Karzai promises Afghan reforms again

Afghan leaders have responded to international criticism of corruption in the government with a series of measures that include a new anti-corruption unit.

Transparency International has rated Afghanistan and Iraq, which received billions of dollars in American aid as well as military support, among the world's most corrupt nations. Afghanistan placed 179th out of 180 countries. Only lawless Somalia was worse. Iraq was 176 on the list.

The group cited the sale of public posts and daily bribery for basic services as examples of corruption in Afghanistan.

The Obama administration has also become more pointed in its criticism of Afghan corruption, which was at issue in the recent presidential election that returned President Hamid Karzai to office for a second five-year term.

News of the new measures comes days before he is sworn into office. However, expectations for the latest measures are tempered by the failure of two previous anti-corruption units promising reforms.

More than $39 billion in humanitarian and reconstruction aid has been allocated to Afghanistan since 2001 with another $1.49 billion a year from European countries.

Continuing corruption and misappropriation of funds weakens support for aid to the Afghan government, which has to be held accountable for the funds.