Petraeus outlines "significant" but "fragile" progress in Afghan war

[JonLP24]

Source: CBS

In a testimony before Congress on Tuesday, David Petraeus, top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, outlined what he described as significant progress in the war in Afghanistan - but emphasized that those achievements were "fragile" and "reversible," and would require continued support from Congress and the American people.

Petraeus, who took command of the war in Afghanistan following the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal last June, cited what he described as "significant" achievements in the region - particularly in regard to the military's success in clearing the Taliban from critical safe havens in Afghanistan, and the impending transition to Afghan-led efforts in a number of provinces.

He also cited success in development and implementation of Afghan security forces, and local economic development in the region.

"As a bottom line up front, it is ISAF's assessment that the momentum achieved by the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2005 has been arrested in much of the country and reversed in a number of important areas," he said on Tuesday, noting that the "hard-fought achievements in 2010 and early 2011 have enabled the joint Afghan-NATO transition board to recommend initiation this spring of transition to Afghan lead in several provinces."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20043360-503544.html

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Translation: 10 years from now, either we are still there as now or

else the Taliban will be running things again.

[No Elephants]

5. Ditto 20 years from now. Maybe everyone from age 15 has to die o old age--or whatever--before we

can leave without the Taliban taking over again.

[pasto76]

2. newsflash: we invaded to kill and displace Al Quadea, not taliban

I understand the intermingling of the two groups through marriage and alliances...but Al Quaeda has effectively moved out of Afghanistan. Something we've known for years. Im not a fan of staying to fight a bunch of warlords, who cannot project their acts to the US.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. Hey guys, don't take away my toys to help in Japan.

We're dumping an average of 25,000 tons of equipment and supplies into Afghanistan every MONTH, via Air Mobility Command.

That's almost an entire WWII 'Alaska' class Heavy Cruiser, dropped out of the sky, every month.

Boy, we sure don't need that capacity in Japan right now, do we?

[zalinda]

4. When will people learn

You can't invade a country and win. It is no longer possible. People will fight back, even if they are 'friendly' invaders. If you are put in prison against your will, it doesn't matter if you are made comfortable or not, you still don't want to be in prison.

zalinda