Sees need for US to adapt strategy
CAMBRIDGE - General David Petraeus, architect of the US military surge credited with dramatically reducing violence in Iraq, told a forum at the John F. Kennedy School of Government yesterday that the military situation in Afghanistan will probably deteriorate in the near term.
"We do believe we can achieve progress, but it's going to get worse before it gets better," said Petraeus, the leader of US Central Command, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"When you go into the enemy's sanctuaries, they will fight you for it. There will be tough months ahead, without question," he said.
US strategy will have to be adapted for Afghanistan, where a buildup of more than 20,000 additional troops will have to be accompanied by a subtle cultural understanding of on-the-ground differences between Iraq and Afghanistan, Petraeus said.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2009/04/22/military_situation_in_afghanistan_will_get_worse_petraeus_says/