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US envoy warns Obama against sending more troops to Afghanistan
Agence France Presse - November 12, 2009
The US envoy to Afghanistan has written memos to Washington expressing deep concern over possible deployment of thousands of new troops to the country.
Ambassador Karl Eikenberry's classified cables reportedly detail his strong reservations against sending reinforcements until Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government shows it can tackle insipid corruption that has spurred the Taliban's resurgence, The Washington Post and New York Times report.
Mr Eikenberry's cables also expressed worries over Mr Karzai's erratic behaviour, according to US officials familiar with the memos, the Post said.
The correspondence was sent ahead of US President Barack Obama's critical war cabinet meeting at the White House today on what course to pursue against the bloody insurgency in the country.
Mr Eikenberry joined the policy meeting by video link from Kabul, said the Times, adding that Mr Obama discussed his concerns with him, according to officials who requested anonymity.
The envoy also voiced concern that sending tens of thousands of additional troops to the war-wracked country would boost Afghanistan's reliance on US security forces as the Obama administration calls on Kabul to take over more responsibility in the conflict.
Mr Eikenberry's views are in stark contrast to top US and NATO commander General Stanley McChrystal, who warned that without tens of thousands more US troops in the next 12 months, the Afghan mission "will likely result in failure".
Four options were on the table at high-stakes talks in the White House situation room, which also involved General McChrystal and Defence Secretary Robert Gates, after which officials reported the president had not yet made a decision.
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