US likely to remain in Kabul until 2011
Source: Agencies |
December 7, 2009, Monday
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UNITED States Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Americans should expect a significant United States military presence in Afghanistan for two to four years more.
Just as in Iraq, the US eventually will turn over provinces to local security forces, allowing the United States to bring the number of troops down steadily, according to Gates, who appeared on three Sunday television talk shows with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss President Barack Obama's new Afghan war plan.
That plan includes an increase of 30,000 US troops, followed by a scheduled transition to a greater role for Afghan forces that would start in July 2011. Obama's plan would increase to 100,000 the number of US troops there, marking the largest expansion of the war since it began eight years ago.
Gates acknowledged that the additional US forces will mean more casualties at first. He also said he's pleased with the results of a newly launched offensive in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan.
"I think one of the reasons that our military leaders are pretty confident is that they have already begun to see changes where the Marines are present in southern Helmand," Gates said.
The Pentagon chief said the initial US troop withdrawal in July 2011 might involve only a small number of troops. He rejected suggestions that setting a transition date would embolden the Taliban. They read newspapers and are able to determine public opinion in the United States and Europe, he said.
Gates said he doesn't believe the Taliban will get more aggressive, and would welcome it if they lay low until the target date in 2011 to help stabilize Afghanistan.
Just as in Iraq, the US eventually will turn over provinces to local security forces, allowing the United States to bring the number of troops down steadily, according to Gates, who appeared on three Sunday television talk shows with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss President Barack Obama's new Afghan war plan.
That plan includes an increase of 30,000 US troops, followed by a scheduled transition to a greater role for Afghan forces that would start in July 2011. Obama's plan would increase to 100,000 the number of US troops there, marking the largest expansion of the war since it began eight years ago.
Gates acknowledged that the additional US forces will mean more casualties at first. He also said he's pleased with the results of a newly launched offensive in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan.
"I think one of the reasons that our military leaders are pretty confident is that they have already begun to see changes where the Marines are present in southern Helmand," Gates said.
The Pentagon chief said the initial US troop withdrawal in July 2011 might involve only a small number of troops. He rejected suggestions that setting a transition date would embolden the Taliban. They read newspapers and are able to determine public opinion in the United States and Europe, he said.
Gates said he doesn't believe the Taliban will get more aggressive, and would welcome it if they lay low until the target date in 2011 to help stabilize Afghanistan.
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