Bill Longley
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THE US intends to stay in Afghanistan for the long term, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates vowed yesterday.
Mr Gates said the US would exert an influence on the country long after the combat troops had left.
His comments came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that next year there would be parts of the war-ravaged country that would once again be under the control of the Afghan government and its own troops rather than US forces.
The extent of this transition of power would depend on conditions on the ground and would not be based on a specific timetable.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said he wants Afghan security forces to take responsibility for security in the country by 2014.
Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne following the Ausmin security talks between the US and Australia, Mrs Clinton said: "The strategies that we are implementing together (with Australia) in Afghanistan is the right strategy and we are committed to pursuing that strategy and being very conscious of the challenges that it poses to us.
"The goal is to be able to transition security to the Afghans themselves starting next year, but that transition will be conditions-based and will be determined as the analysis of our commanders in the field suggest to the civilian leadership in both of our countries.
"The progress that we believe is occurring is very challenging, it takes patience, it requires all of us to understand that this is a tough fight that we are in. But we are convinced that starting next year, there will be parts of Afghanistan that will be under the control of the Afghan government and its security forces. We can't tell you when or on what timetable because we will be making those assessments based on the conditions as they occur."
Mr Gates said any notion that the US would withdraw from Afghanistan any time soon was mistaken.
"We are not getting out," he said.
He said that the US would maintain an active presence in Afghanistan long after combat troops had left.
"We are all convinced we have to stay in Afghanistan and remain a partner even after most of our troops are gone," he said.
"We don't see this as a relationship that ends when the security transition is completed."
His comments echo those of Julia Gillard, who said during a parliamentary debate on Afghanistan last month that Australia could be involved in that country for at least another 10 years as military assistance gave way to civil-led aid and development assistance.
In relation to negotiations with the Taliban, Mr Gates said there was "broad agreement" that there needed to be a reconciliation process.
His personal opinion was that the Taliban needed to see its prospects for success had diminished dramatically and "that they may well lose".
"They have to see they are not ultimately going to be successful in taking the country by force," he said.
US ready for the long haul in Afghanistan | The Australian
Mr Gates said the US would exert an influence on the country long after the combat troops had left.
His comments came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that next year there would be parts of the war-ravaged country that would once again be under the control of the Afghan government and its own troops rather than US forces.
The extent of this transition of power would depend on conditions on the ground and would not be based on a specific timetable.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said he wants Afghan security forces to take responsibility for security in the country by 2014.
Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne following the Ausmin security talks between the US and Australia, Mrs Clinton said: "The strategies that we are implementing together (with Australia) in Afghanistan is the right strategy and we are committed to pursuing that strategy and being very conscious of the challenges that it poses to us.
"The goal is to be able to transition security to the Afghans themselves starting next year, but that transition will be conditions-based and will be determined as the analysis of our commanders in the field suggest to the civilian leadership in both of our countries.
"The progress that we believe is occurring is very challenging, it takes patience, it requires all of us to understand that this is a tough fight that we are in. But we are convinced that starting next year, there will be parts of Afghanistan that will be under the control of the Afghan government and its security forces. We can't tell you when or on what timetable because we will be making those assessments based on the conditions as they occur."
Mr Gates said any notion that the US would withdraw from Afghanistan any time soon was mistaken.
"We are not getting out," he said.
He said that the US would maintain an active presence in Afghanistan long after combat troops had left.
"We are all convinced we have to stay in Afghanistan and remain a partner even after most of our troops are gone," he said.
"We don't see this as a relationship that ends when the security transition is completed."
His comments echo those of Julia Gillard, who said during a parliamentary debate on Afghanistan last month that Australia could be involved in that country for at least another 10 years as military assistance gave way to civil-led aid and development assistance.
In relation to negotiations with the Taliban, Mr Gates said there was "broad agreement" that there needed to be a reconciliation process.
His personal opinion was that the Taliban needed to see its prospects for success had diminished dramatically and "that they may well lose".
"They have to see they are not ultimately going to be successful in taking the country by force," he said.
US ready for the long haul in Afghanistan | The Australian
