Afghanistan Review: Fragile Progress Has Been Made

A Pentagon review focusing on U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan concludes that progress has been made within the region since the influx of 30,000 troops last year, but that success is tenuous.

“The challenge remains to make our gains durable and sustainable,” an overview of the classified review states.

The review determines that the goal to begin measured troop withdrawals by 2011 is on track, as is the recently announced plan to hand over full security responsibilities to the Afghan government in 2014.

The case is also made for increased diplomacy in the region, including high-level talks between the U.S. and Pakistan as well as tri-lateral discussions between the U.S., Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Speaking from the White House briefing room after the overview’s release, President Obama reiterated the U.S.’ limited goal of hobbling Al Qaeda.

“From the start, I’ve been very clear about our core goal. It is not to defeat every last threat to the security of Afghanistan, because ultimately it is Afghans who must secure their country,” Obama, who was accompanied by Vice President Biden as well as Secretaries Clinton and Gates, said. “It is not nation building since it is Afghans who must build their nation.”

The President ordered the review, compiled from data collected by numerous government agencies, in 2009 to help the U.S. track their efforts in the region. Additional reviews will be collected on an annual basis.