Petraeus: No Iraq-style surge in Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Petraeus: No Iraq-style surge in Afghanistan
By Pat Eaton-Robb - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Mar 14, 2009 8:42:21 EDT

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The commander of the U.S. Central Command said Friday that an Iraq-style surge cannot be a solution to the problems in Afghanistan.

Gen. David Petraeus, speaking before about 800 people at an event sponsored by the World Affairs Council, acknowledged that the situation in Afghanistan has been spiraling downward and is likely to get worse before it gets better.

In a speech that also touched on issues ranging from the nuclear threat in Iraq to pirates off Somalia, Petraeus said more resources are needed in Afghanistan, both military and especially civil to help build a stable government there.

“The secretary of defense and I are among the biggest champions with members of Congress for increasing the resourcing for the State Department and the Agency for International Development,” he said.

The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan ousted the Islamist Taliban regime in 2001, but the militant movement has regained control of large swaths of the country. U.S. and NATO forces have been unable to reverse the gains.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_petraeus_speech_031409/%2e