Bush denies Afghan leader’s request

WASHINGTON – President Bush said Monday that U.S. troops in Afghanistan will remain under U.S. control despite Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s request for more authority over them.

“Of course, our troops will respond to U.S. commanders,” Bush said, with Karzai standing at his side at the White House.

At the same time, Bush said, the relationship between Washington and Kabul is “to cooperate and consult” on military operations.

There are about 20,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, costing about $1 billion a month. That is in addition to approximately 8,200 troops from NATO countries in Kabul and elsewhere.

Bush also said Afghan prisoners being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and elsewhere would slowly be returned to their home countries.

“We will do this over time,” he said. “We have to make sure the facilities are there.”

Bush had high praise for Karzai as a valued anti-terror partner and credited him with “showing countries in the neighborhood what’s possible.”

Karzai thanked Bush for helping to put his country on the path to democracy. But he came to their meeting with a long list of grievances.

Karzai wants more control over U.S. military operations in his country, custody of Afghan prisoners held by the United States and more assistance in fighting opium trade.

Karzai commented on recent reports of abuse of Afghan prisoners by their American captors. “We are of course sad about that,” he said in fluent English. But, he added, “It does not reflect on the American people.”

Similarly, a report – later retracted – in Newsweek magazine earlier this month that alleged mistreatment of the Quran by American prison guards does not reflect American values, Karzai said. While claiming the original report was not responsible journalism, Karzai said, “Newsweek’s story is not America’s story. That’s what we understand in Afghanistan.”