Afghanistan needs more US help, Reed says

PROVIDENCE, R.I. --Afghanistan suffers from a "lack of robust resources" for reconstruction, U.S Sen. Jack Reed said Sunday after his three-day trip to the central Asian nation.

The Rhode Island Democrat said the U.S. government must do a better job helping its ally build water and power plants, roads and other infrastructure.

"Here, as in Iraq, there seem to be critical shortages in personnel, and civilian advisers especially, that will provide the assistance in this reconstruction," Reed said in a conference call with reporters. "The critical tasks right now are economic and political rather than simply military."

Reed, a member of the Armed Services Committee and a former Army Ranger who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, has emerged as a leading Senate critic of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq. But unlike some of his Democratic colleagues, Reed has not urged an immediate pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq.

Reed, speaking from Qatar, said Afghanistan's inclusive government could serve as a model for Iraq.

Afghanistan, under the direction of the U.S. government after American-led forces drove out the Taliban regime, has established a "pretty good model" of provincial reconstruction teams, Reed said.

In both nations, there are diplomatic gains to be had for the U.S. government through reconstruction efforts, he said.

"The persistent issue I've seen here and also in my trip to Iraq is the lack of robust resources (for) reconstruction and personnel to assist the Afghanis in developing their capacities," he said.

Reed questioned whether there's enough political will in the U.S. to get the job done.

"Once again you have to ask yourself, given the discussion of reductions in our military forces and difficulty in getting key experts, whether we're (prepared) for this long haul," he said.