Karzai takes medication to treat his manic depression: Watergate investigator Woodward

KABUL - Former Watergate investigator and noted journalist Bob Woodward has said in his latest book that Afghan President Hamid Karzai takes medication for his manic depression.

The book-”Obama’s Wars”-cites American intelligence reports as saying that Karzai has been diagnosed as a manic depressive.

“He’s on his meds, he’s off his meds,” Karl Eikenberry, US ambassador to Kabul, is quoted as saying in the book.

Karzai’s mercurial moods have often exasperated his international backers.

According to the Washington Post, Gen. Eikenberry expressed deep concern about Karzai’s erratic behaviour last year, according to leaked diplomatic cables and memos.

Karzai’s palace and the US embassy in Kabul had no immediate comment on the allegations.

The book also reveals President Obama’s personal disagreements with key officials over his Afghan policy.

According to the book, Obama told aides: “This needs to be a plan about how we’re going to hand it off and get out of Afghanistan.”

He told his defence secretary, Robert Gates, “I’m not doing 10 years. I’m not doing long-term nation-building. I am not spending a trillion dollars.” (ANI)