Afghanistan becoming a forgotten war

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. government and NATO officials ordered sweeping reviews of the mission in Afghanistan amid concerns the mission there is failing.

Two U.S. reviews and one NATO examination signal a recognition that development on political and economic stabilization, counter-terrorist operations and curbing the production of opium and heroin trafficking is in a dire state, The New York Times said Sunday.

It also signifies the cornerstone of the Bush administration's stated objectives in counter-terrorist operations targeting al-Qaida is faltering despite claims of recent success in Iraq, the newspaper said.

The reviews of the mission in Afghanistan are not likely to generate the attention that similar reviews of the Iraqi policy did in 2006, nor are they likely to produce any significant change in policy due to the commitment in Iraq, The Times said.

Pentagon officials greeted the reason behind the reviews as myopic, saying the goal should be long-term and any examination should focus on the success in terms of reconstruction thus far.

NATO officials responded saying the mission in Afghanistan was regarded as a success in 2006, but a Taliban resurgence and increased opium harvests curtail much of the progress.

Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said the mission in Afghanistan was in jeopardy.

"Afghanistan has been the forgotten war," Skelton said.