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U.S. Will Combat Terrorism 'As Long as it Takes'
Thursday, January 3, 2002
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service

"I think the view is that Afghanistan is a part of a global effort against terrorism, (and) that we'll stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to do what the president has said."
-- General Tommy R. Franks, Commander in Chief, United States Central Command

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Ask George W. Bush about his field commander in Afghanistan, and he'll describe Army Gen. Tommy Franks as a "down-to-earth, no-nonsense" kind of guy.

"Precisely the kind of man we need to lead a complex mission such as this," the president said after meeting with Franks in Crawford, Texas, at the close of the year. Bush said the commander is "fulfilling the mission with patience, discipline and success."

The military's commander-in-chief invited the U.S. Central Command chief to Prairie Chapel Ranch where the first family spent the holidays. As it turns out, Franks "is no stranger to Texas," the president noted. The general was raised in Midland, Texas, and went to Midland Lee High School at about the same time as First Lady Laura Bush.

"A couple of months ago, a lot of people said that this administration and our military weren't really sure what we were doing, but I had confidence all along," Bush told reporters during a Dec. 28 press conference. His confidence, he said, was based on briefings he'd received from Franks on the strategy and on how the general planned to use the United States military. "And he hasn't let us down," Bush concluded.
(More: DoD News Source)
2001 © The United States Department of Defense.

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