in other words, afghan on nato or isaf force attacks. how many isaf and american personnel have died as a result of green on blue attacks? and how many such attacks are still currently under investigation? >> senator, i'll have to get you the final number on the numbers under investigation. but we've had 52 americans who have been killed and another 60 or so, 68 who have been wounded since 2007 when we first started to track these events. we have taken significant steps to work closely with the afghans. and i'll talk about what the afghan side is doing and then i'll talk about what we're doing on our side. on the afghan side, we're trying to accelerate the counterintelligence capabilities of the afghan national army to ensure that they have the ability down to the battalion level to detect an insider threat that may develop. they have improved the vetting process of individuals who are coming into the afghan national army and police with an eight-step vetting process which includes requirement to have valid i.d. card, letters of endorsem

numbers and the reduction of isaf forces in direct support of our isaf and lisbon transition goals of 31 december 2014. with regard to the voices that we hear in the afghan government, the afghan government is on a path towards sovereignty. this is the whole process that we're talking about with respect to the lisbon convention of -- anticipating security leave by 2014. we should encourage the voices of sovereignty, he courage actions within the afghan government that seeks sovereignty, the mou that i recently signed with the minister wardack was one of the greatest acknowledgements where they partner increasingly with us in a counterinsurgency, they will take responsibility for the administrative detention of insurgents in the battle spacing, and american forces will cease detaining afghans for long periods of time and afghans will pick up that responsibility. that is appropriate. it is a great indicator of sovereignty, for example. with respect to night operations, we have been in a long-term conversation with the afghan government in that regard. i believe that just in the last thr

so such attacks are cause for great concern, but they do not define the relationship between isaf and the afghan forces. and they do not change our determination to succeed because we all want a safer future for afghanistan so that we can all be safer in our streets and in our homes. and we all know that the only way to achieve it is to work together. at our chicago summit in may, together with our isaf partners, we will map out the next phase of the transition to full afghan security responsibility between now and the end of 2014. and as i told president karzai during our call, we intend to make clear our enduring commitment to afghanistan beyond 20 2014. last week the north atlantic council traveled to washington to prepare for the summit which is less than 12 weeks away. we discussed the transformation of our alliance, how to make sure we have the necessary capabilities for the challenges we face in the 21st century. [ speaking foreign language ] [ speaking foreign language ] [ speaking foreign language ] >>> smart defense. smart defense is about lining up national requirements and

isaf is also attending damage control. situation has been especially tense since the quran-burning incident last month. >> from isaf's point of view, of course these incidents and in particular the short distance between the incidents that we have seen in recent weeks are a burden and are of concern for isaf. >> isaf has good reason to be worried. the taliban are quick to exploit anti-western sentiment and the population and have already announced plans to take revenge for sun.'s killings. >> we just heard from the spokesman for the nato-led international security force in afghanistan. he is on the line. what steps are being taken to clear up this incident? >> well, at the moment, we are obviously still in the face of the investigation. the shock about the incident has been expressed in the statement said general allen and the jana military command have passed. particularly on the u.s. side. we're looking into the incident. we're looking into what actually happened, how this soldier to leave the base, and what the backgrou

in other words, on nato or isaf force attacks. how many isaf and american personnel have died as a result of green on blue attacks and how many such attacks are still currently under investigation? >> senator, i will have to get you the final number on the members under investigation. but we have had 52 americans who have been killed and another 60 or so, 68 who have been wounded since 2007 when we first started to track these events. we have taken significant steps to work closely with the afghans. i will talk about what the afghan side is doing and then i will talk about what we are doing on our site. on the afghan side, we are trying to accelerate the counter intelligence capabilities of the afghan national army to ensure that they have the ability down to the battalion level to detect an insider threat that may develop. they have improved the vetting process of individuals who are coming into the afghan national process which includes require me to have a valid i.d. card, letters of endorsement or recommendation for village el

