Collins hails fundamental changes made by Afghans

Despite the continued presence of insurgents, Afghanistan has “turned the corner” and looks to develop permanent ties with the United States, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday during her weeklong visit of the region.

In sharp contrast to Iraq, where insurgents threaten the determination of the Iraqi people, Afghan rebels have lost much of their sway, Collins told the Bangor Daily News via satellite phone from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

“The number of attacks, while still too high, has come down enormously,” said Collins, who is one of five U.S. senators spending a week visiting Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Pakistan to assess conditions, including the effects of elections and the state of the insurgency.

There are other signs of change in Afghanistan.

Afghan people now come forward with information about insurgents and welcome Americans and the democracy they helped bring, Collins said.

Embracing changes such as schooling for girls and women, which was prohibited a few years ago by the Taliban, Afghans are optimistic and are progressing. Women now account for 20 percent of the university population, can vote and are joining the work force in greater numbers, substantial improvements since Collins’ last visit in January 2003.

“These are enormous changes for women and girls in Afghanistan and are very welcome changes,” the Maine senator said.

While traveling in Iraq, Collins and her party were required to don helmets and armored vests. Because of the risks, the senators were flown back to Kuwait each night, she said.

In Afghanistan, she said, no armor was required and the streets, lined with fruit stalls and other businesses, were bustling with people.

“The feeling is that this is a country that clearly has turned the corner,” Collins said.

The Afghans’ biggest challenge is persuading farmers to abandon the cultivation of poppies that produce the biggest share of the world’s opium production, she said.

“They’re embarking on a program to switch farmers from poppies to growing almonds and pomegranates and other crops,” she said.

Collins hailed the Iraqi election as a turning point and praised the courage of voters who turned out in large numbers despite threats of insurgents. But she said her talks with U.S. troops and military, embassy and Iraqi officials convinced her that America faces “a long and difficult road.”

Collins said she took time to visit U.S. soldiers, particularly some from her home state. She ate lunch Monday in Fallujah with U.S. Marines, including Chief Warrant Officer Bill Bailey of Calais. One day earlier she met with members of the 133rd Engineer Battalion, who hail from all over the state, and gave them the good news that they would be heading stateside later this week.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.