agree with general mcchrystal, it's a good date to get the afghans moving forward and president karzai has shown that publicly. >> the time has expired. the gentleman from north carolina, mr. miller. >> thank you, mr. chairman. we have set am bashs goals for training and equipping afghan saerm and police forces. but it remains a weak government. you said earlier much of afghanistan is ungoverned still. having a weak government and strong military frequently leads to unhappy results in many parts of the world. we've also had at best mixed success in trying to build a military as a unifying national institution in nations that don't have a strong national identity. we try to do that in iraq. and it appeared that we effectively armed and equipped every side in the sectarian civil war. the video, the cell phone video, the execution of saddam hussein and the taunting by the shia militia did us great damage, created the impression that was a sectarian revenge killing, not the execution of justice in a society with a legitimate rule of law. what is the desertion rate now? where are those folks go

one problem is that president karzai has not received this message but it's clear that he and his government has to lead. >> but the government did not give the tactics, do you support that idea or how do you pay for it? >> i support the idea of paying for it, we have gone now for eight plus years to wars that his contributed to where we are today. and that's the president's view. the specifics are always difficult. but there are only two ways to do it, one is to make savings in other accounts. i think some of that will be done. and then you have to consider raising revenue, and that's something we are doing now in the health care debate. it strikes me ironic that we have committed ourselves in the health care debate to pay for it and to make it the budget saving going forward and we are being resisted by the republicans in that. and they seem to suggest that they will resist paying for the operations of afghanistan. we have to begin to reverse the deficit. a lot of people talk about it, but it's got to be done. this particular approach will evolve over the next several months. >> i want to

president karzai has dealt we are there for our own reasons, not to help him, and therefore he has been in different. >> but the president did not give specifics on how this is going to be paid for. congressman obey is suggesting a war tax. do you support that idea? >> i support the idea of paying for it. i think we have gone now for a 8 plus years, two wars, close to $1 billion which has contributed to our deficit. i think that is the president's view, too. the specifics are always difficult, but there are only two ways to do it. one is to make savings in other accounts, expense accounts. some of that will be done. then you have to consider raising revenue. that is something we are doing right now on the health-care debate issue. it is ironic that we have committed ourselves in the health-care debate not only to pay for it, to make it be budget saving going forward, and we are being resisted by the republicans on that. they seem to suggest that we resist even paying for the operations in afghanistan. we have got to begin to reverse the deficit. lots of people talk about it, and it has

president karzai has agreed to come and he will have to report on reforms that he has promised to make in his administration as he started his second period of duty. at the same time, we are making available all the equipment is necessary, helicopters and vehicles, to our armed forces but i can just add one thing that 80 percent of the deaths have been the result of explosive devices. and we've now brought in far more severe as equipping. would've brought an extra engineers that were brought in extra drones to survey the area. would have brought in more intelligence officers and we're backing up our troops with the best equivalent possible. we will do everything we can to avoid the loss of life as a result of this guerrilla warfare. >> u.s. forces are now pouring into helmand province which is welcome. but it is one of the current provinceproblems that we are responsible if all of the increase in u.s. and helmand, it is their data will be a contest between the u.k. forces were still spread too thinly and u.s. forces who will not be? does he accept this needs to change and change very u

president karzai has agreed to come, and he will have to report on the reforms that he promised to make in his administration as he started his second period of duty. at the same time, we are making available all the equipment that is necessary -- helicopters and vehicles -- to our armed forces. i can just add one thing, that 80% of the deaths have been the result of explosive devices. we have now brought in far more surveillance equipment, we have brought in extra engineers, we have brought in extra drones to survey the area, we have brought in more intelligence officers, and we are backing up our troops with the best equipment possible. we will do everything we can to avoid the loss of life as a result of this guerrilla warfare. >> mr. david cameron. >> thank you, mr. speaker. u.s. forces are now pouring into helmand province, and that is welcome. but is not one of the current problems that british forces are still spread too thinly in the very tough parts of helmand for which we are responsible? following the increase in u.s. forces in helmand, is there not a danger that there will b

