U.S.: Afghan Army Effort Will Take Years (at least 4 more years)

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - It will take four more years to train a new Afghan army and perhaps a decade to deal with the country's worsening problem, Bush administration officials estimated Wednesday as lawmakers criticized other nations for not helping more with peacekeeping and reconstruction work there.


Despite progress since the 2001 war that routed al-Qaida from Afghanistan (news - web sites), members of the House International Relations Committee told administration officials that they worried insufficient resources were being spent in the country and that warlords and their heavily armed militias would continue to undermine the central government and disrupt elections planned in September.


William B. Taylor, Department of State coordinator for Afghanistan, acknowledged the country has a long way to go, but asserted: "They can get there."


More than 2 1/2 years after the demise of Taliban rule, regional warlords battle constantly over turf and narcotics trafficking. The militias are supposed to make way for a new U.S.-trained Afghan National Army. But only 10,000 of its planned 70,000 men are expected to be in place by the September vote.

~snip~
more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=8&u=/ap/20040602/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_afghanistan

[daleo]

1. I think it took the Russians about 10 or 12 years

I suppose there is no reason to think the U.S. will get off more cheaply.

[Barrett808]

2. Oh, but Iraq will be on its feet by January?

Unbelievable.

[maddezmom]

3. Afghanistan is no better off , and they'll be saying the same about Iraq

a year from now.

[robertpaulsen]

4. Yeah, and Bush'll pull our troops out by 2006.

Just re-elect 'em & trust 'em. Unfreakinbelievable.