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RUMSFELD: 'Mission Complete' When Afghanistan Is Secure
Thursday, August 1, 2002
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service

"We've had a good deal of difficulty, first of all, recruiting the original group of countries to serve in the International Security Assistance Force," the secretary said. The British led the first rotation, and Turkey now leads the second. "Turkey leaves at the end of this year, and we're going to have to recruit a new successor for that."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Afghanistan is "an untidy place, but it's a lot tidier than it used to be," said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Much has been accomplished in Afghanistan , but the U.S.-led coalition mission won't be complete until security is restored at several levels, Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee July 31.

There is security of the leaders who were elected by the loya jirga, because it's important for that government to survive and do its job, he said. There's security in the major cities and the ability of humanitarian workers to provide the needs of people.

"There's the problem of border security. They need border guards," he continued. "There's the problem of police. They need police. There's the task ... of dealing with the al Qaeda and the Taliban to see that they don't come back and attempt to reassert themselves.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan