Petraeus Calls for United Effort in Afghanistan
VOA News 03 July 2010
U.S. General David Petraeus appealed for a united effort in the Afghan war in his first public comments since arriving in Afghanistan to take command of NATO forces in the country.
Speaking at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul Saturday, Petraeus said both civilian and military efforts must work as a team to end the nearly 9-year war. He called it a "tough mission," but that "cooperation is not optional."
Petreaus made his remarks to nearly 2,000 Afghan, American, and international guests during a special reception to mark the American Independence Day, which falls on July 4.
Petraeus arrived in Kabul Friday to take command of the 140,000 U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. He is under pressure to help bring security to Afghanistan by defeating a growing Taliban insurgency, while at the same time planning an exit strategy to draw down U.S. forces by next year.
Petraeus replaces General Stanley McChrystal who resigned amid controversy last week.
Underscoring the challenge Petraeus faces, just hours after his arrival Friday, Taliban suicide bombers launched a daring raid on the compound for USAID contractors in the northern city of Kunduz, killing five people and wounding at least 24 others.
Elsewhere Saturday, NATO said one of its operations in Afghanistan has resulted in the deaths of two civilians and the wounding of another.
NATO service members discovered a dead woman and two wounded men who had been caught in the crossfire of a gun battle that was part of an effort to secure a compound in the village of Kalachen in Kandahar district. One of the men later died from his injuries.
Separately, police in the southeastern province of Khost said Taliban militants abducted at least 10 local elders Friday night from the Spera district. Police said they were working for the release of the missing men.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
