powerful former warlord and eight tajik who stated quote at the afghan security forces are not able to wage this war, and call upon the mujahideen. all of these problems in afghanistan are compounded by the two major strategic challenges we face, the continued corruption and ineffectiveness on the part of the afghan government and the safe haven for taliban leadership and other insurgent groups that exist in pakistan, which continues to go unaddressed or worse. none of these developments should be surprising. they cannot be traced back to the fundamental doubt about american resolve in this conflict, a doubt that he shared among our friends and enemies alike in afghanistan and the region. the presidents repeated emphasis on withdrawal, without laying out what would constitute a successful and sustainable transition, has only -- in afghanistan that the united states is committed to getting out regardless of conditions on the ground. this doubt has encouraged all actors in afghanistan and in the region to hedge their bets which increases the worst instincts of the afghan government and increases the chance of a return to civil con