Afghan President Karzai eyes active ‘retirement’

KABUL: When outgoing Afghan leader Hamid Karzai moves out of the presidential palace post-elections to take up residence next door, he will be relinquishing power but not influence, as he seeks an active public role in his "retirement" years.

Karzai is due to step down in the coming weeks after Saturday´s run-off election, paving the way for Afghanistan´s first democratic transfer of power. The elections are meant to signal a fresh start for Afghanistan after the 13-year rule of Karzai dominated by the US-led military intervention that followed the fall of the Taliban in 2001.Karzai´s relations with the US have collapsed, his regime is accused of massive corruption, and the country is still beset by the Taliban insurgency as NATO troops pull out and aid money declines.

But any prediction that the new president can turn the page decisively looks misplaced.

"The truth is that President Karzai built up such a vast patronage network that he has to stay influential to keep his people happy," said Bette Dam, a Dutch author who interviewed Karzai extensively for her forthcoming book on the president.

"He is looking for ways to continue (wielding) influence, and help his network of people to hold power. Many governors and government officials are in contact with him about how to achieve this."

Karzai, then aged only 44, became a global star when he was selected to lead Afghanistan after the ousting of the repressive 1996-2001 Taliban regime.

Charismatic, fluent in English, and dressed in a colourful cape and lambskin hat, Karzai wowed world leaders and convinced the United States that he was the perfect partner to tackle Islamist militancy after the 9/11 attacks.

’Tribal leader’
But such sentiments evaporated as the insurgency raged on for a decade, casualties mounted, billions of aid dollars were spent to limited effect, and Karzai launched increasingly bitter criticism of the US intervention.

Now, after serving the maximum two terms, he seems ready to take on a role somewhere between chief powerbroker and father of the nation.

"The US and others always thought Karzai was ´one of us´, and it is true that rather than a warlord, he is an English-speaking diplomat and a politician who can easily connect with the West," said Dam, an expert on the Pashtun tribal structures behind Karzai´s influence.

"But the way I got to know Karzai, he is more like a tribal leader with a lot of power deals to keep well maintained. He understands Westerners, but I wonder whether the West understands him and his tribal politics."

Karzai largely kept his vow to stay out of the ongoing election -- in public at least -- and it may be some time before his "retirement" plans become clear.

Much will depend on his successor -- either former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah or ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani, both of whom have worked under him but now have prickly relations with their former boss.

"We think he might want to be a ´emeritus professor´ type of figure," one senior US military figure who declined to be named told.

"We accept he is going to still be around, but we already moved on some time ago to looking at the new president."

Frankly, it will be a relief he is no longer in the palace.

After a series of bitter verbal spats with Washington, Karzai refused to sign an agreed text allowing a small force of US soldiers to stay in Afghanistan after 2014 to help with military training and counter-terrorism.

Olympic great Michael Phelps ending retirement

WASHINGTON: Michael Phelps is coming out of retirement, the first step toward possibly swimming at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The 22-time Olympic medalist will compete for the first time since the 2012 London Games at a meet in Mesa, Ariz., on April 24-26.

Bob Bowman, the swimmer´s longtime coach, told The Associated Press on Monday that Phelps has entered in three events — the 50- and 100-meter freestyles and the 100 meter butterfly. "I think he´s just going to test the waters a little bit and see how it goes," Bowman said by phone from Baltimore. "I wouldn´t say it´s a full-fledged comeback."

Phelps returned to training last fall and re-entered the U.S. drug-testing program. He has completed his six-month waiting period by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to be eligible for competition.

Bowman said Phelps is "pretty far" from being back in top form. He´s been training Monday through Friday with Bowman´s team at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. "He´s gotten back into good shape since September," the coach said. "He can give a good effort and certainly not be embarrassed. He´s in enough shape to swim competitively."

Besides Phelps, USA Swimming said Olympians Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky are among those expected to swim in the Arena Grand Prix at Skyline Aquatic Center.

Phelps turns 29 in June and is the most decorated athlete in Olympic history. He captured 18 gold medals and 22 medals overall at the last three Summer Games.

He broke Mark Spitz´s record for a single Olympics by winning eight gold medals at Beijing in 2008. Phelps had vowed that he wouldn´t swim into his 30s. Since retiring less than two years ago, he has stayed busy with a chain of swim schools, a foundation focused on water safety and appearances on behalf of his sponsors. He devoted lots of time to golf and participated in a reality show with famed coach Hank Haney. His camp is being low-key about the comeback. "I think he´s just really enjoying it," Bowman said. "He enjoys the training and being physically fit. He just kind of wants to see where he´s at. It´s more really for fun. It´s been nice for me to see him swim just for the joy of it really."

In Mesa, Phelps will swim 100 free and 100 fly preliminaries on the first day. Then, if he qualifies, he´ll decide which race to swim for the evening finals, Bowman said. He´ll swim the 50 free on the second day and might swim the 50 fly "just for fun," the coach added.

Phelps will stick to the shorter races and some relays rather than the grueling individual medleys he swam during the height of his career. "He´s really doing this because he wants to — there´s no outside pressure at all," Bowman said.

Olympian Jessica Hardy, who will compete in Mesa, said many swimmers were surprised by news of Phelps´ comeback. "He kept it pretty much under wraps," she told the AP. "Even if he´s not at peak performance, it´s great for the sport and each athlete particularly to keep learning from him. I don´t think anyone wants to put pressure on him. He´s accomplished everything you pretty much can. It´s just great to see what else you can do."

Phelps has already entered the remaining Grand Prix meets in Charlotte, North Carolina, in May and Santa Clara, California, in June, although Bowman said no decision has been made on whether he will compete.

Depending on his early results, Phelps could compete in the U.S. National Championships in August in Irvine, California, where teams will be selected for the 2015 world championships. "I wouldn´t say it´s 100 percent on the radar," Bowman said. "After Mesa, we´re going to sit down and talk about it." (AP)