And though Mr Karzai needs the Americans, anti-Americanism in Afghanistan feels as if it is at an all-time high, after a botched air raid killed nine boys gatheringfirewood.
Even when the fighting stopped, simply going to school or gatheringfirewood for cooking was a potentially life-threatening activity in many areas: landmines and unexploded bombs caused over 340 casualties in the first six months after the fighting ended, and all in an area half the size of Wales.