the slaughter of their fellow countrymen. However, U.S should not be discouraged by the public reaction and withdraw troops abruptly, as without U.S protection, Karzai will most likely loose power to other contenders, such as the Taliban.