presence, obviously, within the context of isaf. some part of that will be ultimately the ans f as well. it will be a comprehensive recommendation, and i don't know yet exactly how much force it i'm going to need among the u.s. forces in 2013. >> rose: it could be less? >> yes, it could be. >> rose: with with the addition of the nato forces. >> it isn't just a single number. it's a composite number. that's the key thing, the u.s. force as a component of isaf, and in partnership with the it ans. i have to see what the insurgency is. i to see what the state of the insurgency is. i have to look very closely at the operational environment that we anticipate that will unfold in 2013. and in view of those, offer the president some courses of action with respect to the u.s. forces within the context of isaf, nato forces, in 'with the ans f. that's a comprehensive recommendation i owe him. >> rose: when will you do the survey and ascertainment that leads to that recommendation? >> i think by the latter part of the year. >> rose: by the end

now, that is isaf's version of what has happened.eard from the taliban and from a villager who was many the area who both claimed that there was actually more soldiers in the area in western kandahar province, and that it resulted in the death of several people. the taliban is claiming 50 people were killed, though they often exaggerate the numbers of casualties. the person that we were able to speak with who went into that village said that there were several bodies that he did not count, but saw several bodies in the backs of trucks, including men and children. that story, however, is being disputed by isaf who was saying this was a single soldier who acted on his own, left the base, and committed this incident and then came back to the base and turned himself in. there is an investigation, obviously, that is going on now with nato officials and afghan officials, and we're hoping to hear more on that investigation in the coming hours. randy. >> and, sara, this is especially concerning that it happened in kandahar because that is al

the taliban and lots of god, because mainly mainly a place to the international security forces or isaf were concentrated. the leaders begin to enjoy safe haven in pakistan. the efforts to partner with afghan national security forces are encouraging the corruption and governance continued the afghan forces effectiveness. most provinces have established basic governance structures but struggled to provide services. the international security force in support of afghanistan's neighbors notably in particular pakistan will remain essential to sustain the gains achieved. although there is broad international political support for the afghan government, particularly in europe about how to find afghanistan initiatives after 2014. in iraq, then it's been sporadic high-profile attacks continue. prime minister maliki's recent aggressiveness against sunni political leaders have heightened political tensions. but for now, we believe the sunnis continue to be the political process as the best venue to pursue change. elsewhere across the middle east and north africa, those pushing for change are conf

most of the other 49 nations serving along side us in the international security assistance force, isaf. and all through this i have been in close consultation with afghan civilian and military leadership, most of whom have been enmeshed in this country's conflict from the soviet era to the civil war through the darkness of the taliban through the ten years plus of this conflict, enmeshed in this conflict for well over 30 years. i have got tune know them all quite well. from those experiences i can tell you unequivocally three things. first we remain on track to ensure that afghanistan will no longer be a safe haven for al qaeda and will no longer be terrorized by the taliban. second, as a coalition, the largest in recent history, we are well along in our progress to meet our 2010 lisbon summit commitments to transition security lead to the afghan national security forces by december 2014. and third, our troops know the difference that they are making every day, and the enemy feels that difference every day. now, to be sure, the last couple months have been trying. and the wake of the r

but again, isaf sticking with this one soldier being involved and person acting alone.nd the other afghan officials saying, no, there was something else going on there. but indeed, 16 people have been killed. >> thank you very much from kabul. again, one u.s. army staff sergeant in custody and being held responsible for that shooting taking place. >>> meantime, the white house has just released a statement about this shooting. this from president barack obama saying, "i offer my condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and to the people of afghanistan." the president goes on to say, "this incident does not represent the exceptional character of our military and the respect that the united states has for the people of afghanistan." >>> so tensions are already high between civilians and nato forces in afghanistan. and this incident just might make it worse. this year, six american troops died in rioting, linked to the burning of korans by u.s. troops. in one incident last month, a gunman wearing an afghan uniform killed two americans a reme

