U.S. to start training Afghan army

A 'cadre' of trained Afghans is expected to teach others

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States will begin a one-year training program to help develop the skills of a newly created Afghan national army, officials said Monday.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has approved the proposal, which has taken on greater urgency in the time since the Taliban were ousted from power during the U.S.-led war on terror and replaced by a regime promising democracy.

The idea is to train a "cadre" of Afghans who can become officers and enlisted personnel, sources told CNN. They will then, in turn, train thousands of others.

Challenging the 'warlord' system

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U.S. officials say they believe a national army is essential to Afghanistan's long-term security to make the country less supportive of terrorists, many of whom in the past have been able to set up camp there.

The national army, with a centralized command structure, is intended to replace the "warlord" system of power, which has ruled Afghanistan for generations, officials say.

Such a shift could prove challenging. As one senior Defense official told CNN, "You are asking a warlord to turn over his soldiers. ...That is a tough thing for them to do."

But Rumsfeld, speaking in a news conference Monday afternoon, said he believes that problem will pass. "We know Afghans are well-armed, and they have a lot of soldiers. But do they know how to fight," Rumsfeld said. "One would think at some time they would think that it is in their best interest to have a national army and not just in their provinces."

The United States will provide basic training, including teaching leadership skills and the conduct of soldiers, and possibly will offer some weapons training, sources said.

"Our goal is to train and equip select countries who want to combat terrorism," said Rumsfeld, who cited Yemen -- where signs indicate al Qaeda may be trying to regroup -- as a possible recipient of training.