Islamabad
12 November 2009
The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan has reportedly expressed in writing
his concerns about deploying additional American troops to the
country. Media reports quote U.S. officials as saying the ambassador
is deeply concerned about Afghan government corruption and
mismanagement that has fueled the Taliban's rise.
U.S.
Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry has previously expressed his
reservations regarding corruption in Afghan President Hamid Karzai's
government.
But speaking to VOA by phone a spokesman for the
U.S. Embassy in Kabul, John Groch, refused to comment on media reports
regarding Ambassador Eikenberry's feelings on sending additional U.S.
troops to Afghanistan. Groch says the ambassador is committed to
supporting the new Afghan government.
"It is his anticipation
that the Afghans are going to come to expect more from their
government, expect clean and competent leadership from their
government," the ambassador said. "And we want to support the Afghan
government for the end of meeting those commitments and delivering
those things to the Afghan people."
A spokesman for President Karzai also refused to comment on the media reports.
Eikenberry
was the commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007. He
became the ambassador to the country earlier this year, after retiring
from the military.
His reported position on additional troops
puts him at odds with the top NATO and U.S. commander in Afghanistan,
General Stanley McChrystal., who has recommended 40,000 more troops,
which would boost the U.S. commitment in the country to more than
100,000.
The White House says President Barack Obama is
considering four options, which range from following General
McChrystal's advice to sending as few as 10,000 to 15,000 troops.