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November 12, 2009

US Ambassador Resists Troop Increase in Afghanistan
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The US ambassador to Afghanistan is warning against sending more troops
to fight in the Afghan war. In a last-minute dissent, Ambassador Karl
Eikenberry sent two cables this week casting doubt on a troop escalation
until the Afghan government addresses corruption and other internal
problems. Eikenberry also criticized the lack of aid and development
money allotted for Afghanistan. His request to increase non-military
spending by 60 percent has gone unheeded so far. Eikenberry delivered
the warning right before President Obama’s war cabinet held a critical
meeting Wednesday on proposals to send up to 40,000 additional troops.
Eikenberry was appointed earlier this year after retiring from a
military career that included commanding US forces in Afghanistan in
2006 and 2007.



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