In Kabul, Gates urges patience with Afghan war - AP

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Looks like that durned "light at the end of the tunnel" has moved again. It's way past time that congress defunded this FUBAR war.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110604/ap_on_re_as/as_gates_afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates appealed for patience with an unpopular war and said Saturday that only modest U.S. troop reductions would make sense this summer in a still unstable Afghanistan.

Gates stressed the effectiveness of U.S.-led NATO military operations against the Taliban over the past year, after President Barack Obama ordered an extra 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Gains have been notable in the south, the heartland of the Taliban movement.

"I believe that if we can hold on to the territory that has been recaptured from the Taliban ... and perhaps expand that security, that we will be in position toward the end of this year to perhaps have a successful opening to reconciliation" with the Taliban — "or at least be in a position where we can say we've turned the corner here in Afghanistan," Gates said. "Making any changes prior to that time would be premature," he added.

Gates also is concerned that a U.S. troop withdrawal could leaders other members of the coalition, known as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to quit or sharply reduce their participation. "There will be no rush to the exits," he said.

[TomClash]

1. Hey Bob

It's coming up on ten years. :eyes:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. It should be engraved on the Pentagon - "More Money, More Time, More Troops..and then...maybe."