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Seattle Post-Intelligencer
December 5, 2007 In Kabul, Gates says request is before Congress
By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghanistan military needs more trainers and equipment to gain control of the country's security, President Hamid Karzai and his defense chief told U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday.
Early Wednesday Gates left Afghanistan for an unannounced visit to Iraq to assess the progress that has been made in the months since the buildup of U.S. forces began to take hold and violence has been reduced in some parts of the country.
In Kabul, Karzai said he was satisfied with the quality of training of the Afghan army, but he said he hoped that the U.S. and its NATO allies would expedite the delivery of air transportation and other assets, which could include planes and helicopters needed to fight al-Qaida and Taliban forces.
Gates, during a joint news conference with Karzai, said there is funding in the war supplemental request currently stalled in Congress, and he has repeatedly promised to continue pressing his NATO partners to meet their commitments to help Afghanistan.
Gates and other U.S. military commanders also agreed that there are concerns about the increased violence in Afghanistan this year. And Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez confirmed that there have been indications of growing al-Qaida activity.
Noting the increase in suicide bombings -- which were not a frequent problem three years ago -- Rodriguez said, "We believe that it's the violent extremists that are behind it," including some who may be transferring the tactic from Iraq.
Gates said that while he also is concerned about the violence, "The consistent message I heard today from both American and Afghan military leaders ... was that an important reason for the increased violence is because there is a much more aggressive effort" by coalition forces to go after the Taliban.
This year has been the most violent since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Insurgency-related violence has claimed nearly 6,200 lives, according to a tally of figures from Afghan and Western officials. The number of attacks has surged, including roadside bombings and suicide assaults.
Earlier, Gates met with Afghan Gen. Bismillah Khan, who said that while "the U.S. has been more than generous," the Afghan army's weapons are inadequate and old, specifically its heavy artillery and armored vehicles. Speaking through an interpreter alongside Gates, the Afghan defense chief added that "we don't have enough mentors, enough advisers."
Gates told Khan that "we know your interest in small arms and mortars and we are looking for ways to expedite" the equipment. And he added that he also was well aware of the shortage of trainers.
According to Maj. Gen. Robert Cone, the U.S. is about to begin providing M-16 rifles to the Afghans, and is poised to deliver about 10,000 a month, up to 60,000. He said there is an ongoing effort to obtain helicopters for the Afghanistan forces.
December 5, 2007 In Kabul, Gates says request is before Congress
By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghanistan military needs more trainers and equipment to gain control of the country's security, President Hamid Karzai and his defense chief told U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday.
Early Wednesday Gates left Afghanistan for an unannounced visit to Iraq to assess the progress that has been made in the months since the buildup of U.S. forces began to take hold and violence has been reduced in some parts of the country.
In Kabul, Karzai said he was satisfied with the quality of training of the Afghan army, but he said he hoped that the U.S. and its NATO allies would expedite the delivery of air transportation and other assets, which could include planes and helicopters needed to fight al-Qaida and Taliban forces.
Gates, during a joint news conference with Karzai, said there is funding in the war supplemental request currently stalled in Congress, and he has repeatedly promised to continue pressing his NATO partners to meet their commitments to help Afghanistan.
Gates and other U.S. military commanders also agreed that there are concerns about the increased violence in Afghanistan this year. And Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez confirmed that there have been indications of growing al-Qaida activity.
Noting the increase in suicide bombings -- which were not a frequent problem three years ago -- Rodriguez said, "We believe that it's the violent extremists that are behind it," including some who may be transferring the tactic from Iraq.
Gates said that while he also is concerned about the violence, "The consistent message I heard today from both American and Afghan military leaders ... was that an important reason for the increased violence is because there is a much more aggressive effort" by coalition forces to go after the Taliban.
This year has been the most violent since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Insurgency-related violence has claimed nearly 6,200 lives, according to a tally of figures from Afghan and Western officials. The number of attacks has surged, including roadside bombings and suicide assaults.
Earlier, Gates met with Afghan Gen. Bismillah Khan, who said that while "the U.S. has been more than generous," the Afghan army's weapons are inadequate and old, specifically its heavy artillery and armored vehicles. Speaking through an interpreter alongside Gates, the Afghan defense chief added that "we don't have enough mentors, enough advisers."
Gates told Khan that "we know your interest in small arms and mortars and we are looking for ways to expedite" the equipment. And he added that he also was well aware of the shortage of trainers.
According to Maj. Gen. Robert Cone, the U.S. is about to begin providing M-16 rifles to the Afghans, and is poised to deliver about 10,000 a month, up to 60,000. He said there is an ongoing effort to obtain helicopters for the Afghanistan forces.