Afghanistan has other enormous challenges as well, including a political system that is still very much developing, although there has been some progress in the past several years.
David PetraeusThe question is always how you get the number of troops needed. They do not have to be coalition forces. We also have to expand the training program for the Afghan National Army and the national police, in particular. and Defense Secretary Robert Gates has already announced support for a significant increase in the Afghan army.
David PetraeusI think no commander ever is going to come out and say, 'I'm confident that we can do this.
David PetraeusAl-Qaida in particular remains dangerous, and there [in Iraq] is some residual militia and special group presence. There are still between 20 and 30 attacks per day, still periodic car bombs and still loss of innocent civilians.
David Petraeus