Petraeus: Patience needed for Afghan surge

[unhappycamper]

Petraeus: Patience needed for Afghan surge
By Jim Michaels - USA Today
Posted : Monday Dec 7, 2009 7:03:17 EST

Gen. David Petraeus, who commands U.S. forces in the Middle East, said he does not expect progress in Afghanistan to mirror the quick and dramatic results achieved under the troop surge in Iraq in 2007.

Petraeus, who commanded U.S. forces in Iraq in 2007, said the Afghanistan plan will focus on selected regions and proceed in phases.

“This will be a step-by-step operational campaign,” Petraeus told USA Today. “There will at times be increases in violence, undoubtedly, as the Taliban fight back to try to hang on to a particular safe haven and sanctuary.”

Petraeus led the largely successful surge in Iraq, where a change in tactics backed by an influx of about 30,000 additional U.S. service members seized the initiative from insurgents.

In Iraq, there was an initial spike in violence in early 2007, but by the time Petraeus returned to Washington that September to testify to Congress, he could point to dramatic progress.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/12/gns_afghanistan_surge_petraeus_120709/