Don't forget America's OTHER disaster--"many years and billions of dollars to stabilize Afghanistan"

[TexasLawyer]

US Spy Chief Warns of Long Commitment in Afghanistan
By Gary Thomas
Washington
15 November 2006

The head of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency says it will take many years and billions of dollars to stabilize Afghanistan. And another official, the top U.S. military intelligence officer, adds that while the Taleban has sustained losses, it is still able to mount operations against Afghan and coalition forces.


CIA Director Michael Hayden gestures
while testifying on Capitol Hill,
Nov. 15, 2006

In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, CIA chief General Michael Hayden said Afghanistan will need sustained international help over an extended period to put the Kabul government on a solid footing to provide for its people.

"If you ask my view, it will take at least a decade and it will cost billions of dollars,” he said. “And I'll add one more time that the Afghan government will not be able to do it alone. The capacity of the government needs to be strengthened to deliver basic services to the population. And, of course, that begins with security."

General Hayden says the Taleban, along with its allies of al-Qaida, has been regrouping. He says good governance by the Kabul government is key to halting the Taleban's resurgence. "The Taleban has clearly built momentum over this past year,” he added. “The level of violence that they have inflicted has increased significantly. The group has clearly become more aggressive. The Taleban almost certainly refocused its attacks in an attempt to stymie NATO efforts in southern Afghanistan."

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http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-11-15-voa78.cfm

[babylonsister]

1. Geeze. Thanks for the reminder. nt

[WinkyDink]

2. Somewhere, Putin is laughing......

[independentpiney]

3. No one can stabilize Afghanistan but the Afghanis

in their own inimitable way.