numbers in the reduction of isaf forces in direct support of our isaf enlistment transition goals of 31 december, 2014. with regards to the voices that we here in the afghan government, the afghan government is on path towards sovereignty. this is the whole process we are talking about with respect to the lisbon convention, anticipating security lead by 2014. and we should encourage the voices of sovereignty. we should encourage actions within the afghan government that seeks sovereignty. the mou that i recently signed with minister wardak was one of the great technologies of afghan sovereignty where as they harden are increasingly with us tonight comprehensive counterinsurgency, they will take responsibility for the administrative insurgents in the battle a battle space and american forces will cease detaining afghans for long periods of time in the afghans will pick up the responsibility. that is appropriate and is a great indicator of sovereignty for example. with respect in night operations we have been in a long-term conversation with the afghan government in that regard. i beli

once they are in place, the measures that isaf and the u.s.ces are taking will begin the process of eliminating or reducing to the maximum extent possible the insider threat. those measures have really only gone into effect in this calendar year. we are going to work hard within isaf and in partnership with the afghans to reduce this as much as possible. it is also important to note that the afghans have suffered from the same kind of threats. --is in everyone's entrance interests -- >> you are speaking of green on green -- afghan soldiers killing another afghan soldier. >> that is correct. it is in all our interests to spot trouble soldiers in the ranks and deal with them. we will provide you with accounts of successful investigations that have occurred in the last several months where we have intercepted, arrested, detained individuals who is intent it was to harm either afghans or isaf forces. >> it would be good to have been success stories. it also asking you for a pretty detailed answer on the record. as far as the incidents since 2007 a

the effort that is we undertake in isaf to address those efforts, those influences, i think have begun to take shape in important and meaningful ways. since i have been in afghanistan through the use of task force transparency, through task force 2010, which has done a great deal about contracting and ensuring transparency and contracting -- excuse me -- and in direct conversation with president karzai, we have taken steps, and president karzai has appointed a presidential executive commission to partner with us. for example, to begin the process of removing organized crime from borders, customs depots and airports. the process of being able to do that will recoup substantial amounts of revenue to afghan government coffers. it will reduce the very thing that you mentioned about the flying of cash out of afghanistan and the president, president karzai, who talks publicly and often about this culture of impunity, has, in fact, commissioned the presidential executive commission to partner with us in that process and we're starting that process now. importantly as well, both of the securit

each one of those tranches is accompanied by detailed conversations in conferences between isaf and our partners to ensure that the security forces in those areas are postured and ready to take over the lead for security, not to be finished in terms of security, but the lead for security in those areas. it has i believe it very seriously focused conversations, both in terms of the department of the a in sf and the resourcing. and in that sense has been positive. >> thank you. i'd like to turn to another topic when i visit with you last fall, we talked about, our group did which was the issue of safe havens in pakistan. and the challenge that that poses with all of the good intent and great success in terms of training afghans, if the taliban can serve operate with impunity in and out of pakistan. that really provides a real weakness in terms of a competition the goal of denying the taliban the ability to overthrow the afghan government. i wonder if you could sort updaters in terms of what you are seeing right now in terms of trying to plug that hole. >> it continues to be a threat to th

secretary panetta said as afghan forces assume the lead for security, isaf forces will move to a support and advise assist role though will remain fully combat capable. it appears though afghan security forces will be in the lead starting in 2013 throughout afghanistan, u.s. and coalition forces may still be participating in combat operations with afghan forces in parts of afghanistan while the transition process continues to completion in 2014. i also understand that the plan after 2014 is for the afghan security forces to still receive coalition support in key enablers such as logistics, airlift and intelligence support and u.s. special operations forces will likely be partnered with their afghan counterparts in conducting counterterrorisms operations. we also need to foe what the transition process needs for the pace of u.s. troop reach ducks in -- reduction in afghanistan. last june president obama said after the 33,000 troop u.s. surge force was brought home by the end of this summer, that u.s. troop levels would continue to draw down, quote, and this is the president's quote, at a

