Clinton, Gates affirm U.S. in Afghanistan for long haul

CA Online and wire services
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-10-07

Hillary Clinton (L) and Robert Gates at George Washington University on Oct. 5. (Reuters/Yuri Gripas)

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in a joint interview on Oct. 5, affirmed that the United States is committed to a regional strategy to build long-standing relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Speaking at George Washington University in Washington, DC, they emphasised that President Obama's deliberate approach to set the right objectives and policies for Afghanistan was both necessary and correct.

The Taliban insurgency currently has momentum in Afghanistan, Gates said, adding that a Taliban takeover of the country would empower the Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

"Because of our inability…to put enough troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban do have the momentum right now," he said in the panel discussion. An eventual Taliban victory would provide "added space" for Al-Qaeda to set up in the country and enhance recruiting and fundraising, Gates asserted.

When asked about the internal debate within the Obama administration over the call for more U.S. troops in Afghanistan by the U.S. commander in the country, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Gates made it clear that no matter what the President decides on immediate troop levels, the U.S. will remain in Afghanistan to continue efforts to dismantle terrorist organisations and help with economic development and nation building.

"We're not leaving Afghanistan," he declared, adding that "there should be no uncertainty in terms of our determination to remain in Afghanistan and to continue to build a relationship of partnership and trust with the Pakistanis. That's long term. That's a strategic objective of the United States."

Secretary Clinton added that a regional approach supporting both Afghanistan and Pakistan would help achieve the U.S. goals of defeating terrorists and protecting America and its allies around the world.

She and Gates defended the comprehensive review being led by Obama that includes cabinet officials, military leaders, congressional leaders and others, amid pressure from Republicans and some military officials to immediately provide McChrystal more troops.

"We're going to come up with what we think is the best approach, but the goal remains the same," Clinton said.

Gates added, "The notion of being willing to pause, reassess basic assumptions, reassess the analysis, and then make those decisions seems to me, given the importance of these decisions, which I've said are probably among the most important he will make in his entire presidency, seems entirely appropriate."

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