amazing how many of our senators have talked about the karzai government and corruption. and it has to do with all three of the objectives. if we're going to be able to achieve security in afghanistan, if we're going to be able to have governance in afghanistan, if we deal with the economic progress in afghanistan, it all depends upon having a partner that can work with us. we got to transition the security. we got to have governance of a country that respects the rights of its people, and we have to deal with economic development that if there is monies being taken through corruption, it is going to cost american taxpayer and international community and the afghan itself more than it should. so secretary lew, i just really want to challenge a statement you made. you said, we're going to hold them -- first you said we're going to have a policy against corruption and we're going to hold the afghan government accountable. how do you hold them accountable? what do you do if you find corruption? do you pull our soldiers out? do you cut off the money? how do you hold them accountable? >>

but president karzai has a real mission here. to clean up his act, if i can be that blunt, and provide this sort of leadership for all afghan people to build a better future, to take this opportunity, which is an opportunity for him, and build on it. if he doesn't do it, then his country, the afghan people, and the entire region, which includes two nuclear powers, and india and china. all of that region then becomes unstable. and i think that's not an afghan's best interest. that's not in the united states or region interest or the world. >> former nato commander, west point graduate, general george joulwan, thank you. please come back any time. >> thank you. okay. >> >> as we get better and better, we run the risk of all of the confidence and arrogant. >> four of malcolm's book sit on the "new york times" best sellers list, including the latest, "what the dog saw." he's our guest on c-span's q and a. >> topics at the state department briefing include nato's role in afghanistan, and the start nuclear disarmorment treaty between t

we believe corruption is one of the reasons why the karzai government has not developed the capacity it needs nor has it been effective enough. i mean i don't want anybody to think that we are trying to aim toward some zero corruption standard in afghanistan. that doesn't exist anywhere in the world and particularly that part of the world but what we do expect to see if the government that delivers more for the people, thereby obtaining the allegiance of more people in more parts of the country that can support the effective ministers and the effective governors especially where we need them. we each have the experiences with different industries that we think are quite confident and very professional. the defense ministry, the interior ministry, increasingly the finance and the education and agriculture ministry. i did that time to respond to senator menendez at the length and with the thoroughness that his long litany deserves but this is not all a negative picture and i think it is unfair to our efforts and unfair to the efforts of many people inside the afghanistan government you

. >> i know that prime minister brown has reportedly given president karzai a list of milestones and metrics that he will judge him by. have you seen the list? do you -- does it have -- are we trying to replicate and work with them in that regard? >> congressman, i have not seen the specific list but i'm roughly familiar with the intent of it. >> good. >> said the other guys were here and testified. in my district, i find it is a tour of the country, there is a great concern of the four guys that are under indictment, or whatever you call that in the military, and i think the concern is that somehow we are being caught up in political correctness. i wanted to tell secretary dates -- arkansas played texas earlier in the year and beat them. in the heat of that battle, if somebody hit somebody in the mouth, they would be suspended for a game. i know it is different, the situation, but is not that different. what i would like from you is your reassurance. through the years, people have stood up for me, your reassurance that you are looking into that. i know you cannot get involved direct

karzai said we need that kind of pressure. we want to stand up. jim mcchrystal has said we are going to have to be cognizant of afghanistan's long-term means for security. as president karzai said in his inauguration, the idea of having a strategic partnership with united states is something that i think is going to be essential as we move forward and define what that long-term relationship with afghanistan is about. >> thank you. >> the american people still want this to capture and kill osama bin laden. it occurs to me that would be an important strategic military goal as well. are we still love of the business of trying to capture and kill? secretary kate said the we have not had good intelligence on his whereabouts in years. can you discuss with us what part of the mission, catching and killing osama bin laden is for you right now that / >> i am responsible for inside afghanistan. were osama bin laden to come in there, it to become a huge priority. if he is not inside, it is outside of my mandate. i do believe it is very important. >> can you speak to that at al

and as president obama said last night, there is no blank check for president karzai. he has to take the action as necessary and that's why i said earlier today that the london conference on november the 28th which president karzai will attend will be a chance for president karzai to set out further reforms that he estimates to make the army and police more efficient to make sure that government is free of corruption and to build up stronger, local and provincial government. >> nick clegg? >> will the prime minister confirm at the london conference he just referred to whether the powers around afghanistan, russia, china and, yes, even iran might be involved? without regional backing it will be difficult to create stability within afghanistan. president obama was critical in his speech last night. will the prime minister tell us whether this is being taken forward and perhaps give us a feel for what steps have been taken to involve those other countries in the region. >> as he recognizes the military surge has got to be matched by a political and diplomatic surge and it will b

