Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Date for US drawdown needed for Afghans: Gates
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Date for US drawdown needed for Afghans: Gates
AFP - Monday, December 7
Send
IM Story
Print
Date for US drawdown needed for Afghans: Gates
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Setting a date for the start of a US withdrawal from Afghanistan conveys "a sense of urgency" to Kabul that American forces would not stay indefinitely, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said.
Defending President Barack Obama's decision to combine a troop buildup in Afghanistan with a target date of July 2011 for the beginning of a drawdown, Gates said the Kabul government had to understand the US military commitment was not open-ended.
"The piece of this that people need to keep in mind that's different from Iraq is our need to communicate a sense of urgency to the Afghans of their need to begin to accept responsibility," Gates told NBC's "Meet the Press," drawing a contrast to a similar buildup in Iraq two years ago.
In a separate television interview, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Afghans wanted to be in charge of their country's security "sooner, rather than later."
But he said it would take two years to train Afghan forces to the point where they can lead operations in many parts of the country.
"By the end of five years term of the current government, we plan to lead operations for the security of the Afghan people in all of Afghanistan, in the whole country. That is our objective," Karzai told CNN.
Echoing comments made at congressional hearings last week, Gates said the United States would remain deeply engaged with Afghanistan even after US forces eventually hand over security to Afghan forces.
"We are not going to abandon Afghanistan like we did in 1989. But the nature of the relationship will change," Gates said.
As the US military presence is reduced, political and economic assistance would take on a bigger part of the relationship, he said.
Gates and other top officials renewed their defense of Obama's strategy on television political talk shows after the president's plan -- unveiled last week -- met with criticism on both the right and the left.
Republicans -- including former vice president Dick Cheney -- slammed the July 2011 date as a dangerous signal to allies and Afghan insurgents while Obama's fellow Democrats questioned the troop surge.
Gates rejected Cheney's charges that the drawdown starting date would embolden the Taliban, saying insurgents were well aware of public opinion in Western countries and always counted on outlasting US-led forces.
"Whether you announce a date or not, they can tell as easily from reading the news media about political support for these kinds of undertakings themselves and they always believe that they can outlast us," he said.
"The reality is though, what are they going to do? Are they going to get more aggressive than they already are? We don't think they can.
"If they lie low, that's great news for us because it gives us some huge opportunities in Afghanistan."
The surge of 30,000 additional US forces would make a difference in the fight against insurgents in the next 18 months and enable the training of more Afghan troops and police, allowing the US military "to begin this gradual process of transitioning security," he said.
National security adviser James Jones told CNN the United States would launch a fresh effort to track down Osama bin Laden, who is believed to be moving between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the mountains along the border.
Bin Laden was a "very important symbol of what Al-Qaeda stands for" and it was crucial to make sure he was on the run or captured, said the retired Marine general.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
AP NewsAlert AP - 51 minutes ago
US envoy discusses NKorea trip with SKorean envoy AP - 1 hour 9 minutes ago
N.Korea orders guards to fire on defectors: report AFP - 1 hour 20 minutes ago
Police charge 3 after Indonesian bar fire kills 20 AP - 1 hour 52 minutes ago
Popularity soars for Taiwan opposition leader AFP - 2 hours 14 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
'I'm A Celebrity' TV stars charged over rat risotto
Unbeaten NFL Saints get a scare but keep up with Colts
British banks face tax on bonuses: reports
Fake drugs trade on the rise: EU
Tough times force OPEC members to close ranks
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
British royals warn newspapers over paparazzi shots
Hundreds protest New York 9/11 trial
UAE stocks recover after Dubai debt crisis losses
Saudi hails 'perfect' oil price, stable market
Tiger's woes played for TV laughs in spoof
More Most Viewed »
Global stocks mixed amid Dubai debt crisis
Tiny magnetic discs could kill cancer cells: study
Alcohol helps cut heart disease risk for men: study
Mankind using Earth's resources at alarming rate
Dubai blackout over debt plans to hit Gulf markets
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 7 December 2009 ElBaradei sets conditions for Egypt presidency run
Virgin Galactic readies maiden suborbital flight
Climate pledges 'put world on track for 3.5 C rise'
British royals warn newspapers over paparazzi shots
