DEFENSE DRUMBEAT: Top U.S. Diplomat in Afghanistan: No Deadline for U.S. Troop Withdrawal
Congressional Desk
December 20, 2009
Washington, D.C. —Leading national security officials within the Administration continue to be forced to defend the President´s controversial July 2011 deadline to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan. In a meeting with senior Afghan officials in Kabul, the United States´ top diplomat to the country, Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, reinforced America´s commitment to Afghanistan.
According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) article, Eikenberry reassured senior Afghan officials and western diplomats that "no deadline exists for withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan and recommitted the US to helping build the capacity and competence of Afghan security forces."
The AFP story continued, "U.S. forces would begin a ´gradual and responsible transition´ in July 2011 conditional on the readiness of Afghanistan's own police and army to take over the security of their war-battered country, Karl Eikenberry said."
The article continued, "´Our troops will begin a gradual and responsible transition in 2011, taking into account the conditions on the ground and Afghanistan's ability to handle its security requirements,´ he said."
During an Armed Services Committee hearing on December 3rd, Rep. McKeon warned Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen that he was worried "our enemies will see the President´s announced date for withdrawal as more of a commitment to leave Afghanistan than a declaration that al-Qaeda will be defeated and the Taliban routed. Certainly this is what our allies in the region believe: today´s headline in the New York Times reads ´Afghans and Pakistanis Concerned Over U.S. Plan.´"
McKeon continued, "All Americans want to see our troops leave Afghanistan as soon as possible, but only after successfully completing their mission. In our view, any redeployment should be based on the events and conditions on the ground—not the Washington political clock."
According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) article, Eikenberry reassured senior Afghan officials and western diplomats that "no deadline exists for withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan and recommitted the US to helping build the capacity and competence of Afghan security forces."
The AFP story continued, "U.S. forces would begin a ´gradual and responsible transition´ in July 2011 conditional on the readiness of Afghanistan's own police and army to take over the security of their war-battered country, Karl Eikenberry said."
The article continued, "´Our troops will begin a gradual and responsible transition in 2011, taking into account the conditions on the ground and Afghanistan's ability to handle its security requirements,´ he said."
During an Armed Services Committee hearing on December 3rd, Rep. McKeon warned Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen that he was worried "our enemies will see the President´s announced date for withdrawal as more of a commitment to leave Afghanistan than a declaration that al-Qaeda will be defeated and the Taliban routed. Certainly this is what our allies in the region believe: today´s headline in the New York Times reads ´Afghans and Pakistanis Concerned Over U.S. Plan.´"
McKeon continued, "All Americans want to see our troops leave Afghanistan as soon as possible, but only after successfully completing their mission. In our view, any redeployment should be based on the events and conditions on the ground—not the Washington political clock."
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