and president karzai has shown his support for that date publicly. >> time of the gentleman has expired. the gentleman from north carolina, mr. miller. >> thank you, mr. chairman. we have now set ambitious goals for training and equipping, afghan army and police forces. but the karzai government by anyone's estimation remains a very weak government. you said earlier much of afghanistan is ungoverned still. having a weak government and a strong military frequently leads to unhappy results in many parts of the world. we've also had at best mixed success in trying to build a military as a unifying national institution in nations that don't have a strong national identity. we tried to do that in iraq and it appeared we effectively armed and equipped every side in the sectarian civil war. the video, the cell phone video of the execution of saddam hussein and taunting of the shia military but obviously also members of the shia militia that was more loyal to muqtada al-sadr did us great damage. it created the impression that was a sectarian revenge killing not the execution of justice in a soc

we are encouraged by president karzai's inaugural address. what he hasaid will be his plan of action. >> you mentioned the high office of oversight. is that an office set up by president karzai? >> it have set up one year ago to deal with corruption. there is, my understanding, that there is a press conference today in kabul. i know their intent is to try to give the high office of >> their legislative branch created that, not president karzai? >> i will have to go back for the record, but the high office of the oversight, at least demanding comes from the executive branch. -- the manning comes from the executive branch. if president karzai puts more emphasis on that, we are prepared to work in partnership and offer support. >> from everything i've seen in afghanistan as well as what might georgia soldiers who had been deployed and come back, if we reverse the taliban and disrupt them and degrade them, but if we do not improve the government and the image of the government within the people, we will not be successful. is that not right? >> that is absolu

has not yet been affected. but we are --- >> amabassador, in terms of understanding that kabul and president karzai and the centralso many of the senate -- 37 provincesçn afghanistan, what has taken place in a local provinces, working with the local tribal leaders to try to educate, not educate, but to understand the issues taking place. are we working? -- on the military side, but also on the resource side with locals -- were, because of divisions in the country and all the different ethnicities that are there, locals are really in charge? do wew3 have a specific program that is working with the local province, the governors that are there, or the local councils? >> senator, our principal way is working through the government of afghanistan. >> the central government? >>w3 the government of afghanistan. it appoints provincial governors. it appoints district chiefs. when i say district chiefs -- district governors. the police force of afghanistan, it stretches down to the district level at the district level, that is the county level. what i want to say first and foremost is that our programs that we are deliveri

we will see more pushed down for the province level. 34 provinces in afghanistan, but president karzai has a mission to clean up his act and provide the leadership for all afghans to build a better future for them. to take this opportunity and build on it. if he does not do ed, -- if he does not do it, all of the region then becomes unstable. that is not been anyone's best interest. host: general, thank you for joining us. please come back any time. >> alive picture from the johns hopkins university school of international studies. we are starting shortly. we expect to hear from afghanistan's ambassador to the u.s. the president announced his plan to send an additional 34,000 troops to afghanistan. we understand the ambassador is on his way and we will have this event for you live in a moment. >> we are waiting for the afghan ambassador. he will be in the room in a few moments. a chance to let you know about other live coverage coming up. we hope to bring you president obama. he left the white house for pennsylvania and will be touring the allen town metal works. that will be today at 11:5

president karzai has made some very clear and welcome statements. i am pleased to see that corruption investigations are already under way. it is a good start, and it will help to establish the credibility the afghan people and the international community need to see. the conference to be held early next month -- i think it will be in january, actually -- will be very important in this regard as well to establish new contracts between the afghan government and the international community. this week marks the beginning of a new phase in our mission. in 2010, there will be substantially more forces on the ground focused -- focusing on defending the afghan people. we will start handing over lead security responsibility to afghan forces, district by district, where conditions allow. there will be clear commitments, and i expect clear action by the afghan government to earn the support of the afghan people. there will be more development assistance starting with the $5 billion pledged by japan. and the civilian side of the whole effort to will be stepped

karzai has been in power for five years. he just got another five years. i want to know from you, what changes he's actually implemented this year that would persuade you that he's the will and the capability to eliminate the corruption and improve governance. i'm not asking what he's promised to do and i'm not asking what we intend to do. i want to know what he has done? and i want specific examples. concrete evidence. corruption prosecutions, increased transparency, high level firings, putting his brother in jail. what good governance has happened in the last 18 months? what makes you think that he's going to change his stripes and that things will turn around? i'd like the evidence because, as you know, hope is not a strategy. >> ms. sanchez, i think if you look -- there's clearly a lot of work to be done. everyone in the administration from the president on down has recognized that we need to keep the pressure on the government of afghanistan to deal with the problem of corruption but there has been progress. you look at the ministries and the governme

we are encouraged by president karzai's inaugural address. what he hasid will be his plan of action. >> you mentioned the high office of oversight. is that an office set up by president karzai? >> it have set up one year ago to deal with corruption. there is, my understanding, that there is a press conference today in kabul. i know their intent is to try to give the high office of oversight, which is now an administrative organization, trying to give it more teeth. >> so their legislative branch created that, not president karzai? >> i'll have to go back for the record. but at least the manning of the high offices of oversight comes for the executive branch, senator. i don't know what the legislative base of it is. but if president karzai decide to put more emphasis in that we're prepared to work in partnership and offer support. >> from everything i have seen when i've been to afghanistan as well as what some of my georgia soldiers have told me who have been deployed and come back if we revirs the taliban, disrupt the taliban, if we don't improve the go

it is an event that i believe will galvanize the international effort and to which president karzai has said he will present his plans for the future our strategy is to find that we can weaken the taliban district by district, province by province, putting the afghans in control of their own security. we must first address the taliban insurgency with all the resources of power we have at our disposal yesterday, i flew on one of the newly deployed helicopters. we have doubled the number of helicopters over the last three years. we have more than doubled helicopter flying hours and there will be further increases in both over the coming months. i also saw the patrol vehicles and a smaller ridgeback vehicles and heard how we have increased the number by more than 80%, almost double the number of ridgebacks they are saving lives of vermont. mr. speaker, errol -- aeriel surveillance helps us detect apprised explosive devices. yesterday, i asked for and received an assurance from president karzai of the new assistance the afghan people will give us in detecting and dismantling these improvise

but president karzai has a real mission here to clean up his act, if i can be that blunt, and providedership for all afghan people to build a better future for them, to take this opportunity, which is an opportunity for him, and build on it. if he does not do it, then his country, the afghan people, and the entire region, which includes two nuclear-powered in pakistan and india, and china on another border, all of that region then becomes unstable, and i think that is not the afghans' best interest or the world. host: general george joulwan, thank you for joining us. in just a moment, we're going to turn our attention back to politics. as tip o'neill said, all politics is local. there is a new book out by lou frey. we will learn about what he and other members of congress have to say about washington and capital hill. a sign of the season, so that they expected the coolidge administration, is the lighting of the national christmas tree. it took place last night with the aba was and members of the family. "washington journal" continues, and we are back in a moment. >> as we get better

and as president obama said last night, there is no blank check for president karzai. he hasto take the action as necessary and that's why i said earlier today that the london conference on november the 28th which president karzai will attend will be a chance for president karzai to set out further reforms that he estimates to make the army and police more efficient to make sure that government is free of corruption and to build up stronger, local and provincial government. >> nick clegg? >> will the prime minister confirm at the london conference he just referred to whether the powers around afghanistan, russia, china and, yes, even iran might be involved? without regional backing it will be difficult to create stability within afghanistan. president obama was critical in his speech last night. will the prime minister tell us whether this is being taken forward and perhaps give us a feel for what steps have been taken to involve those other countries in the region. >> as he recognizes the military surge has got to be matched by a political and diplomatic surge and it will be

the international effort to your entry to make the effort, this multibillion-dollar effort -- >> has karzai>> including certain candidates who have been discussed. >> i'm not sure. i do remember some media reports on that, but i'm not sure if it was rejected. >> a name was put forward with a great global experience and that idea was completely quashed by karzai. how has he been persuaded to allow something like this to proceed now? >> well, like i say, i think there has to be a lot of consultation and coordination with the afghan government. i think that's a requirement. i think that the emphasis in this particular role i think will be more coordination of international resources. and it's important that there not be any suggestion that all of this person having any kind of proconsul rule or anything like that. >> is the consultation underway today? >> with the afghan government? >> yes. >> i'm not sure. >> does the secretary clinton -- will they be there or is this a group of people telling you what's going on in their country. >> normally the afghan minister of foreign affairs is there. >

