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The Arab world showed itself sharply divided over foreign military intervention in Afghanistan with a
narrow majority believing its corrupt government is not worth fighting for.

In one of the closest Doha Debates, now in their sixth series, the audience voted 51% to 49% in favour
of the motion: “This House believes this Afghan Government is not worth fighting for.”

Backers of the motion suggested last August’s fraudulent Presidential election results combined with
what is perceived to be a deeply corrupt government rendered Kabul unworthy of international military
support.

Speaking for the motion Peter Galbraith, former Deputy UN Envoy to Afghanistan, said that a
government as corrupt as that of Hamid Karzai “does not merit support.”

Fired from his post after accusing the head of the UN mission of concealing election fraud last summer,
Mr Galbraith said that for the US-led counter-insurgency campaign to work “they need a credible
partner”.