2004-6-18
This is Steve Ember with In the News in VOA Special English.
President Bush this week announced more steps to help
Afghanistan. He met at the White House Tuesday with Afghan President
Hamid Karzai. At a news conference, they spoke of progress toward
democracy. Mister Bush said Afghanistan is no longer, in his words,
"a terrorist factory sending thousands of killers into the world."
He offered American training for Afghan politicians. Other steps
include more schools for Afghan children, as well as training and
aid for businesswomen. And Mister Bush said the two countries plan
to seek a trade agreement and expand an education exchange program.
Afghanistan was formerly ruled by the Taliban group which
provided refuge for al-Qaida. After al-Qaida attacked the United
States on September eleventh, two-thousand-one, American-led forces
ousted the Taliban.
Since then, international efforts have helped improve schools,
health care and roads. Afghanistan has a new constitution. Women
have more rights. And the country is preparing for elections in
September.
But officials are worried about violence in the provinces and
threats from the Taliban and allied Islamic groups. This week, Al
Jazeera television showed what it said were new images of al-Qaida
members training in Afghanistan. But the American commander there
and a terrorism expert said the tape was likely made somewhere else.
The Afghan government has limited control outside Kabul. Parts of
the country are still controlled by local leaders and militants.
President Karzai has promised to disarm the groups.
Late this week, local commanders took control of the capital of
Ghor province. Officials said ten men died in fighting. The governor
fled.
The United States has about twenty-thousand troops in
Afghanistan. They face almost daily attacks blamed on fighters loyal
to the Taliban and al-Qaida.
In Washington, members of Congress have expressed concern about
progress toward an Afghan National Army and police force. Opposition
Democrats have said the invasion of Iraq last year took away
resources from Afghanistan.
President Karzai spoke to a joint meeting of Congress. He thanked
the United States for its support. He also honored American soldiers
killed or injured in Afghanistan.
Mister Karzai noted strong
economic growth in his country. But he said there is still "a long
road ahead." He said Afghanistan needs more investment to help its
economic recovery. And he called for NATO to do more. NATO's current
duties include commanding the International Security Assistance
Force in Kabul.
President Karzai also appealed for American help to stop the
spread of drug crops in Afghanistan. He said profits from the
illegal trade threaten his government and finance terrorism and
extremism.
In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk.
This is Steve Ember.