(CNN) – The commanding U.S. general in Afghanistan says success in the war there will require a long and steady U.S. commitment.
"We will have an enduring commitment here in some fashion," Gen. David Petraeus said in an interview broadcast Sunday on the NBC program "Meet the Press."
He later added: "I think this is going require a substantial, significant commitment and that it is going to have to be enduring to some degree."
The Obama administration has been criticized for its announced strategy to start a troop withdrawal in August 2011, with conservatives saying it signals U.S. intentions to the enemy while liberals complain it doesn't end the war soon enough.
Petraeus emphasized that the planned "transition" would be based on conditions on the ground, with troops withdrawn only from areas where Afghan security forces are in control.
He also said that he agreed to assume command in Afghanistan this summer to replace the ousted Gen. Stanley McChrystal in order to achieve success, rather than just oversee the end.
"I didn't come out here to carry out a graceful exit or something like that," Petraeus said.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
I thought Bush said we have 'Mission Accomplished'
I feel so lied to!!!
Bush you led us astray, you misled the people, put 'mission accomplished' on his grave stone when he passes
If you believe this clod,maybe we could sell you a pet rock.The man behind the curtain hasnt changed,just the curtain.The best Generals retired when they saw Cheney coming.
I said it in the beginning and I'll say it again, going to war in the Middle East was the worst mistake in U.S. history. These people have religious differences and religious freedom is something we as Americans are entitled to as they should be.
We have we been committed to for 9 years and 1,225 Americans have died there. The fact that the Taliban where called "Freedom Fighters'" by us when they were killing Soviet solders to rid their country of foreign occupation. Now they are called "Terrorists" and "Insurgents" shows how far our military will go in its effort to lie to us about the truth. Release more documents to expose more of their lies. Good Luck to the freedom fighters!
"It is only insensitive if you regard Islam as the culprit as opposed to Al Qaeda as the culprit," What about the millions around the world who celebrated the attack? They weren't al qaeda.
Gee, I wonder what prompts the Pentagon General that wants to keep the big Military Budget, the retired generals making $400 dollars an hour, and some 880 U.S. Military bases throughout the world would say!
How about the U.S. Borders that are causing U.S. citizens great harm and drugs from Afghanistan making a regular arrival? Should they have a commitment as well or is the U.S. Army and National Guard now foreign based only?
Enduring commitment.... translation: Bleed every red cent out of our children's economy for decades so that someone can be right for some unknown purpose beyond the official story. We should have never gone there. Al Qaeda started backing the Taliban after we went there, and now we also want their resources. Give us all a break and stop this stupid war.
Petraeus is just another flunkie left over from the Bush administration. When President Obama ditches Patraeus, Gates and Bernanke he'll see peoples' faith come back to the government.
Thanks to George Bush and his gang for getting us into not one but two wars that are impossible to get out of with our honor intact. Getting entangled in the Middle East was so stupid.
Endless war. Great solution, General . . . for your career.
These same guys were around in 1974. If they'd been smart enough to call the Vietcong terrorists we'd still be at war with Vietnam.
Anybody notice there was hardly any military people to meet the nobummers at Panama City. The military does not like nobummer but had great respect for President Bush. You liberals go figure, the rest of us know why.
As a soldier under the direction of the Commander in Chief he should be following orders, not making statements which go contrary to what his leader has stated. There is a reason why the army is under civilian leadership and this seems to be frequently ignored in recent years/
This guy is an idiot. We're supposed to hold still for sinking billions and billions into this hell hole and sacrifice hundreds more of our young men and women for absolutely nothing? Get him outta here, he makes me sick.
It's time to come home! That's all there is to it, we need not fear people half way across the world who are armed with antique Soviet weaponry! The terror threat is a manufactured one for political purposes mainly so the scum in Washington can do their bidding for their central banker masters who make money off these wars! The central bankers are the real power brokers and thats why Obama is just another Bush. Wake up America, Obama won't have us out by 2012! Look past the lies and rhetoric to the truth and you will see why I support Ron Paul in 2012! Ron Paul will bring our troops home and return to our tradition of a non-interventionist foriegn policy!
The only reason U.S. troops have died in Trash-I-Can't-Understand is because Jarge Bush, the biggest idiot of a dimwit to ever steal two elections, conspired to rob Iraq of all its oil when he decided to trick the world into believing that he was chasing Al Queda into noman's land after 9-11 and tieing them to SoDamn Insane (aka, Sadam Hussein). We do not belong in Trashcanistan. Give that poppy field back to the people who have lived there for centuries. What gives the U.S. the right to occupy a sovereign country? We have the best equiped military in the world and we can't even capture a bunch of Mal Queda jerks hiding in the desert???? Why waste tax payers dollars for decades with zero results except more dead U.S. soldiers? Get our troops out of there now. The Republicans want us to stay there until Jesus returns so high tech corporations can profit from an unending war. This war is StOoPiD and the RePubicCunts couldn't care less how many troops are killed as long as the military industrial machine keeps generating income in their home districts.
Obama-Bien in 2012!!!
Afghan war is very complicated. I don’t think we will leave Afghan soon. We went to war with out any clear plan then we switched to Iraq
There is no government in Iraq, Broken government in Afghanistan What a mess
Both party leaders should tell the truth to Americans what went wrong why when
Then change the strategy to focus on AL-Qaida
Bring our troops home
As General Petraeus emphasizes the importance of resolve in Afghanistan, Erkel Obama is supporting a Muslim Mosque to be erected on the sacred ground of the World Trade Center.
Although it is understandable why there are those against the Afghan War, it is unfathamable that ANYONE would allow such a total slap in the face of America and disrespect to those that died there. Would a great Democrat like the late Harry S Truman allow a Japanese Shrine built at Pearl Harbor? Obama's Political correctness pales in comparison to common sense and dignity.
Freedom of Religious expression, should NOT supercede doing what is right for America re: common decency and respect. Bozorama officially sealed HIS fate along with any other Liberal fools supporting this political stunt. Trust me on that one folks!!!
Why?
Our military has a better mission than to chase around less than 1000 Taliban criminals through lawless regions of desolate and barren terrain. We don't need to further advance the profits of the "military industrial complex".
The people of Afghanistan need to evolve like the rest of the world's societies in their own time, not by our political or military time lines. It seems most Afghans don't want our form of democracy.
Sure we can help by providing them with education and medicine.
But why do we need to spend $2 billion a week and risk our brave solders and marines on this? So these generals can get more colorful ribbons on their chest?