international effort on political and economic progress as well as on security, and to which president karzai haseed he will present his plans for the country's future. our strategy is to ensure that al qaeda can never regain in afghanistan and to achieve that, we must weaken the taliban and strengthen afghanistan, stage by stage, district by strict as to, province by province, putting the afghans in control of their own security. but we must first address the taliban insurgency with all the resources and power we have at our disposal. yesterday i flew up on one of the newly deployed helicopters. we have doubled the number of helicopters over the last three years. we have more than doubled helicopter flying hours. we will be further increasing over the coming months. i also saw the mine resistant patrol vehicles and the smaller but equally well protected ridgeback vehicles. incenses somewhere increased the number by more than 80%, almost double the number of ridgeback, hundreds of new vehicles, from the treasury reserve which are now every month saving lives in afghanistan. mr. speaker, aerial su

international effort on political and economic progress as well as on security, and to which president karzai has agreed he will present his plans for the country's future. our strategy is to ensure that al qaeda can never regain in afghanistan and to achieve that, we must weaken the taliban and strengthen afghanistan, stage by stage, district by strict as to, province by province, putting the afghans in control of their own security. but we must first address the taliban insurgency with all the resources and power we have at our disposal. yesterday i flew up on one of the newly deployed helicopters. we have doubled the number of helicopters over the last three years. we have more than doubled helicopter flying hours. we will be further increasing over the coming months. i also saw the mine resistant patrol vehicles and the smaller but equally well protected ridgeback vehicles. incenses somewhere increased the number by more than 80%, almost double the number of ridgeback, hundreds of new vehicles, from the treasury reserve which are now every month saving lives in afghanistan. mr. speaker, aeria

with the afghan army and police so that they overtime will take security control could present karzai hassured that he is increasing the number of afghan troops in helmonand to 10,000. once the police attending college we are running their is up in the spring, we will be able to trade up to three dozen police officers every year. -- train up to 3000 police officers every year. the taliban will not give up easily. i am under no illusion that there will be hard fighting ahead, but i have great confidence from the in the professionalism of our servicemen and women -- immense professionalism of our servicemen and women and a telling effect they are having already. i can report that 36 countries have now offered additional manpower to the afghan campaign. we know that the planned increase in american, british, and afghan forces over the coming weeks and months will allow us to you through the force ratios and the balance in helmand. the priority for the additional british forces is to shift the emphasis towards partnering afghan forces. i can report to the house that commanders on the ground t

but president karzai has his interests. and the afghan people that have influenced -- have influence with president karzai have their interests. the taliban have their interests. al qaeda theirs. there's a different group, the taliban, and others we're fighting as well. it's very complicated, and it's not simple and it's not at all completely militarily tactical. it's very much how do we put together the solutions of first providing the security, maintaining that security, building the institutions and the infrastructure that are necessary so that the central government in pakistan -- or in afghanistan can reach out to the corners of the country such as a place where i was just yesterday. all of that needs to happen, madam speaker, and as general petraeus said, the enemy gets a vote too. and they will be working against us and mounting operations where they can. but my general overall impressions are this, i believe the strategy that's been put together is one where we have to thread the needle. that we have the very minimal

karzai. we may find, and in retrospect, that this was the fatal blow. we do not know that yet, and i think we can yet turn this around. mrs. clinton now has her date for the next three years. she will be managing mr. karzai. she needs to avoid demonizing, temper tantrums, and try to bring out the best in karzai. where are we going from here? let me offer you three observations. first, this is a bold gamble. what the president is to has embarked upon today has no guarantee of success. there are all kinds of things that may fail. trying to build an afghan army and police force may be a lot harder, and i suggest will be a lot harder, and we think. trying to reverse the taliban and momentum will be difficult. for sure, casualties are going to go up. domestic dissent, here and and other nato countries, over this war is winding a stronger and harder. there are several potential game changers that could change everything, literally in a matter of minutes. another 9/11 attack inside the united states does not have to bring down two of the largest buildings in the world to be significant that comes out of pakistan will be a game changer. the presi

that is why i have put more force on what has been dominant in the last few days, since president karzai started his second term, then on the statements made before these early days. i think it is important to recognize that troops are being provided, that an anti- corruption task force, more will be done but we have seen a start to delivery on a number of key president and demanded he make. as far as vehicles in the field are concerned, we do need some small vehicles as well as the larger vehicles. we have more mastiff, we have more respect, -- -- ridgeback. i agree that what we must do is make sure that all our troops are the best equipped as possible. the truth is, we have had to move from a situation from face- to-face combat with the talent and to a gorilla war conducted members, in particular, to damage our moral and damage and kill our troops. we have had to adjust our sure work against explosive devices -- extra work against explosive devices, and unmanned drones to enable us to do surveillance. i have to say that we have found a great deal of success, more had been dismantled. w

