Troop withdrawal threatens unstable country

The massacre in Kandahar comes just as the US troops withdrawal is being negotiated. But that would only further weaken the already unstable country, the liberal daily La Vanguardia writes: "The US marched into Afghanistan in 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks in which 3,000 civilians lost their lives. At that point Afghanistan was a broken state in the hands of the Taliban, who were supported by al-Qaida. Now Bin Laden and many of his helpers are dead, and the Taliban have been beaten back. The country now has its own army - comprising 350,000 soldiers - and a police force. But the situation is far from being as stable as hoped for and 60 percent of Americans believe the war is not worthwhile. It was in this context that the shooting spree took place. At a time when Obama is asking whether the expensive operation should be broken off after ten years and whether Afghanistan - threatened by the return of the Taliban and civil war - can be left to its own resources."

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Crises / War, » U.S., » Afghanistan

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, March 13, 2012