[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/09/art.amanpour.writer.jpg caption="Sr. Writer Tom Evans"]
On the day of President Hamid Karzai’s inauguration, AMANPOUR speaks EXCLUSIVELY with Afghan Interior Minister Hanif Atmar and a presidential candidate in the recent election, Dr. Ashraf Ghani, also a former finance minister and World Bank official, about efforts to curb corruption in government. Is it possible to govern Afghanistan now? Afghanistan tops our review of other stories making news this morning. Please take a look.
– Tom Evans; Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.
AFGHANISTAN – Is there an exit strategy for international forces from Afghanistan?
– Afghan president Karzai, in inauguration, says he wants foreign troops to play only a supporting role in five years
– Is Karzai announcement a coincidence or is it timed to help President Obama who’s soon expected to announce a troop increase in Afghanistan?
– U.K. prime minister Brown this week said he hopes upcoming U.N. conference will agree to plan to allow Afghan government to begin taking control of districts from 2010
– Serious doubts about ability of Afghan military and police forces to take lead in security, even within five years
QUESTION: Is Karzai’s announcement designed to target his backers overseas, or is he just playing politics in his inauguration speech?
NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION – Is Obama’s efforts to stop Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs failing?
– U.S. president says world powers could have list of sanctions ready “within weeks”, one day after Iran apparently rejected U.N. deal to ship low level enriched uranium out of country
– Obama tells Pyongyang America stands ready to help North Korean economy if it stops making threats and moves towards nuclear disarmament
– President says U.S. will send envoy to Pyongyang on December 8 to push North Korea to return to six country talks
– Obama says time for endless, inconclusive talks on N. Korean nuke program is over
QUESTION: Are both Iran and North Korea simply playing for time as they push forward with their nuclear programs?
EUROPE – a global power in the making or a new and much bigger Switzerland?
– European Union leaders split on who should be first full-time president of the 27-nation group
– EU leaders today want to name new president at summit in Belgium
– Belgian prime minister, a man with a very low profile, is current favorite for position, ahead of high profile candidates such as former British prime minister Tony Blair
– Debate over new president a reflection to some of whether EU is destined to be a major world power with an authoritative leader who has international clout, or a squabbling family of small to medium countries that are rich and happy – but have little international influence
QUESTION: Has the drive towards closer European integration finally come to an end after nearly six decades of expansion and closer unity?