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On the evidence of what he saw and heard in Afghanistan, Correspondent DeVoss concludes that the prospects for the new regime are dim at best: "If Amin's government is to survive, it must seek an accommodation with at least a few of the rebel groups. Though Kabul itself remains impervious to direct military assault, the Khalq civil government remains tissue thin. If the Khalq regime does soon come to an end, its demise will probably be attributed to the instinctive viciousness and insularity of its leaders. Another major cause will be the sheer incompetence of the Khalqs. After nearly 18 months of brutal fighting, Afghanistan is still waiting for a genuine political leader. Few people in Kabul express any confidence in the new President's ability to restore peace to their embattled country. Says one state trading company executive: "Amin's much worse than Taraki. If he is not killed within two months, I'm afraid we'll see fighting for another ten years." Other Kabul residents are less outspoken, but many assess Amin's future in the words of an old Afghan folk expression, "Barre Duroz Shah ": king for two days.
