Afghan Official: Iraq Prisoner Abuse Could Sour Afghans on U.S. Campaign A

Afghan Official: Iraq Prisoner Abuse Could Sour Afghans on U.S. Campaign Against Taliban

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Revelations about the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by coalition soldiers could erode Afghan support for U.S. efforts to stabilize their insurgency-plagued country, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Sunday.
Omar Samad said that while further investigation into allegations of abuses by U.S. and British troops in Iraq was needed, any sign of widespread mistreatment could set back American efforts to win over skeptical Afghans. The United States is pledging to deliver millions of dollars in belated reconstruction aid this year and to crush Taliban rebels.

"On the one hand, fighting terrorists and extremist militants willing to blow themselves up and kill innocent people is not kid's play," Samad said. "But on the other hand, the allegations in Iraq will not resonate positively" in Islamic countries.

"People could start questioning the motivation behind" the American campaign in Afghanistan, Samad said.

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