Senate Retreatican leader Frist scared off by Taliban in Afghan hospital

[ProSense]

Behind the NATO facade, the Taliban leave their mark

by Selim Saheb Ettaba Wed Oct 4, 3:58 AM ET

QALAT, Afghanistan (AFP) - A cruel surprise awaited the two US senators in Qalat: the US army had cancelled their visit to a hospital because injured Taliban fighters were there.

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"If people know that the majority leader of the United States Senate was dropping in and that there were people there who had been fighting it would not necessarily be safe for my delegation," added Frist, a potential presidential candidate.

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Scharenbrock, a medical officer for Zabul's Provincial Reconstruction Team, explained: "At that hospital today there happened to be a Taliban commander" along with one or more of his wounded men.

Armed Taliban fighters had burst into the hospital, according to a US source in Qalat, explaining why, in a rare incident, the fighters were treated at the hospital.

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The hospital, built by the United Arab Emirates at a cost of 6.5 million dollars, has 19 surgeons and functions largely due to American subsidies.

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Despite the millions of dollars invested in this province of 250,000 to 365,000 inhabitants -- including 128.9 million in American aid -- the Taliban manage to exploit the achievements of the international community, as seen at the hospital.

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