The Epic of Gilgamesh and a recent article “U.S. Debates Karzai’s Place in Fighting Corruption”, taken from the New York Times, have many parallels with each other.
First of all, the main character of the Epic, Gilgamesh, is a king of Uruk whom the Gods made very strong and powerful, whom they “granted … the totality of knowledge of all” (Damrosch, p. 59). Even though it is provided by the Gods, Gilgamesh misuses his power and oppresses his own people: “[he] does not leave a son to his father, … [he] does not leave a girl to her betrothed” (Damrosch, p. 60). So, exploited and anxious, people seek help from the Gods. Similarly in the article, the Afghan government, originally empowered by “the billions of dollars in [the US] government money that flows into Afghanistan each year”, “abuses ordinary Afghans”, and due to its wrongdoings “fuels anger among Afghans and drives many into the ranks of the insurgency” (Mazzetti, Nordland, 2010).
Despite of all misdeeds however, the Gods don’t want to simply eliminate Gilgamesh all together. On the contrary, they still prefer him to remain in power. Therefore, to restrain Gilgamesh the Gods send Enkidu who is “equal to Gilgamesh’s stormy heart”; thus, they can “be a match for each other so that Uruk may find peace” (Damrosch, p.61). In the same way, the US need “to maintain ties with the Afghan government” (Mazzetti, Nordland, 2010); hence, Karzai is assisted to become a president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, so he can follow the advises of “the Gods” (meaning the US) and “root the corruption in its own government”.
Even though both “Gilgamesh-Enkidu” and “Afghan Government-Karzai” relations are destined to be those of foes, the parts still manage to become friends at the end, joining their enormous powers to fight other enemies, such as Humbaba and the Taliban.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/world/asia/15corruption.html?scp=1&sq=us%20debates%20afghan&st=cse
