The decline in relations began with a visit last year by Joe Biden, now the vice-president, to Kabul.
Joe Biden's meeting with President Karzai reportedly did not go well
At the time, as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, he attended a private meeting with Mr Karzai.
A well-placed source describes Mr Biden, exasperated at not getting "straight answers" on drugs and corruption, launching into a verbal tirade and storming out of the meeting.
In a country where honour and decorum are second only to God and country, this was less than tactful.
In retrospect, knowing this makes Bill Richardson, despite his ongoing investigation (hey, it's New Mexico) look a little better as VP or Secretary of State. Or at least an envoy. I mean, here's a guy who can go on a weapons negotiation and hang out with Kim Jong Il or Saddam for a couple of weeks and talk about nothing but Pamela Anderson before even mentioning weapons.
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