it wasn't just the commander of isaf to disagree, it was the u.s.ambassador, commander and the supreme commander of europe. the issue was more in the assessment of the future than it is about the present. and i evaluate our success in the future by the success i am seeing in the present. i am confident that if we continue on this trajectory with the kinds of capabilities that we have, with the kinds of successes that the afghan national security forces are cheating, that we can prevail in this. i cannot go into the details here, but i believe we can illustrate why we differ in that particular assessment. i have to be quick to point out that i know a number of those analysts, and every single day as a commander i benefit from the magnificent work that they do in producing intelligence necessary for me to make decisions. i appreciate that. there were a number of them that got them to the media. there were a number of areas that we believe that we see right now that gives us hope that in the long-term assessment, which begins in 2014, the start point f

and i think i can speak for the afghans and i can speak for the isaf and u.s. forces.s relationship and we remain committed to the campaign. >> let me button up one sensitive issue of injury. is there any evidence that this sergeant that allegedly killed the afghans, himself, had been injured or suffered from some sort of brain injury in earlier tours of duty? >> i can't comment on that, wolf. we'll look at all of this as factors associated in the investigation. >> are u.s. troops, nato troops, american diplomats, others working in afghanistan, now effectively confined to their respective bases out of fear of retaliation? >> no. we're going to continue to be very cautious and very careful. we're going to be attentive to the operational environment around us but we're not confined to our bases and we're not cowering in our homes in afghanistan. we're going to continue to work very closely with our afghan allies and our afghan friends and engage with them. it's very important to understand, that the relationship on the whole, with afghanistan and the united states and af

i would refer you to the defense department and isaf for more details about that. as tragic as these events are, the strategy is focused on it disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al qaeda, stabilizing afghanistan so that afghan security forces can take responsibility for the security of their own country, which would allow us to continue to draw down our forces. and that is a policy that the president is implementing. i am sure there will be discussions ongoing between u.s. military leaders, as well as civilian leaders in afghanistan and the afghan government in the wake of this incident. but our strategic objectives have not changed and they will not change. and we will continue to discuss with our afghan counterparts the need to implement our strategy and develop a strategic partnership that will allow us ultimately to turn over responsibility to the afghans. >> is the president worried that the incident could harm his own standing of the american people who are worried about america's role in afghanistan? >> the president is focused on the national security i

it's been an isaf decision. 40 other countries have joined us in this. >> thank you. >> thank you for being here. i think my colleague from georgia left off the outrage we all feel of the 13 men killed in the green on blue incident as a result of the litany of things that went wrong, including the specialist of payton jones, laid to rest in texas. general allen, there are those in this community and on both sides of these buildings that are openly calling for a re-assessment now and a quicker drawdown of troops out of afghanistan, that's quicker than what's currently planned under all the other agreements, and also i'd like to parenthetically mention, i've never heard anybody say us staying in afghanistan forever was even a remote option. i'm not sure where my colleagues earlier got that idea. but back to my point. i understand after october 1 you handle the 68,000 there and the mission all the way to the end of 2014. if suddenly the administration announces without your input they're going to change the parameters with of people you're working with or the capacity you'll have in plac

he has appointed a presidential executive commission headed by minister of finance to partner with isaf and with the international community on the issues of reclaimingborders, inland customs depots. that's an important move. >> have you seen any change in the isi relationship with the taliban -- in the haqqani network? >> i have not sir. >> general, as you know, the american people are war weary. public opinion polls show that most americans want out of afghanistan and an end to this decade-long conflict, more than a decade. and more than 1,000 lives. if you had a chance to speak to the american people about what's at stake here and your view of this conflict, what would you say to them? >> first thing i would do is to thank them for their incredible support to the men and women and to the campaign and to our services who have come together in afghanistan to accomplish the mission which is to deny al qaeda safe havens and to deny al qaeda the opportunity or taliban, the opportunity to overthrow the government of afghanistan. i would thank them for that. that's the first thing i would s

