Robert Gates visits Troops in Afghanistan

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has visited U.S. commanders in Afghanistan, assuring them that extra forces ordered by U.S. President Barack Obama will give them what they need to successfully defeat the Taliban.

Gates toured a new command headquarters Wednesday that serves as a joint operation center for all NATO combat troops. He told commanders that international forces “have all the pieces coming together to be successful” in the fight against violent extremists in the country.

Gates’ trip follows Mr. Obama’s decision to quickly send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan and then begin withdrawing them in 18 months as Afghan forces take on more responsibility.

But Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday it may be five years before the army and police are ready to take on insurgents, and 15 to 20 years before his government can afford to pay for its own security.

The Afghan leader said during a news conference in Kabul with Gates that ambitious plans for a large, modern Afghan army are simply not realistic for a long time.