secondly, that something has to be done about the corruption with the karzai government. in particular, these -- these two issues are very important to the traditionally muslim countries where i think we need to focus to get their assistance into this very critical region of the world. can you comment, first of all, on how we can convince others to join in this effort? secondly, on the issue of corruption and the things we can do to change that. both of you, please. >> great. congressman, i thought i'd start on how we can convince others to stay focused on this. we do have 43 nations. in fact, that's about to go up fairly soon as well, and that's extraordinarily important to the effort for a couple of reasons. one, they all bring capacity, but it's also very important, because we are a coalition there we have additional credibility with the afghan people. they know a coalition will never be occupiers. so there's no way to paint us as the soviet union. so that's very important. i think it's important to all of our coalition partners to stress our long-term strategic commit

separately, something has to be done about the corruption within the karzai government.hese two issues are very important to the traditionally moslem countries -- muslim countries. the think we need to focus on these critical regions of the world. -- i think we need to focus on these critical regions of the world. can you comment on how we can get others to contribute to the effort? can you comment on the issue of corruption and the things that we can do to change that? both of you, please. >> great. congressman, i thought i'd start on how we can convince others to stay focused on this. we do have 43 nations. in fact, that's about to go up fairly soon as well, and that's extraordinarily important to the effort for a couple of reasons. one, they all bring capacity, but it's also very important, because we are a coalition there we have additional credibility with the afghan people. they know a coalition will never be occupiers. so there's no way to paint us as the soviet union. so that's very important. i think it's important to all of our coalition partners to stress our

somehow, that the karzai government will create a standard security force that has enough space to break the momentum of the taliban, if that is brought to bear in a reasonable time frame, but the other big issue is whether it becomes another country. the real bad guys are in pakistan. that is the problem. what is pakistan prepared to do? the challenge for this president is that [unintelligible] they will argue a but articulating an exit strategy or some sort of timeline. i think the secretary of defense was clear yesterday in that there is a time horizon. that is just the goal of a handoff to karzai in five years. that assumes that everything works. all of that is in place -- you have to see what the conditions are for the president down the line to say, hey, we are not winning, but it is time to come home. >> it did maybe seems like a sideshow in this city. but it was a very lively issue for british politics as well. as you mentioned, the war has become increasingly unpopular. how has this decision by president obama play into the debate in prison? -- in britain? >> there has been a mo

that is why i have put more force on what has been dominant in the last few days, since president karzai started his second term, then on the statements made before these early days. i think it is important to recognize that troops are being provided, as well as an anti- corruption task force, and more will be done, but we have seen a start to delivery on a number of key issues that we put to the president and demanded he make. as far as vehicles in the field are concerned, we do need some small vehicles as well as the larger vehicles. we have more mastiffs, we have more ridgebacks. i agree that what we must do is make sure that all our troops are the best equipped as possible. the truth is, we have had to move from a situation from face-to-face combat with the taliban members to a gorilla war conducted by taliban -- to damage our moral and damage and kill our troops. we have had to adjust our tactics with equipment, and extra work against explosive devices -- and unmanned drones to enable us to do surveillance. i have to say that we have found a great deal of success, more than 1000, pr

the beginning of president karzai's second term has opened a window of new opportunity. we obviously have real concerns about the influence of corrupt officials and the afghan government and we will redouble our efforts to pursue them but it is-- in his inauguration speech i witnessed president karzai's call for the afghan people and the international community. he pledged to combat corruption improve governance and deliver. his words were long in coming but they were certainly welcome. they now must be matched with action. the afghan people, the united states and the international community must hold the afghan government accountable. we will help the working with their afghan partners to strengthen institutions at every level. the president has outlined a timeframe of transition to afghan responsibility. as he said in his speech the additional american and international troops will allow us to accelerate our handing over responsibility to afghan forces as we began to transfer our forces out of afghanistan in july of 2011. just as we have done in iraq, we will execute t

