Posted on 04/01/2002 7:49:12 AM PST by jpthomas
KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Two influential U.S. senators who met Afghan leader Hamid Karzai warned Monday the ousted Taliban could return if the United States and other nations did not stay the course and help rebuild Afghanistan.
The pair said Afghans were confident they could restore their war-battered land but feared the international community might go back on its vow not to desert Afghanistan now the Taliban and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda had been defeated in the country.
In the latest in a series of visits by key U.S. congress members, Sen. Robert Torricelli and Sen. Jon Corzine -- both New Jersey Democrats -- said the message from their trip was that having won the war, the United States must win the peace.
"For the U.S. to leave after winning the war but without securing the peace would break the heart of every person in this country," said Torricelli, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.
"The people of Afghanistan still feel vulnerable. They know the Taliban has lost the battle but they still fear their return. And if the international community abandons this country the Taliban in some form will return."
Corzine, a member of the Banking Committee, said after his talks with Karzai he believed the United States had much help to give in the fields of trade, education and military training.
Afghanistan wanted immediate access to U.S. markets for its textiles and lower tariffs on carpet production to help millions of unemployed get back to work.
Asked if he agreed with statements by President Bush during his presidential campaign that the United States should not be in the business of nation building, Torricelli said he suspected Bush now regretted the comment.
"Without some nation building, the cycle of poverty to terrorism will be repeated. I suspect President Bush now regrets those comments from the last campaign," Torricelli said.
"You can't separate out some nation building from our war on terrorism. They are part of the same campaign."
Torricelli said he was convinced Afghans were exhausted with warfare and there would be no repeat of infighting among its many ethnic and other groups.
"But they (Afghans) are still doubting the commitment of the international community, having won the war, to remain and make the peace work."
Uhh, Mr. Torrecelli? Were you not the one that led an effort to dismantle our defense intelligence efforts?
No.
No nation building. The Afghans must take care of themselves.
However, know that if the TallyBan returns to AfgannyStan, we will also return with CroozeMissiles.
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