Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US warns it needs credible Afghan partner
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
US warns it needs credible Afghan partner
AFP - Monday, October 19
Send
IM Story
Print
US Senator John Kerry (left) talking with US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry at the US Embassy in Kabul on October 17. Kerry says it is "irresponsible" to send more US troops to Afghanistan at this time, amid a deepening election crisis that has placed the Kabul government's legitimacy at stake.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Top US officials Sunday delivered a sharp warning to Afghan leaders to resolve the election crisis, saying it would be irresponsible to send in more US troops unless a strong government is in place.
"I think it would be irresponsible and ... it would be reckless to make a decision on US troop level if, in fact, you haven't done a thorough analysis of whether in fact there's an Afghan partner ready to fill that space," top White House advisor, chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel told CNN television.
Two months after Afghanistan's August 20 presidential elections, the count has been bogged down by allegations of widespread fraud and ballot-box stuffing mostly in favor of President Hamid Karzai.
Karzai, a key US ally who has led his country since December 2001, is said by preliminary results to have won about 55 percent of the vote.
But amid the fraud accusations, he has come under mounting pressure to accept a run-off against his rival ex-foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, reported to have garnered about 28 percent of the vote.
The electoral stalemate is complicating a major US policy review ordered by US President Barack Obama on the way forward in Afghanistan, with the number of US troops already set to reach 68,000 by the end of the year. Related article: Obama's tensions with generals.
"It would be entirely irresponsible for the president of the United States to commit more troops to this country, when we don't even have an election finished and know who the president is and what kind of government we're working with," said powerful US Senator John Kerry.
Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and close Obama ally, was speaking during a fact-finding visit to Kabul and led some of the bluntest US criticism to date of Karzai.
The White House is mulling a request by top US and NATO commander on the ground, General Stanley McChrystal, to commit an extra 40,000 troops to Afghanistan to step up counter-insurgency operations.
But Kerry told CNN Sunday that he was "not yet convinced" on the need to send in more troops to the increasingly unpopular and bloody conflict, which has claimed the lives of more than 400 coalition troops this year.
"We have a responsibility to make certain that the government here is a full partner in our efforts to be able to be as effective as we can be," Kerry said.
"So before the president makes a decision about the numbers of troops that ought to come here, I believe it is critical for us to be satisfied that the reform efforts that are absolutely mandatory within the government here are in fact going to take place and be fully implemented."
The Islamic hardline Taliban, ousted from power in late 2001 by a US-led invasion, has led an increasing insurgency against more than 100,000 foreign troops under US and NATO command.
Kerry warned there was already a "threat of the failure of governance, which is empowering Taliban to be able to recruit people."
He said he had been told by Afghan authorities that an election run-off could be organized in two weeks. Obama has meanwhile promised that his review will be complete in the coming weeks.
The White House is also focusing efforts on rooting out Al-Qaeda linked militants, most said to be sheltering in the lawless border region of Pakistan.
"We would love the luxury of this debate to be reduced down to just one question, additional troops, 40,000. This is a much more complex decision," chief of staff Emanuel insisted on CNN.
"Before you commit troops, which is not irreversible, but puts you down a certain path, before you make that decision, there's a set of questions that have to have answers that have never been asked," Emanuel argued.
