Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004

Hamid Karzai

Amid ethnic tensions, threats of violence and vocal naysayers, Hamid Karzai became Afghanistan's first democratically elected President. Now he has to deliver on his promises to root out heroin production and gain control over a country still primarily ruled by warlords — and the reconstituted Taliban. Karzai is proud of the new paved road from Kabul to Kandahar, but he has a long road ahead before he can claim victory.