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THE STANS
2011 may see Afghan war turning point: Gates
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) April 21, 2011


US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday it was possible that 2011 could see a decisive turning point in the war in Afghanistan against Taliban insurgents.

"My own view is that this year is a critical year. We have driven the Taliban out of areas they have controlled for years, including their heartland," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.

"If we can prevent them this year from retaking the areas that we have taken away from them, and we can continue to expand the security bubble, I think it's possible that by the end of this year we'll have turned the corner, just because of the Taliban being driven out and more importantly, kept out."

The United States has about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, supported by 48,000 troops from coalition allies.

NATO commanders expect an increase in violence in the spring. For now, many insurgents are occupied by the poppy harvest, which should continue until mid-May, according to General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"So the character of the fighting right now is probably more along the lines of the individual spectacular attack, rather than groups of people," Cartwright said.

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The New Zealand Defence Force has deployed Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) to Bamyan Province in Afghanistan to support the Provincial Reconstruction Team. "The vehicles bring us the capability we need to keep our personnel safer and operate more effectively in the north eastern area of Bamyan where the security threat is higher," says Commander of Joint Forces, Air Vice Marshal Peter Stock ... read more


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