chenmo31
12 posts
Nov 27, 2011
10:49 PM  |
US President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai shake hands at the conclusion of their joint news conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington May 12, 2010. New York Jets 6 Jersey Authentic. [Agencies] Drama? What drama? Thats the message coming out of a meeting Wednesday morning between President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The relationship between the leaders has been rocky at best amid continued tensions over the US role in Afghanistan; and the Obama administration has lately been pressing Karzai to do more to redress widespread government corruption in his country. Related readings: Obama reaffirms commitment to Afghanistans stability Obama looking for right balance with Karzai Afghan, NATO forces regain district form Taliban Karzai visit yields major pacts But at a White House news conference Wednesday morning, Obama made a point of downplaying any lingering tensions. A lot of them were simply overstated, Obama insisted to reporters. But, he acknowledged, obviously there are going to be tensions in such a complicated and difficult environment. Karzai concurred: There are moments when we speak frankly to each other, and that frankness will only contribute to the strength of the relationship. In spite of the nice talk, its hard not to note the contrast between Karzais four-day visit to Washington and his previous meetings with Obama and his aides. This week Karzai is receiving the same diplomatic rollout he enjoyed during the Bush administration, when he was considered one of the countrys key allies: a one-on-one meeting with the president, a sit-down with the secretaries of state and defense, a joint news conference and a dinner with the president and vice president. Its all a far cry from Karzais first Obama-era visit to Washington, a year ago. Then the White House declined to schedule a joint news conference between Obama and the Afghan leader, and it limited the number of private meetings between Karzai and Obama officials. When Obama did briefly meet the press, he was joined by both Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. At the time, a senior White House official told reporters that the Obama administration was simply trying not to appear it was favoring any particular candidate in Afghanistans presidential elections. But the next several weeks saw a long round of anonymous sniping about Karzai sourced to Obama officials, so in retrospect the visit came off as a snub. And since then, the relationship has only worsened. In a surprise March visit to Kabul, Obama pressed Karzai on the issue of government corruption. A week later, Karzai reportedly threatened to join the Taliban — a statement he later denied making. Wednesdays news conference sought to erase all the awkward events of the past year. There was no talk of corruption, and only a rare mention of another topic that has US officials unnerved: Karzais relationship with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Iran is our neighbor, and a brother, and we want to have the best of relations with them, Karzai said in response to a question about his dealings with Iran. American officials, he said, were very clear and supportive and understanding of the Afghan position. Replicas Darren McFadden Jersey.S. national basketball team finalized its roster Tuesday for the world championships and theres no Rajon Rondo. Authentic New York Jets Jersey. The two-time defending NBA champion Lakers improved to 4-0 on the season with last nights 124-105 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, as Kobe Bryant led six players in double figures with 23 points. Authentic Mike Wallace Jersey. Broxton will miss the game with an injured big toe on his right foot. Hoffman, the all-time saves leader, will make his seventh All-Star appearance after filling the spot of Broxton, who felt discomfort in his right big toe on Saturday. San Francisco 49ers Patrick Willis Jersey. It was a great year for Chinas womens golf. Since we started cooperation with KLPGA last year, the number of pro golfers in China is increasing quickly and the performances of our players are encouraging, said Zhang Xiaoning, vice president of CGA. Huang Ping We will further the exchange next year, encouraging more Chinese to play in KLPGA and inviting more Koreans to come play in tournaments like the Orient China Ladies Open. Cardinals 11 Jersey. Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey each had a sacrifice fly for San Francisco, which was swept in a four-game series at home by Atlanta over the weekend. Matt Cain pitched to a no-decision after turning in a quality start. The right-hander gave up two runs on four hits, fanned six and walked one. Replica Troy Polamalu Jersey. Pharmacist Maree Barry poses for a photo with a packet of Tamiflu and masks outside the CityMed pharmacy in downtown Auckland, New Zealand, April 27, 2009. [Agencies] With the swine flu having already spread to at least six other countries, authorities around the globe are like firefighters battling a blaze without knowing how far it extends. Super Bowl Jordy Nelson Jersey. Cabrera hit .455 (10-for-22) with three doubles, a homer and eight runs batted in. The 22-year-old also posted a .727 slugging mark along with an on-base percentage of .481. It marks the first weekly honor of his career. Replica Ike Taylor Jersey. Three-times champion Federer returns to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in pursuit of his eighth consecutive ATP title, having crushed Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-4 6-3 in Saturdays Dubai Open final. BEIJING - Chinas government will earmark a total 200 billion yuan ($30 billion) to afforestation schemes to the end of 2021, the State Forestry Administration (SFA) announced Wednesday. Related readings: Firebreaks completed in N China forest borderline Combat with forest fire continues in NE China A single tree makes a forest China approves guidelines to enhance forest protection The central government spent 233.2 billion yuan on the 415 million mu (27.7 million hectares) of new forests planted from 1999 to 2009, said Wu Lijun, head of afforestation in the SFA, at a press confference in Beijing. Replicas Brian Urlacher Jersey Among the total, 139 million mu were farmland returned to woodlands, Wu said. Since the government started to subsidize farmers who return their farmland to woodland in 1999 to combat soil erosion in central and west China, more than 124 million farmers had been subsidized, he said. China had 195 million hectares of forests by the end of 2008, according to the most recent survey by the SFA. In China, forest refers to woods covering an area of more than 1 mu (0.06 hectares) with crown density -- the measure of skylight blocked by plant material -- at or above 20 percent, according to the SFA. ' ' ' |