Petraeus Discusses Way Ahead for Afghanistan
~Snooper~
Voices From The War
By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON - Peace and stability in Afghanistan are incomplete without improving relations among the country and its neighbors, the top U.S. military commander in the region said here yesterday.
Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, U.S. Central Command commander, told an audience at the Washington Convention Center that the road to success in Afghanistan involves commitment and comprehensive coordination from Pakistan, India and possibly Russia and Iran to combat the spread of terror and extremism in central Asia.
"It's not possible to solve the challenges internal to Afghanistan without addressing the challenges, especially in terms of security, with Afghanistan's neighbors," Petraeus said in an address to the U.S. Institute of Peace. "A regional approach is required."
Petraeus spoke as part of a conference highlighting some of the foreign policy challenges facing President-elect Barack Obama's administration, citing complexities of the war in Afghanistan and his perspective on the way forward to bring peace to the region.
"There has been nothing easy about Afghanistan," he said. "Indeed, nearly every aspect has been hard, and that will continue to be the case in 2009 and the years beyond." [...] read the rest here
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