US officials say there aren’t enough Afghans to take control of key Taliban stronghold
By Anne Flaherty, APThursday, May 6, 2010
US says too few Afghans to take control in Marjah
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials tell a Senate panel that there aren’t nearly enough trained Afghans to take control of key Taliban strongholds like Marjah after the military has pushed out the enemy.
The lack of competent local officials in southern Afghanistan could frustrate Washington’s aims in the region, and keep the U.S. on the hook — financially and militarily — for several years to come.
President Barack Obama has pledged that American forces will begin their exit next year.
A deputy assistant defense scretary, David Sedney (SAID-ney), told a Senate panel on Thursday that the number of civilians willing and capable of going into Taliban strongholds like Marjah doesn’t at all match demand.
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