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                      NATO Claims Progress in Afghanistan

   by Al Pessin

   NATO is claiming significant progress on security in Afghanistan, based
   on a report its commanding general there made Wednesday via video link
   to alliance foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
   NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says statistics presented
   during the briefing "clearly prove" NATO's strategy is on track to hand
   over full security responsibility to Afghan forces in two years.
   He said the briefing from U.S. Marine Corps General John Allen
   indicates there has been a "significant decrease" in violence in parts
   of Afghanistan that have already been handed over to Afghan forces,
   which include areas where 70 percent of the Afghan people live.
   "It proves that we are pursuing the right strategy," said Rasmussen.
   "We hand over in a gradual process lead responsibility to the Afghans.
   The Afghan security forces are quite capable to take on that
   responsibility."
   The secretary general's optimistic comments came even though officials
   acknowledge that Taliban insurgents remain capable of launching
   significant attacks, and NATO plans to keep a significant number of
   combat troops in Afghanistan as the transition to Afghan control
   continues. NATO plans to move to an advise-and-train mission at the end
   of 2014.
   As the foreign ministers' meeting ended Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of
   State Hillary Clinton repeated the U.S. commitment to continue to help
   Afghanistan beyond that time. And she said a political settlement must
   be part of the country's long-term plan for stability.
   "We also continue to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned reconciliation
   process," she said. "Ultimately, we believe there has to be a political
   resolution to the ongoing disputes among Afghans themselves."
   Clinton said the United States would like to see "all Afghans" denounce
   violence and join the political process and help move the country
   toward stability and respect for human rights. [1]The Washington Post
   reported that the U.S. government is launching a new effort to get the
   Afghan reconciliation process moving, and that Secretary Clinton
   discussed the issue on Tuesday with Pakistan's foreign minister.
   Secretary Clinton noted that this was likely her last NATO meeting. She
   plans to step down early next year. She claimed "impressive" progress
   at NATO during the last four years, including an improved situation in
   Afghanistan, a successful military mission over Libya, better relations
   with Russia, the addition of Croatia and Albania and movement toward
   having Georgia join the alliance, and the development of a missile
   defense shield for Europe.
   She said NATO is critical, and is needed "more than ever." And she
   called on her fellow officials to make clear to their often skeptical
   populations that the alliance is well worth the investment of money and
   effort.
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   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/nato-claims-progress-in-afghanistan/1
   558933.html

References

   1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/at-nato-clinton-tells-us-allies-they-must-fulfill-aid-pledges-for-afghan-security-after-2014/2012/12/05/4873f862-3ed5-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/nato-claims-progress-in-afghanistan/1558933.html