U.S. looks at training forces for Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Saturday discussed the U.S. role in forming and training a national Afghan army with the country's interim leader and a regional warlord. The offer does not commit American troops to an international security force the Afghan government wanted.

Interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai made the best of the plan, saying it might be better in the long run for Afghans to look after their own security. He acknowledged he wanted the British-led international security force in Kabul to be expanded to other parts of the country instead, and joined by U.S. troops, but "we didn't get that."

Rumsfeld, in a visit to the capital, said the French are offering to help the Americans train an Afghan force and the Bush administration is working to get money from Congress for that task.

Later in Herat, he met Ismail Khan, one of western Afghan-istan's most powerful warlords, and apparently found him receptive as well to the establishment of a national army capable of maintaining control over the country's multitude of factions -- such as Khan's own 30,000-man private force.

Khan told Rumsfeld he favored such an army and "he thought it would work," said Rumsfeld's spokeswoman, Victoria Clarke.

Skeptics say an Afghan force without international partners will be hard-pressed to maintain security over forces like Khan's.

"I would rather be inclined to see the United States train for Afghanistan a good strong army so that we can in the future fend for ourselves," Karzai said at news conference with Rumsfeld. "If we can get our own army, why would we ask for more foreign troops in our country?"

Karzai and other government officials have argued for months that expanding the international force from the 4,500 troops patrolling Kabul to as many as 20,000 protecting several major cities is the best way to prevent regional warlords from resuming decades of battling over territory and power.

Starting with 600

The national Afghan army is just starting training and graduating its first class of 600. It is not expected to be a strong force of up to 100,000 men for several years -- if U.S. and international promises of financial support and attention come through.

As recently as Thursday, an Afghan envoy warned the United Nations that the country risks falling back into lawlessness. U.S., British and other forces are coming under fire more frequently with the spring thaw, and the search still is on for al-Qaida and Taliban holdouts.

Rumsfeld last was in Afghan-istan in December.