us special forces alredy in iraq?, page-33

re: us special forces alredy in iraq?..acturtle Eric,

It would be instructive if a thread could be got going pasting up info on the progress of reconstruction in Afghanistan. An approach most likely to give an accurate picture would be to screen and filter the biased info on both sides and perhaps concentrate on info from relief angecies.

I notice the Japanese at the Government level are involved on the ground and financially, to the tune of about USD 300 million and there are I think European Government agencies involved. I had a web page on US aid, not sure if it was government or not, where about USD400 million was pledged to reconstruction. I've been very busy at work but hope to get time over the weekend to get a better idea of what is happening.

I notice Olive said Afghanistan had "peace" under the Taliban. That of course ignores the fact that the Northern Alliance was pretty active under the Taliban. One measure of the success of the UN operation would be a comparison of the number of Afghani's fleeing their country now as compared to those leaving under Taliban rule.

I saw a statistic that said the refugees leaving Iraq were exceeded only by the number of refugees who left Afghanistan. (I took it to mean mainly during the rule of the Taliban).

I notice opinions being expressed about what is happening in Afghanistan at present, seem to depend on which side of the Iraq situation one stands. It may have little to do with what is actually happening on the ground in terms of progress with reconstruction.

Regards, llew.