Gibbons predicts long presence

Benjamin Grove

Tuesday, April 9, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. troops serving under trying conditions in Afghanistan likely will become a familiar presence there for years, much as they have in Bosnia and Kosovo, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said.

Gibbons returned Monday from an emotional trip to Afghanistan convinced the U.S. military should prepare for a long-term commitment to the nation, and that Congress should continue to send money for reconstruction and humanitarian aid. The United States is the largest contributor to Afghanistan, giving roughly $343 million this fiscal year.

"I know that if we don't do it, the fragile existence that they have will collapse, the fragile government that they have will collapse," Gibbons said. "And that will spread like a brush fire into neighboring states."

Afghanistan has been left in utter ruin by years of war with Russia and the Taliban leadership, Gibbons said.

Gibbons and eight other lawmakers were on a mission to assess the beleaguered nation and visit U.S. troops. They chatted with interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, who did not ask them for a specific amount of additional money, Gibbons said.

"He really only asked that we not walk away and leave them in their most vulnerable hour," Gibbons said.

The lawmakers toured three military installations where U.S. forces are stationed. Gibbons said the U.S. forces are in good spirits, despite difficult living and work conditions. A week of rain had made a muddy mess of a base commonly called "K2," just over the Afghanistan border in Uzbekistan, Gibbons said. Cold winds leave a film of dust on everything at the Bagram Air Base, 40 miles north of Kabul, Gibbons said. Gibbons visited with several Nevada soldiers.

"They are happy, they have high morale, they know they have a job to do," Gibbons said. "They carry with them World Trade Center images."

Gibbons was awed by the devastated nation. Many areas had little to no water and sewer services, electricity, roads, or communication systems.

Non-governmental aid agencies have a difficult time helping because the nation is not safe, largely because of land mines, Gibbons said. As the lawmakers traveled they noted that white painted rocks along the road suggest the road is safe; red rocks indicate danger, Gibbons said.

"There is destruction everywhere you look," Gibbons said.