Karzai urges flexibility for U.S. troop timeline
|
West Bank settlers step up resistance to freeze
Iraq cuts short nightlife revival with bar closures
Indian PM arrives in Russia for arms, nuclear deals
|
Police clash with youths on Greek riots anniversary
|
Israeli settlers step up protest against freeze
U.N. says biggest climate talks in history must deliver
|
Turkey says no more troops for Afghanistan
Swiss minaret ban reversal vote in pipeline
|
Iran opposition leader says reform movement alive
|
Malaysia grabs three of five Super Series titles
E.Asian Games medal race has familiar look
Mass. Sen. hopefuls working to get voters to polls
Study: Missing DNA can promote childhood obesity
Wolf recovery at crossroads in the Southwest
China's Liu Zige wins 200m fly, misses record
Australia steps up wildfire preparedness
'Blind Side' eclipses 'New Moon' with $20M weekend
Pakistan police arrest gang accused in bombings
21 killed, 50 hurt in bus collision in Bangladesh
Obama aide cites al-Qaida leader in Afghanistan
McCain troubled by Afghan pullout target date
15 killed, 30 hurt in bus collision in Bangladesh
Clinton hasn't looked into Knox case in Italy
Obama security adviser: Picture not good on Iran
PROMISES, PROMISES: A closed meeting on openness
Must-pass bills pile up as days wind down
Obama To Meet With Democrats On Health Care Bill
Reed Certified As Atlanta Mayor
GOP Wants Baucus Investigated For Recommending Girlfriend In U.S. Attorney Post
Two People, Dozens Of Horses Killed In Barn Fire
'SNL' can't resist Tiger Woods jokes
African-American princess joins Disney royals
Blind Side tackles top spot at movie box offices
|
Marketing magic: the business of Christmas markets
Episcopal church elects lesbian bishop in Los Angeles
"Agitprop" Austrian sculptor Hrdlicka dies at 81
Bacons perform at Philly Mummers' fundraiser
Climate change has silver lining for English vineyards
Dubai faces gradual exodus of expatriate workers
Iraq poll preparation begins
British banks face tax on bonuses: reports
Afghan women among worst off in world-rights group
|
Facebook forms board on online safety
Unbeaten NFL Saints get a scare but keep up with Colts
Intel scraps graphics chip based on Larrabee
Date for US drawdown needed for Afghans: Gates
Fake drugs trade on the rise: EU
US to launch new bid to hunt down Bin Laden
Iranian police surround university to prevent protest
|
Spain move to help Western Sahara hunger striker
Bolivia's Morales claims re-election, Congress control
|
Opposition figures arrested as Sudan bans rally
Mexicans in drug war city call on army to leave
|
Iraq lawmakers end impasse, election to go ahead
Tough times force OPEC members to close ranks
Iraq clears way for parliamentary elections
Iraq lawmakers end impasse, election to go ahead
|
Opposition figures arrested as Sudan bans rally
|
Senior Venezuelan minister resigns in bank scandal
|
Sudan must explain Darfur peacekeeper killing
Honduras' Zelaya to stay in Brazil embassy
|
Japan PM support below 60 percent as coalition bickers
|
Facebook forms board on online safety
|
Intel scraps graphics chip based on Larrabee
|
Election of lesbian bishop reopens Anglican wounds
US applauds Iraq plans for parliamentary elections
Pearl Harbor survivor back for 1st time since war
Police charge 3 after Indonesian bar fire kills 20
WA police probe fake radio call reporting shooting
Popularity soars for Taiwan opposition leader
More than 500 claims filed against NW Jesuits
Drunk Taiwan vote loser shoots rival's sister
Obama rallies Democratic troops on health care
Obama urges Dems to pass health care overhaul
Philippines says clan gunmen attack police
Kashmir's anonymous graves summon darkest days
Senate votes to spare plaintiffs' lawyers
10,000 lanterns fly into record book in Indonesia
Chicago police say nothing found in Blago burglary
Japan PM support below 60 percent as coalition bickers
Philippine massacre suspects face rebellion raps
Broken promises fuel Thai insurgency: analysts
Australia opposition leader enjoys poll boost
Asian markets mixed after US jobs report
Korea Hot Stocks
Xinhua: China auto sales pass 12M in Jan-Nov
World trade to fall "unprecedented" 10 pct: Lamy
Blind Side tackles top spot at movie box offices
|
Japan to finalise stimulus package: PM
Jack Black gets animated with movie project
|
Pakistan
Kennedy Center gala honors performing arts greats
|
NZ recovery may not be sustainable
Cable network TNT pinning hopes on Men
|
Xinhua: China plans to keep stimulus, easy credit
Mamet's Race more entertaining than insightful
|
China's BoCom says has financing plans, no timetable
Bennett Miller in talks to direct Moneyball'
|
Seoul shares rise on U.S. data relief; exporters up
Jerry O'Connell signs on for NBC pilot
|
Galactic enlists New Orleans legends for new album
|
Billboard names Powter One-Hit Wonder of Decade
Jerry O'Connell signs on for NBC pilot
Cash-strapped Americans seek holiday gift alternatives
Kennedy Center gala honors performing arts greats
Obama on Bruce Springsteen: 'he's the Boss'
Bennett Miller in talks to direct "Moneyball'
Boyle stays British number one
'The Blind Side' tops North America box office
"Blind Side" tackles top spot at movie box offices
Mom Gives Birth Aboard Southwest Airlines
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights