Karzai survived an assassination attempt in the southern city of Kandahar in September when a gunman opened fire on his car.
That attack, one of a number on his life, was foiled by his United States military bodyguards.
But now the special forces men who saved Karzai's life have been quietly replaced by security guards from one of America's most controversial private military corporations, DynCorp.
On Friday the State Department confirmed the use of a private security detail managed by officers of its Diplomatic Security Service.
DynCorp Flashback!