Petraeus gives outlook on Iraq, Afghanistan

Petraeus gives outlook on Iraq, Afghanistan
By Robert Burns - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Dec 17, 2008 21:32:56 EST

WASHINGTON — Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, has told his troops that despite progress on both fronts, the U.S. and its allies face a tough fight in the year ahead.

With his trademark caution, Petraeus wrote in a letter to all troops in U.S. Central Command — stretching across the Middle East and throughout Central Asia — that improved security conditions in Iraq remain fragile and that while the Afghan army is improving, “the difficulties in Afghanistan are considerable.”

It was the first time since Petraeus took charge of Central Command on Oct. 31, following 20 months as the top U.S. commander in Baghdad, that he has offered troops what he called “my initial assessment of the situation” not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also in Pakistan and elsewhere in that region.

The letter, dated Dec. 9, was released by his office at Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Fla.

Petraeus has assembled a team of experts to conduct an in-depth and comprehensive review of his command area; it is expected to be completed by early February. His aides said that is separate from the “initial assessment” he offered in the letter to troops. The assessment was based on his own discussions and observations during extensive travels in the Middle East, Central Asia and elsewhere over the past few months.


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