Half-Shuffled Afghan Cabinet Keeps Men Known to U.S.

Half-Shuffled Afghan Cabinet Keeps Men Known to U.S.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, under pressure from the U.S. to reduce official corruption, formed a new cabinet, keeping key ministers favored by Western governments and appointing two former anti-Soviet guerrilla commanders whom Afghan policy experts describe as corrupt.Karzai submitted names of his cabinet nominees to the lower house of parliament today, more than a month after being sworn in for a second term following an election in August marred by allegations of fraud. The cabinet will be scrutinized as an early test of Karzai’s commitment to attack official corruption, as President Barack Obama has demanded that he do.While officials gave slightly different lists of the new cabinet, both versions showed Karzai avoiding sweeping changes. He retained the finance, defense and interior ministers and has not yet selected a foreign minister, according to a list given to reporters by officials of the lower house of parliament.