Gov't insists it controls Afghanistan (denied assertion from McConnell that it only controls 30%)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan's Defense Ministry on Thursday denied an assertion by the top U.S. intelligence official that only 30 percent of the country is under the control of President Hamid Karzai's government.

Michael McConnell, the U.S. National Intelligence Director, told a Senate committee in Washington on Wednesday that Afghanistan's central government controls just 30 percent of the country. The Taliban controls about 10 percent and local tribes control the rest, he said.

"This is far from the facts and we completely deny it," the Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"All Afghan people know that in the 34 provinces of Afghanistan and in more than 360 districts ... the government has control," the statement said.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080228/ap_on_re_as/afghan_us_government

[Lone_Star_Dem]

1. Only if by 'all Afghan people' he's referring to the people of Kabul.

Because that's about the only place in Afghanistan this rhetoric might be believed.

[Tempest]

2. The Defense Minister can prove it

Have Karzai travel to the provinces without an escort or protection.

[daleo]

3. When you have to "insist" that you control territory... n/t