Karzai backs additional US troops

Los Angeles Times

KABUL — President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday pledged to “spare no effort” to help implement the revamped American war strategy, the latest test for an Afghan leader emerging from a fraud-tainted election and seeking to counter widespread disillusionment among his own people.

But Karzai did not respond directly to the latest U.S. demands that he root out corruption in his government.

The Taliban, meanwhile, scoffed at the notion that the American troop surge announced Tuesday by President Barack Obama, coupled with an intensive effort to train and build the Afghan army and police, would pose a serious challenge to the insurgency.

“Training Afghan forces is useless, because the Afghan nation looks at them as invaders,” said a statement posted on a Taliban Web site and distributed to Western journalists.

“As much as the international community increases its forces, the holy warriors have become even more powerful, winning the support of the nation in their resistance.”

The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.