"And it's clear that after eight years of war, that's basically starting from the beginning. And those questions never got asked."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Ukraine opens election campaign, Orange dream faded Reuters - Monday, October 19
Revolutionary Guard commanders killed in Iran bomb AP - Monday, October 19
Merkel talks tax to break coalition deadlock Reuters - Monday, October 19
Iceland 'reaches Icesave deal' with Britain, Dutch AFP - Monday, October 19
Suicide bomber kills 35 in attack on Iran Guards Reuters - 2 hours 47 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Britain planning tax raid on banks: report
Stoner downs Rossi to win Australian MotoGP
Iceland 'reaches Icesave deal' with Britain, Dutch
Hurricane Rick gains monster Category 5 status: forecasters
ThyssenKrupp to slash up to 20,000 more jobs: report
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Huge crowds at Dublin funeral of Boyzone star
Bank of America reports 1.0-billion-dollar loss
Hurricane Rick gains monster Category 5 status: forecasters
Police convinced 'balloon boy' family telling truth
Huge dinosaur find in China 'may include new species'
More Most Viewed »
Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins
Boyzone singer Gately dies in Spain
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 19 October 2009 Guards generals among nearly 50 killed in Iran attack
Britain planning tax raid on banks: report
Microsoft hopeful technology will spur growth
Earnings leap at Saudi Sabic
Bomb kills 5 near Baghdad cafe, say police
Suicide bomber kills 35 in attack on Iran Guards
Around 270,000 victims of human trafficking in EU: UN
Leaving Iraq ends US mission veiled in ambivalence
Stoner downs Rossi to win Australian MotoGP
Eight dead, 29 wounded in Baghdad bombings: police
| International
|
Wounded US troops return to Iraq to find closure
Intense diplomacy to rescue Afghan vote
Egypt warns Hamas it won't wait over unity deal
Two kidnapped Darfur aid workers freed: official
| International
|
Doctor in France accused of being Rwanda war criminal
| International
|
Iran bombing kills 5 Revolutionary Guard leaders
Taliban vow to defeat army in Pakistan offensive
'Dangerous' Hurricane Rick heads for Mexico coast
Florida Woman Dies After Being Thrown From Golf Cart
Update: Larimer County Sheriff's Department: 'Balloon Boy' Story Was A Hoax
Rising seas threaten Shanghai, other major cities
Veterans find healing on the water
SKorea considers resuming limited aid to NKorea
White House casts doubt on Afghan reliability
US plane with Marines forced to land in India
US warns it needs credible Afghan partner
India offers £61 million to help Sri Lanka refugees
Casinos in Ohio? Promise of jobs may tempt voters
Obama looking at all options for creating jobs
NY House race seen as test for GOP, Obama
White House official says Afghan government is key
Kerry: Targeted attacks in Afghanistan not enough
Picking a fight: Obama vs Fox News
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Def Leppard cancels third leg of tour
'Wild Things' delivers $32.5M box-office rumpus
Depp, Richards light up Spike TV's 'Scream 2009'
Where the Wild Things Are tops weekend box office
| Entertainment
|
Uighur leader slams Book Fair for honoring China
| Entertainment
|
US warns it needs credible Afghan partner
British economy in for painful recovery: report
Google goes global with Apps, has 2 million customers
Iran promises crushing response as attack toll rise
| International
|
'Darwinian medicine' in focus at World Health Summit
Pakistani forces pound Taliban in S. Waziristan
| International
|
Israel may have planted spy gear in Lebanon: U.N.
| International
|
German coalition deal by next weekend: Merkel party
Japanese car makers out to electrify Tokyo show
Afghan election ruling due on Monday
| International
|
Motorcycle bomb wounds 28 in troubled Thai south
| International
|
Egypt warns Hamas it won't wait over unity deal
Philippine emergency teams prepare as typhoon nears
| International
|
Eight dead, 29 wounded in Baghdad bombings
Botswana's President Khama wins new term
| International
|
Buying cheap goods may support human trafficking
| International
|
SKorea's top diplomat urges NKorea to disarm
AP Newsbreak: New medical marijuana policy issued
Google goes global with Apps, has 2 million customers
| Technology
|
Rising seas threaten Shanghai, other major cities
Catholic Diocese of Wilmington files bankruptcy
Taliban vow to defeat army in Pakistan offensive
Ex-Wis. Rep. Johnson, longtime TV journalist, dies
Fake security software in millions of computers: Symantec
| Technology
|
Start planning for Pacific warming refugees: scientist
Taiwan urged China not to boycott southern city: report
49-year-old female chimp dies at Toledo Zoo
Farrakhan: Don't be 'pacified' by Obama election
