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Pelosi: Afghan president has proven to be a corrupt, unreliable partner

Pelosi Afghan president

"The president of Afghanistan has proven to be an unworthy partner," US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in an NPR interview on Friday, referring to the newly re-elected Hamid Karzai. "We cannot fund a mission where … whatever civilian investments we want to make - which are so necessary - will be diverted for a corrupt purpose," she said, suggesting that the US may have to review its strategy. "How can we ask the American people to pay a big price in lives and limbs, and also in dollars, if we don't have a connection to a reliable partner?" Asked whether US President Barack Obama would decide to expand the country's military presence in Afghanistan, Pelosi replied that in a "reflection of their constituents," the Democrats in Congress were not likely to offer strong support "for any big ramp up of troops."