clinton now has her date for the next three years. she will be managing mr. karzai. to avoid demonizing and avoid temper tantrums and needs to find a way to bring out the best in president karzai. so where are we going forward from here? let me offer you three observations. first, this is a bold gamble. what the president has embarked upon today has no guarantee of success. there's no assurance that this is going to work. there are all kinds of things that may fail. trying to build an afghan army and police force may be a lot harder and i suggest will be a lot harder than we think. trying to reverse the taliban's momentum is going to be difficult. for sure, casualties are going to go up significantly. and domestic dissent here and in other nato countries over this war is going to get stronger and harder. there are several potential game changers that could change everything literally in a matter of minutes. another 9/11 attack inside the united states and it doesn't have to bring two of the largest buildings in the world to be significant that comes out of pakistan w

i would say obviously president karzai in his inaugural speech said some encouraging things. pretty much what the president has done is provide a strong incentive to the karzai government to get its act together. there is a transition point for the afghans. which was gotten as part of this review. established the transition point of july, 2011, which ensures that the afghans have to make progress. we fully believe that we have to have that willing partner. we believe that this policy puts in place the necessary incentives to make sure that that happens. >> you actually have really that much leverage over him and what he does? >> i -- look, two things. i think based on what he said in his inaugural, based on conversations back and forth the two presidents have it, the president remains -- is confident that president karzai understands what's expected. i would say, again, the reason why there's a transition point provides a incentive to ensure what steps will and must be taken. the president is very serious about that. i think again outlining that the time for blank checks was over. >> did karzai every ask for s

since -- since returning from afghanistan, my number one concern has been the ability of the karzai government to be an effective partner. in the second term, president karzai must eliminate corruption, deliver essential services in order to win the trust of the afghan people. ultimately, ultimately, the battle is not between the u.s. and the taliban. it's a struggle between the afghan government and the taliban and the fight must be won by the afghans themselves. the notion of a corrupt government has emboldened the taliban and furred undermined trust between president karzai's people. president karzai must translate his promises in his inauguration speech into action because increased transparency in government accountability is absolutely critical. for me, the key point in president obama's speech was that our military commitment is not open-ended. in july, 2011, we will begin our troop drawdown. this has created an 18-month deadline for progress. injecting a sense of urgency to our mission that has been missing for the past eight years. it sends a clear message that the clock is ticking fo

hence the embrace of the karzai administration despite the fact that it has losing credibility -- that it is losing credibility among its people, despite the fact that the election was not only deeply flawed but it's documented that the karzai government stole a million votes in order to stay in power. and the more work that we do that requires us to line up and cooperate, conciliate, to protect a karzai government that does not have the support of its people, every day we do that undercuts the support and the definition of the mission of the american soldier in afghanistan. second, as is well known, a major problem is pakistan. and what we've seen is that we now have to have a significant alliance with the pakistani military. as the only institution that can provide some measure of security in pakistan and because they control the nuclear weapons. and this is obviously of great importance to the american people. but the pakistani military is notable for two things. number one it has been mr. adler: never air is of democratic develop --ed a adversary of democratic development in pakist

the beginning of president karzai's second term has opened up window of opportunity. have concerns about corrupt officials influence in the government and we will redouble our efforts to pursue them. in his speech last month, i witnessed president karzai call for a compact with the afghan people and international community. he pledged to combat corruption and deliver. his words were long in coming but they were welcome. they now must be matched with action. the afghan people, the u.s., and the international community must hold the afghan government accountable. we will help by working with our afton partners to strengthen institutions at every level. the president has outlined a timeframe for transition to afghan responsibility. as he said in his speech, the additional troops will allow us to accelerate our handing over of responsibility to afghan forces as we begin to transfer our forces out of afghanistan in july 2011. just as we have done in iraq, will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground. this is not a cliff. this is a t

karzai. we may find, and in retrospect, that this was the fatal blow. we do not know that yet, and i think we can yet turn this around. mrs. clinton now hase next three years. she will be managing mr. karzai. she needs to of will -- avoid demonizing, timber tantrums timbertemper tantrums, and to bring out the best in karzai. where are we going from here? let me offer you three observations. first, this is a bold gamble. what the president is to has embarked upon today has no guarantee of success. there are all kinds of things that may fail. trying to build an afghan army and police force may be a lot harder, and i suggest will be a lot harder, and we think. trying to reverse the taliban and momentum will be difficult. for sure, casualties are going to go up. domestic dissent, here and and other nato countries, over this war is winding a stronger and harder. there are several potential game changers that could change everything, literally in a matter of minutes. another 9/11 attack inside the united states does not have to bring down two of the largest buildings in the world to be significant that comes out of pakistan will be a game chang

