Warning against early withdrawal from Afghranistan

Independent:

One of the chief proponents of the US military's "surge" policy in Afghanistan has declared that "unrealistic expectations" were raised over the gains made by Nato's offensive to capture the Taliban stronghold of Marjah.

General Jack Keane, a former vice -chief of the US Army, also warned that politicians talking about the early pullout of troops from the conflict send the wrong signals to both allies and enemies about the West's commitment.

Before a visit to Helmand last weekend, the Defence Secretary Liam Fox said there should be a quick withdrawal of British troops from a country which he described as a "broken 13th-century state". President Barack Obama has set July 2011 as when US forces would begin a drawdown.

General Keane's warning comes after General Stanley McChrystal described Marjah as a "bleeding ulcer". The US commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan has told US and Afghan troops and officials that the pace of establishing security and stability needed to be speeded up.

...

We still have a ways to go in providing security for the locals. We need a curfew and better check points to keep the Taliban away from the people. Gen. Keane is a smart guy. People need to pay attention to him in Afghanistan and Washington.

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