Afghan corruption could loom as surge factor

[unhappycamper]

Afghan corruption could loom as surge factor
By Lara Jakes - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Oct 13, 2009 19:55:22 EDT

WASHINGTON — Rampant government corruption may derail the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan even if as many as 80,000 additional U.S. troops are sent to the war, the top military commander there has concluded, according to U.S. officials briefed on his recommendations.

The conclusion by Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal is part of a still-secret document that requests more troops even as he warns that they ultimately may not prevent terrorists from turning Afghanistan back into a haven.

McChrystal has outlined three options for additional troops — from as many as 80,000 to as few as 10,000 to 15,000, according to officials at the Pentagon and White House.

Each option carries a high risk of failing, according to U.S. officials, although they said McChrystal concluded that fewer troops will bring the highest risks.

McChrystal favors a compromise of 40,000 additional troops, said the officials, who described his request to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.


Rest of artilce at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/ap_afghanistan_mcchrystal_corruption_concerns_101309/