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| Afghanistan |
| U.S. Withdraws Aid As Regional Afghan Clashes Mount |
| 2002-10-28 |
| The United States has partially withdrawn crucial reconstruction aid to Afghanistan in an effort to force regional warlords to end disputes which threaten the country's stability, U.S. officials said Monday. U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Robert Finn said aid programs around the principal northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif had been suspended because of repeated outbreaks of violence in the area. But that... that sounds like sanctions! We can't have that! What about all the little babies and puppies and kittens and baby ducks that'll starve. Best to keep giving them money and just go on talking, isn't it? His comments came a day after Finn and U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad traveled to the city for talks with rival warlords Abdul Rashid Dostam and Atta Mohammad, who jointly control the country's strategic northern zone. Although Dostam and Mohammad claim to enjoy cordial relations, troops under their command have continued to clash, straining their uneasy alliance and taking the region to the brink of open conflict. They get along, their troops don't. I hate it when that happens... At least six people were killed in the latest bout of fighting just 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Mazar, the stronghold of Mohammad. Yep. That's what not getting along looks like... Despite the uneasy security situation, Khalilzad said both regional leaders pledged to crush the violence and throw their weight behind the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. When they start hanging a few of their own gunnies — not each other's gunnies — then it'll stop. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 This does illustrate one of my many pet peeves. News reports describing "fierce" fighting with six killed. How would they have described Gettysburg? Six killed. Guys, you aren't really trying, are you? |
| Posted by: Chuck 2002-10-28 13:25:40 |