. >> i know that prime minister brown has reportedly given president karzai a list of milestones andmetrics that he will judge him by. have you seen the list? do you -- does it have -- are we trying to replicate and work with them in that regard? >> congressman, i have not seen the specific list but i'm roughly familiar with the intent of it. >> good. lastly, the other guys were here and testified, secretary gates and then, also, admiral mullen. and i think that i know in my district, i think throughout the country, there really is a great concern of the four guys that are under indictment or whatever you call that in the military. and i think the concern is, is that somehow we're being caught up in political correctness. i wanted to tell secretary gates i didn't get a chance to ask a question of him but arkansas played texas a&m, you know, earlier in the year and beat them in texas stadium. but, you know, in the heat of that battle, you know, if somebody hit somebody in the mouth, they'd be suspended for a game. and i know it's different, you know, the situation, but it's not that d

has to go and fight. and i really believe, you know, the karzai election and the corruption that was evolves was a game changerthe ground. i don't think he's really held that government's feet to the fire. and are we in a situation now where we have young americans fighting and dying, involved in a civil conflict where there's corruption involved with the indigenous government? i would have preferred him to take a much harder line with the president of afghanistan. >> larry: pete, don't you ever have second thoughts about maybe this could be a mistake? >> sure, everyone has second thoughts. you have second thoughts when i was on the ground in iraq. can this possibly happen? when you look at the fundamentals on the ground, you have to create the possibility for the government to stand up, bring the violence down, defeat the enemy to the point where political progress is possible. and that's where, for all the statements he made, dragging us through the mud of bush in iraq, he mult matly has learned the lessons in of the surge in iraq which then senator obama opposed. he learned there's a military component to b

somehow, that the karzai government will create a standard security force that has enough space to break the momentum of the taliban, if that is brought to bear in a reasonable time frame, but the other big issue is whether it becomes another country. the real bad guys are in pakistan. that is the problem. what is pakistan prepared to do? the challenge for this president is that [unintelligible] they will argue a but articulating an exit strategy or some sort of timeline. i think the secretary of defense was clear yesterday in that there is a time horizon. that is just the goal of a handoff to karzai in five years. that assumes that everything works. all of that is in place -- you all of that is in place -- you have to see what the conditions -- rouble see what the plan is down the line. we are basically not winning. but it is time to come home. >> this is a very live issue for british politics. british troops have been dying in afghanistan in disturbingly large numbers. as you mentioned, the war has become increasingly unpopular. how does this decision by president obama play into the d

karzai's brother walid. dick holbrooke the special representative for afghanistan and pakistan, has suggestedç a crop substitutionbut it requires an entire infrastructure. it requires roads, it requires trucks to get these products to market. it requires markets. so much infrastructure is missing in afghanistan that to build an economy based on a different crop would be a massive, massiveç nation buildg effort. and it is easier said than done. host: the military is calling in afghanistan snatch and grab as u.s. troops tried to take in some of these so-called terrorists and cnn this morning reporting in neighboring pakistan 13 militants were ki ç killed by the drone and reaper technology which are the unmanned missiles that are taking down at least the taliban or members of al qaeda. what is going on? >> this part of obama's focus on al qaeda as the threat even more than the taliban. the hope is that if you can kill enough of the militant leaders and squeeze them somehow in this border areaç between pakistan d afghanistan, kill them with drones, get them on the afghan side, if possible on the pakistani side by

somehow, that the karzai government will create a standard security force that has enough space to break the momentum of the taliban, if that is brought to bear in a reasonable time frame, but the other big issue is whether it becomes another country. the real bad guys are in pakistan. that is the problem. what is pakistan prepared to do? the challenge for this president is that [unintelligible] they will argue a but articulating an exit strategy or some sort of timeline. i think the secretary of defense was clear yesterday in that there is a time horizon. that is just the goal of a handoff to karzai in five years. that assumes that everything works. all of that is in place -- you all of that is in place -- you have to see what the conditions -- rouble see what the plan is down the line. we are basically not winning. but it is time to come home. >> this is a very live issue for british politics. british troops have been dying in afghanistan in disturbingly large numbers. as you mentioned, the war has become increasingly unpopular. how does this decision by president obama play into the d