Iran a kinder, gentler nation? Afghanistan’s head thinks so

President Hamid Karzai’s cavA- lier attitude toward the Islamic Republic of Iran reflects either a naivety that is troubling, or a level of corruption that is even more troubling. Regardless of explanation for Karzai’s no-big-deal response to the New York Times’ revelation that he receives millions of dollars in cash from Iran, the Obama administration certainly has something to worry about.

Karzai is the man President Barack Obama has embraced to lead war-torn Afghanistan into the sunlight of Democratic freedom. This, despite the fact that the Afghan leader was re-elected last year amid allegations of widespread voter fraud and that his hold on the reins of power is tenuous at best.

But, as most observers of the U.S. war on terrorism in Afghanistan have said repeatedly, there are few other good options.

Nonetheless, the White House cannot let Karzai get away with comparing the money he receives from Iran, one of the leading sponsors of global terrorism, and money from the United States, which has paid a steep price in the lives of our men and women in the military and the hundreds of billions of dollars from a national treasury that’s under intense pressure.

As a growing number of Americans question the purpose of the NATO-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and the goal of bringing democracy to a country that has a weak central government, Karzai’s comparing America to Iran is insulting and foolish.

If he think that Iran is simply handing over millions of dollars out of the goodness of the ayatollahs’ hearts, he’s living in fantasy land. Iran’s goal is to spread its brand of Islamic theocratic governance throughout the Middle East and farther.

By contrast, the United States wants to ensure that the war-weary people of Afghanistan are given the chance to live peaceful, productive lives under a government that respects the rights of everyone, most especially women. They were the victims of the former Taliban government, which, through Islamic laws, kept the country in the dark ages.

Women were second-class citizens — and that’s what they will become again if the U.S. and other countries fail to eliminate Taliban extremists who have been making a comeback in the country since they were chased out after the 2001 invasion launched by then President George W. Bush.

So, what is Iran up to?

“Iran has helped construction of Afghanistan and the preparation of its economic infrastructure and it will pursue it in the future too,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast. To be sure, Iran is going to be around for the future — because President Obama has publicly said the withdrawal of American troops will begin in July.

Proximity to Pakistan

The ayatollahs see great benefit in having a presence in Afghanistan, not only because people who are struggling to survive will welcome any financial help they can get, but because of the country’s proximity to Pakistan.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan, a Muslim country, has a secular government that has succeeded in keeping Islamic extremists at bay. But, it also is where Osama bin Laden and members of his al-Qaida terrorist organization fled to from neighboring Afghanistan.

Bin Laden is being protected by tribal warlords in the mountain region along the border.

It’s time for President Obama to have a serious talk with Hamid Karzai and disabuse him of the notion that Iran has the same moral standing as the United States.