Foodies mourn loss of Gourmet magazine
Appeals, prayers for Irish priest abducted in Philippines
Elvis' hair sells for $15K at Chicago auction
Balloon dad never shy about his bizarre stunts
Sheriff: Boy-in-balloon was hoax, charges expected
Sotomayor says nomination tightly scripted
Korea c.bank chief urges asset price vigilance
Seoul shares fall; Lotte down on China Times deal
S.Korean bonds rebound, foreign investors eyed
Seoul shares fall; Jinro below IPO pricing
NZ services sector expands for third month in row
People smuggler among asylum seekers: Australia
Bill Cosby and hip-hop artists unite for "Emergency"
Elvis' hair sells for $15K at Chicago auction
Bill Cosby and hip-hop artists unite for Emergency
| Entertainment
|
Elvis hair sells for 18,300 dollars at auction
Robbie Williams comeback beaten in British charts
Talks ongoing to revive canceled Southland
| Entertainment
|
Barbra Streisand auctions items for charity
"Where the Wild Things Are" tops weekend box office
Italian writer wins prestigious German literary prize
'Peace cotton' smooths its way into Benin
'Wild Things' tames weekend box office
Uighur leader slams Book Fair for honoring China
Iran starts uranium talks with powers after warning
Democracy in Russia a 'mockery': Gorbachev
US balloon drama 'was a hoax': police
World 'catastrophe' if no climate deal: British PM
EU should drop milk deregulation: France
Darfur kidnapped aid workers to return home
Iran starts uranium talks with powers after warning
| International
|
Iran: US, Britain, Pakistan linked to militants
Elvis hair sells for $18,300 at auction
British PM to warn world economies of climate 'catastrophe'
Iran promises "crushing" response as attack toll rises
U.N. prosecutors file shorter Karadzic indictment
| International
|
Report on Afghan election fraud released Monday: official
Afghan election report out Monday: official
Thousands of poor Iraqis queue for oil jobs
Somalia's Shabaab rebels say shot down U.S. drone
| International
|
Iran will up uranium enrichment 'if Vienna talks fail'
Darfur kidnap victims endured mock assassinations
| International
|
Iran says will not halt enrichment even if gets fuel
Drug feud shooting kills 8 in Puerto Rico
| International
|
Did Rajaratnam's money find way to Tamil Tigers?
| International
|
The nation's weather
Hurricane Rick weakens to Category 3 storm: forecasters
American soldier dies in vehicle accident in Iraq
SKorea's top diplomat urges NKorea to disarm
Pakistan steps up border offensive
Indonesia arrests captain of asylum seeker ship
Adviser: Obama waits on finished health care bill
Apple's on a roll, but iPhone sales pivotal
| Technology
|
Pakistan targets Taliban leadership
Analysis: Washington's overplayed hand on Russia
Cambodian couple arrested for torturing young girl
Balloon boy case a hoax; charges coming, Sheriff says
Spotify to launch mobile offering with 3, HTC
| Technology
|
Philippines on high alert ahead of Typhoon Lupit
Tajikistan police kill 4 militants in gun battle
Federal judge shutters Idaho grazing allotment
Pakistani forces pound Taliban in South Waziristan
Kerry holds talks in Islamabad over aid row
China starts manhunt after jailbreak: state media
Philippines warns of tough times as deficit soars
JAL shares surge on government rescue report
Pakistani stocks fall sharply amid seccrity worries
Pakistani stocks fall sharply on security worries
SKorean education spending hampers economy: bank
Sri Lanka shares tumble after US fraud charges
Seoul shares turn up; weaker won helps exporters
China's Nasdaq-style board late Oct trade: report
Business group: SKorea-EU trade deal could push US
Taiwan sells 273-day T-bills at 0.243 pct yield
'Balloon boy' reminder that TV is full of shams
Frankfurt Book Fair suffers drop in attendance
New Trends In U.S. Holiday Shopping
South Carolina Supreme Court To Hear Gov. Sanford's Ethics Case
Father of Smith's daughter set to finish testimony
Police Searching For Person Responsible In Fatal UConn Football Player Stabbing
Elvis' hair leaves the building -- sold for $18,300
| Entertainment
|
Beyonce postpones Malaysia gig amid Islamist ire
| Entertainment
|
Three Runners Die In Annual Detroit Marathon
Overseas box office still looking "Up"
Evergreen State Congressman Hospitalized For Collapsed Lung
Ageing French hunters target young blood
Faced With Sexual Abuse Cases, Catholic Diocese Of Wilmington, DE Files For Bankruptcy
China experts to search abroad for looted relics
Screen Actors Guild makes White permanent director
Small Chinese character reform triggers big controversy
Overseas box office still looking Up
| Entertainment
|
Polanski undergoing medical treatment: lawyer
| Entertainment
|
Talks ongoing to revive canceled "Southland"
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights