Italy voicing Afghanistan doubts

       Italy has become the latest nation to question its role in Afghanistan following a deadly bombing that highlighted the pressure facing dozens of militaries confronting a protracted war -and an Afghan government illequipped to handle its problems alone.
       The bombing that killed 10 Afghans and six Italian soldiers on one of Kabul's main roadways on Thursday prompted Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to call for a "transition strategy" to allow the Afghan government to do more for its own security and decrease international troop levels.
       The Italian deaths were the country's greatest single loss in the war. Another Italian official called for troops to be out by Christmas.
       Final election results from last month's presidential vote are weeks away at best and violence is on the rise. This is already the deadliest year for Nato troops in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion that ousted the Taliban, with over 300 deaths.
       The summer has been particularly bloody as thousands of US troops poured into insurgent strongholds in the south and Taliban mounted campaigns of violence around last month's election.
       In Afghanistan, Nato's Italian chief of staff said many governments are discussing force reductions, but only within the scope of normal planning. Major General Marco Bertolini said the Italian deaths do not diminish his country's commitment, insisting the government and military "share together the strong will to accomplish our mission" and that no Nato forces are threatening to withdraw.
       "We are having discussions in Italy. I know that also in the other countries there is the same. But until now, at our level, I must be sincere, we haven't received any decrease in terms of commitment by anyone," said Gen Bertolini."There are contingents that probably could be reduced or withdrawn in the future, but I must recognise that everybody continues to be fully committed."
       Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai,reiterated that his government is far from ready to take on insurgents alone.
       The Afghan army is "still not ready to the extent that it would take on the whole responsibility", Mr Karzai said on Thursday."That's why the international community is here, to engage and struggle against terrorism and also to build the Afghan forces."
       In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mark Wright said the US values Italy as a partner in the Afghanistan war, where Italian troops play an important role in the country's west. He said Italy's contribution "has been extremely valuable and we hope to continue working with them".
       But the Afghan partnership with international forces has been full of tension.At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Karzai found himself alternately chastising German forces for making a major mistake in calling an airstrike that killed civilians and insisting that Germany is a "good friend" to Afghanistan.
       The president also upbraided the top US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan for bringing up the possibility of a runoff vote in a private meeting ahead of the election.
       Italy has already planned to bring home between 400 and 500 extra soldiers it had sent to beef up the contingent for last month's elections, but with results of the fraud-tainted vote still uncertain,it is unclear how soon they can leave.
       Preliminary results of the Aug 20 election show Mr Karzai winning a second term with 54.6% of the vote, but monitors have said suspect votes could send him below the 50% threshold needed to avoid a run-off. Winter snows that make much of Afghanistan inaccessible until spring could push a second round back months.
       Gen Bertolini said the extra troops will stay until the election process is finished. Italy currently has about 2,800 troops in Afghanistan.
       Few Italian officials appeared to be calling for a direct withdrawal, but a poll taken last week - before the attacks - already showed that a majority of Italians wanted the soldiers back.
       Government and military officials agreed that Italy must have some sort of long-term commitment, but it was unclear if that meant military forces or a transition to a civilian approach.