a military necessity, but to seek opportunity where his military and the forces of afghanistan and isaf can partner to start to get at and squeeze some of these organizations. >> i wanted to say, i wish you well in the meetings. the movement there will be important. i know and i presume you do that the agreement on a strategic partnership with afghanistan may be an encouragement to pakistan to help us close down those sanctuaries. dr. miller? >> senator lieberman i wanted to in fact say something along the lines of what you joust noted. that is that while as general allen said we've seen pakistan taking on significant fight within their own borders we've asked them to do more and will continue to do so. we see hedging behavior in the region. and we see it because some people have at this point are not 100% sure of the u.s. and coalition commitment to support afghanistan beyond 2014. the strategic partnership, the enduring commitment that president obama has talked about and the plans including at the chicago nato summit are going to be important markers in let me just say the support of

week is an opportunity to make sure that britain and america, the two largest contributors to the isaf mission, in afghanistan are absolutely in lockstep about the importance of training on the afghan army, training up the afghan police and making sure all partners have a process for transition in that country so the afghans can take responsibility for the security of their own country and we can bring our forces home. >> ed miliband. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, ghana join the prime minister in expressing profound sadness at the terrible news of our soldiers being feared dead. today is day we a reminder of the ongoing commitment of sacrifice that our service made on our behalf. by putting themselves in harm's way, for our benefit, they demonstrate the utmost service and courage. we owe them and all those who lost their lives in afghanistan an immense sense of gratitude for our thoughts are with her family and friends and colleagues at this terrible time. mr. speaker, at moments like this does the prime minister agree with me we must restate clearly the reasons for our mission in afghani

some afghan soldiers have taken up arms against isaf soldiers which could diminish trust among soldier that are supposed to be partnered. partnering is valuable and necessary. there are steps that can be taken to minimize such incidents, and that these criminal actions are relatively isolated. moreover, the horrific incident of u.s. army staff sergeant who allegedly took up arms against afghan civilians also is both isolated and a criminal act that should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. these exceptional incidents are not reflective of the hundreds of thousands of u.s. soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, who have honorably served in afghanistan, nor are they reflect inof the many thousands of afghan soldiers who are being train and are helping to secure afghanistan today. additionally, i remain very concerned about the president's decision last summer to speed up withdrawal of the surge troops from afghanistan, as well as his original announcement in his speech at west point for a2014 u.s. combat forces. it has made it increasingly difficult to build up trust and confidenc

week is an opportunity to make sure that britain and america, the two largest contributors to the isaf mission, in afghanistan are absolutely in lockstep about the importance of training on the afghan army, training up the afghan police and making sure all partners ve a process for transition in that country so the afghans can take responsibility for the security ofheir own country and we can bring our forces home. >> ed milind. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, ghana join the prime minister in expressing profound sadness at the terrible news of our soldiers being feared dead. day is day we a reminder of the ongoing commitment of sacrifice that our service made on our behalf. by putting themselves in harm's way, for our benefit, they demonstrate the utmost service and courage. we owe them and all those who lost their liv n afghanistan an immense sense of gratitude for our thoughts are with her family and friends and coeagues at this terrible time. mr. speaker, at moments like this does the prime minister agree with me we must restate clearly the reasons for our mission in afghanistan, a more

forces remaining, somewhere around 40,000 isaf forces and probably by then 3352,000 ansf. because of the nature of the recovery of the force, because of the progress of the campaign that i anticipate in 2012, it's my intention to take the time following the recovery of the surge forces to examine the insurgency, examine the progress that we've made in the development of the ansf, to see the posture of the battle space, as it has developed throughout the fighting season of 2012 and before the end of 2012 i intend to provide to the president a series recommendations for the combat power i need for 2013 and 2014. it's not my intention to be able to make that decision today. it's going to require analysis, of the after the conclusion of the fighting season and the recovery of the 23,000 troops in phase ii of the surge drawdown. >> thank you. have you been given assurances by the white house that you can have the forces that you believe you need through the end of the 2013 fighting season? >> i have been given assurances by the white house that we're in a strategic conversation

