22 August 2002
Franks Says Stability Is Long-Term Issue in Afghanistan
(U.S. commander briefs media in Kazakhstan August 21) (1090)
Army General Tommy Franks, commander-in-chief of the U.S. and
coalition military effort in Afghanistan, says he believes the
international community will continue "for years ahead" to work with
the Karzai government in Afghanistan on stability issues.
During an August 21 press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, Franks
also was asked about U.S. planning regarding a possible attack on
Iraq. He said that he is carrying out required contingency planning to
ensure that credible military options can be presented to President
Bush. Franks also suggested that Bush "will continue to be thoughtful"
about what to do about Iraq.
Following a meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Franks
thanked the Kazakh official for his country's participation in the
ongoing global war against terrorism. He also praised the growing
military-to-military relations between the two nations.
(begin transcript)
Press Conference
Gen. Tommy R. Franks, Commander-in-Chief (CINC), United States Central
Command (USCENTCOM)
Presidential Administration Building
Astana, Kazakhstan
August 21, 2002
GEN. FRANKS: Good morning. My name is Tommy Franks and I'm responsible
for the American Forces which are prosecuting the global war on
terrorism in Afghanistan. Indeed, it's a pleasure to be back in
Kazakhstan and I've been honored this morning by a meeting with
President Nazarbayev. The purpose of the meeting was, very simply, to
tell him thank you for the fact that Kazakhstan aligned very quickly
with our efforts in Afghanistan and remains a very important coalition
partner for us in these efforts. I explained to the President that I
believe the efforts thus far in Afghanistan have been very positive.
They have been positive because of the great support that the Kazakh
people and the President himself, as well as the Minister of Defense,
have provided us in this effort. So, I very simply said, "thank you."
As I said, I'm pleased to be here with the Minister and the President.
Q: The experts think that a U.S. attack on Iraq is just a question of
time -- what can you say about it?
GEN. FRANKS: I think that my own President has pretty well described
it, in his very thoughtful way, when he has said that the United
States of America believes that Iraq would be better off with a regime
change. Since I don't really understand all of the diplomatic issues
and political discussions associated with that, I confine myself to
the business of military planning so, that'll be the effort I'll be
about in the future: conducting the planning that is necessary in
order to be sure that our nation, the United States of America, and
its allies, will have credible options which can be presented to the
President. My expectation is that he will continue to be thoughtful,
as he has been in the case of Afghanistan up to this point. And that
probably is the very best and most honest answer I can give you.
Q: How do you describe the military situation in Afghanistan today? Do
you expect any serious attacks on the part of the Taliban or other
terrorist groups this year?
GEN. FRANKS: I think that's a very good question, and I appreciate it.
I would say that if you look back one year, you will see that great
changes have taken place in Afghanistan. Of course, the Taliban today
no longer controls Afghanistan. The Loya Jirga has been completed as
of the end of June. The people of Afghanistan have selected a
government and the task of our coalition, which stands at about 70
nations today, in the days ahead will be to work with this
transitional administration that we see in Afghanistan to provide for
its ability to mature, so that it can, in fact, lead the country of
Afghanistan on behalf of some 26 million people. Now as we all know,
there are security issues in Afghanistan, certainly. Afghanistan has
been without peace for a great many years and there are a great many
-- perhaps the world is "equities" -- inside that country, and those
equities or those groups will continue to contend for power in that
country. And so, the process, as we move forward, in fact, will need
to address the stability situation in Afghanistan. I believe that the
international community will continue to work with the government of
President Karzai, in fact, for years ahead, to be able to do that.
Q: What do you think about U.S.-Kazakhstani cooperation in this war on
terrorism? Are any other actions planned, besides the providing of
emergency airport landing facilities?
GEN. FRANKS: Perhaps, I can give a short answer and then his
Excellency the Minister may choose to add something also.
I think what we've seen on many occasions, not only since September of
last year but to my direct knowledge over the last three-to-five
years, the military-to-military relationship between my own country
and Kazakhstan has continued to grow. You know, Kazakhstan was among
the very earliest countries to join in a coalition that stands in
[the] face of terrorism. The example, which the Minister mentioned, of
one of our transport aircraft being diverted recently for emergency
reasons and landing in Kazakhstan is but one example. We have seen the
growth of cooperation over the last several years, and I think that
growth is much to be applauded, and I believe that the relationship
will continue to grow in a future. Spasibo.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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