and i'm pleased to do so with ambassador carl ikenberry, an old friend.let me begin by saluting the bravery of the men and women of the international security force in afghanistan. they're anchored by over 68,000 courageous americans, our close partners in the nato alliance, and a 43 nation coalition. we honor the sacrifices of the fallen, the veterans, and their families. we also recognize the toll paid every day by our counter parts in the afghanistan security forces and afghan civilians who ultimately suffer the most from this insurgency. it is for them and for all of us that we seek a stable afghanistan, a defunct al qaeda, and a secure future in that vital region of the world. i first deployed to afghanistan in 2002 and have commanded forces there every year since. despite that experience, there is much in afghanistan that i have yet to fully understand. for all of us, afghanistan is a challenge that's best aproufed with a balance of determination and humility. while u.s. forces have been at war in afghanistan for eight years, the afghans have been a

and i'm pleased to do so with ambassador carl ikenberry, an old friend. let me begin by saluting the bravery of the men and women of the international security force in afghanistan. they're anchored by over 68,000 courageous americans, our close partners in the nato alliance, and a 43 nation coalition. we honor the sacrifices of the fallen, the veterans, and their families. we also recognize the toll paid every day by our counter parts in the afghanistan security forces and afghan civilians who ultimately suffer the most from this insurgency. it is for them and for all of us that we seek a stable afghanistan, a defunct al qaeda, and a secure future in that vital region of the world. i first deployed to afghanistan in 2002 and have commanded forces there every year since. despite that experience, there is much in afghanistan that i have yet to fully understand. for all of us, afghanistan is a challenge that's best aproufed with a balance of determination and humility. while u.s. forces have been at war in afghanistan for eight years, the afghans have been

yesterday in my office, ikenberry informed me will soon also have tripled the number of civilian experts assigned to the mission, and we welcome that. many in the press have compared the increase and forces in afghanistan to the surge in iraq. i don't think such comparisons are wise are fair. as a percentage of the forces on the ground, increase ordered by president obama is much larger than the increase in iraq. and the fight in afghanistan will be different in many ways. many articles citing general petraeus yesterday suggested he does not believe that progress in afghanistan will not come as quickly as it did in iraq. in the article he suggested that we must be measured in our expectations. to me this article highlights the need for a commitment to accomplishing this mission. not just from the president, but from the congress and the american people. i hope that this hearing can help build that sense of support and that sense of commitment. general mcchrystal and you, ambassador ikenberry, sat in my office and told me you think we can successfully complete the mission in afghanistan.

i want to acknowledge carl ikenberry who is here, our ambassador designate to afghanistan and to my national security team, thanks for their outstanding work. today i'm announcing a comprehensive new strategy for afghanistan and pakistan. this marks the con clufingse a careful policy review led by bruce that i ordered as soon as i took office. my administration has heard from our military commanders and diplomats. we consulted with partners and nato allies and with other donors and international organizations. we also worked closely with members of congress here at home. now i'd like to speak clearly and candidly to the american people. the situation is increasingly perilous. it's been more than seven years since the taliban was removed from power, yet war rages on and insurge -- insurgents control parts of afghanistan and pakistan. attacks against our troops, our allies and the government have risen steadily. 2008 was the deadliest year of the war for the united states. many people in the united states and many in partner countries have a simple question. what is our purpose in afghanistan?

general ikenberry, it is good to see you again.any of our visit to brussels with the nato parliamentary assembly eric general mcchrystal, i appreciate your conversation with me on the phone at the last nato pa meeting. i see and very encouraged by the reaction of the nato parliamentarian member, members at the last meeting a couple, three weeks ago. there's a new spirit and a new cooperation i think from the first time in several years. is my impression to use a football analogy that they realize and have no problem with the united states being the quarterback of nato. they would just like to be in the huddle when the plate is called. and you and i think the administration have done a good job of including them in the huddle, and it makes a tremendous amount of difference, let me say, in the attitude and the atmosphere where all of these parliamentarians from member nations gather. and as president of that organization for next year i want to thank you both for doing that. i would encourage you, everywhere you can, to always speak