>> they are performing well when they are back to a neighbors from isaf. >> thank you. a dod press briefing -- lieutenant general scott for i.d., commander of the joint command was in charge of operations in afghanistan describe signs of progress indicated that he gave a positive view of the progress to build capabilities that the army and the afghan police and i think general burgess you indicated you basically share that view and also direct your indicated in much the same thing. this is my question to you, general. do you share general dempsey's assessment? i was just a couple days ago that the afghan security forces are on track to assume the lead for providing security throughout afghanistan right 2014 while still requiring support from coalition forces are key enablers flaked intelligence? >> yes, sir. i would be in agreement. >> the question on pakistan. according to news reports, and the need report entitled state of the taliban 2012 included claims by taliban detainees that pakistan is providing support to the insurgency and are reportedly also portrayed though

it's not just in a unilateral decision it's been isaf, 49 other countries have joined us in this. >> you. mr. conaway. specs before mr. chairman and for being here. i don't think my colleague from georgia intentionally left off the outrage we feel of the 13 men killed as a result of the litany of things that went wrong in putting a specialist in texas. general allan, there are those in this committee and on both sides of the building openly calling for a quicker drawdown of troops out of afghanistan quicker than what is currently planned and all of the other agreements. i've never seen anybody say us staying in iraq or against them forever was even a remote option so my colleagues have that and i'm not sure where they got that idea but back to my point. on the understand that we will do an assessment of how to handle the 58,000 there and the mission to the end of suddenly of the administration announces without your input that they're going to change the parameters with which the number of people you are working with your the capacity that you have in place during the the transition

what accounts for the increase in these kinds of attacks on isaf forces? do you consider it a significant threat, and is there evidence that the taliban is purposely planning, infiltrating the afghan forces, or are these random acts? >> mattel that takes credit for all of them, when the majority are not a direct result of taliban infiltration. it is no secret that taliban has had as an objective infiltrating the ranks of both peaks ansf and those elements that support us and our camps. it is difficult to tell right now whether this is an increase in the operational tempo, but we can all probably assume that with some of the incidents that have occurred in the last several months that that has been a potential causal factor in some of the extremism that resulted in a green-on-blue events. >> how can they work side by side and in many cases city in the same encampment with this kind of threat looming over them? >> in many cases the relationship is very strong. in most cases, the relationship is very strong. they know each other well. we have taken steps nece

the key point is to remember that over these 10 years, thousands and thousands of isaf forces have passed through afghanistan. they have shown a reverence for the faith of islam. they have properly handled the religious materials. in this case where these individuals seem to have mishandled the materials, it will be investigated. the reasons for that mishandling will be established. action will be taken to prevent that from happening again. we have to remember all the troops who have pastor here who have done this right. we will focus on these for now. we will investigate what happened and we will take action to prevent it from happening again. >> does something like this and do all that good work and fall into the hands of the hands of of the taliban propaganda machine? >> it is with the afghan national security forces. we have been serving shoulder to shoulder with the afghan national security forces for years. we are operating right now as i speak, operating across south afghanistan. we have trust in each other. we have confidence in each other. and even though we have this set back, i

what accounts for the increase in these kinds of attacks on isaf forces? do you consider it a significant threat, and is there evidence that the taliban is purposely planting infiltrating the afghan forces, or are these random acts? >> mattel that takes credit for all of them, when the majority are not a direct result of taliban infiltration. it is no secret that taliban has had as an objective infiltrating the ranks of both peaks ansf and those elements that support us and our camps. it is difficult to tell right now whether this is an increase in the operational tempo, but we can all probably assume that with some of the incidents that have occurred in the last several months that that has been a potential causal factor in some of the extremism that resulted in a green-on-blue events. >> how can they work side by side and in many cases city in the same encampment with this kind of threat looming over them? >> in many cases the relationship is very strong. in most cases, the relationship is very strong. they know each other well. we have taken steps neces

what accounts for the increase in these kinds of attacks on isaf forces?o you considered a significant threat and is there evidence that the taliban is actually purposely planting, infiltrating the afghan forces or are these just random acts? >> that's an important question. the taliban of course takes credit for all of them, when it that the majority are not a direct result of taliban infiltration. is also no secret that the taliban has had as an objective for some period of time infiltrating the ranks of both the ansf and those elements that support is directly. it is difficult to tell right now whether this is an increase in the operational tempo, but i think that we can all probably assume that with some of the incidents that have occurred, in the last several months, that has been a potential causal factor in some of the extremism that resulted in the green-on-blue events. >> general, how does the u.s., how does the british and the french, how can they work side-by-side and at many cases sleeping in the same and can't meant with this kind of threat lo

i thank isaf for that sacrifice. >> i thank you. i hope the american people could hear those words as you articulated them. >> thank you. thank you. thank you for your extraordinarily service. thank you also for -->> one of the most compelling statement i have ever heard, which reflects for your a profound appreciation to the men and women you lead. thank you very much. >> thank you, sir. >> i am willing to oversimplify what your operational challenges are. they seem to be two. one is to be able to bed at nato advisers with afghani forces as they take the lead. the outbreak 24/7. both of those issues have been shaken by incidents of by discussions in the last few weeks. with respect to the night raids, there has been some discussion of authorizing raids into afghani procedures and warrants. it would seriously impede your ability to operate. is that something that is being done? >> would undermine the ability to operate? >> that memorandum of understanding that we not in pete the contributions of those operations made every single da

compatriot, i've met with those who serve alongside us in the international security assistance force, isafave been enmeshed in think country's conflict for over three decades. i can tell you unequivocally three things -- first we remain on track to ensure afghanistan will no longer be a safe haven for al qaeda and no longer be terrorized by the taliban. second as a coalition, we are well aware and well along on the progress to meet our 2010 liz bon commitments to transition security leads to the afghan national security forces in 2014 and, third, our troops know the difference they're making every day. they know it and the enemy feel it is every day. to be sure the last couple months have been trying. in the wake of the revelations that american troops had mishandled religious texts to include the koran, protests, some of them violent occurred in several but only a few regions across afghanistan. 32 afghans lost their lives in these riots and even more were hurt. just since the first of january the coalition has lost 60 brave troops in action from six different nations. 13 of them were kil

miller do you want to add anything on that particularly with isaf. >> senator let me say three things. the first is there has been speculation in reporting in the press that there are options being developed for reductions lower than the levels that -- lower than the 68,000. that is not the case. second, the president obama is going to make a decision about the size and scope of the draw down following getting the force to the 68,000 at the appropriate time and right now it looks like it's going to be in the fall after general allen makes his assessment. if he says he's ready. it could be in principal either direction. i would want to ensure that that got up to the chain of command and that was considered. and then third, it is very much the case that our coalition partners look to what we're doing and look to our sustained commitment as they think about what they're going to do and that has they the rankly consider how they make the case to their publics for sustaining the presence in afghanistan to the end of 2014 and then an enduring commitment beyond that. i was in afghanistan i c

. >> the major general richard home last month after completing service as isaf's regional commanderrthern afghanistan. the end of his deployment was overshadowed by violent protests following the burning of copies of the koran by americans. despite the unrest, he says the security situation in the north is stable. >> there was a significant improvement in the security situation in the north over the course of 2011. but there were a number of individual events which caused concern, including the killings of senior figures. >> he was badly injured a year ago. a bomb exploded in government buildings in the northern province. two of his colleagues were killed along with a number of afghans, including two regional police chiefs. despite these setbacks, training afghan security forces remains a top priority for the international community. >> our work will never stop improving the quality of the afghan forces. but i have seen real progress in the past year. we need to stick with it. >> international forces have begun the process of leaving afghanistan. soon, afghans will have to handle se