Biden visits Afghanistan
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 12, 2009 00:00
KABUL - Vice President-elect Joe Biden made a surprise visit to the Taliban's traditional stronghold in southern Afghanistan yesterday and said the new U.S. administration will fully support troops battling the resurgent militants.
Thousands of new American troops will be joining the battle against the Taliban this year, and Biden's visit is a sign that Obama plans to make the region an immediate priority.
"I am very interested in what becomes of this region because it affects us all," Biden said. During his time in Kandahar, Biden was briefed on activities of coalition forces in the south by Dutch Maj. Gen. Mart C. de Kruif, NATO's regional commander. They discussed "the future of southern Afghanistan, to include the addition of American troops later this year," the statement said. The U.S. is rushing up to 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and some will go to the southern provinces. Some 32,000 U.S. troops already in Afghanistan serve alongside 32,000 other NATO-led troops, the highest number since the U.S.-led invasion began in 2001.
"I am very interested in what becomes of this region because it affects us all," Biden said. During his time in Kandahar, Biden was briefed on activities of coalition forces in the south by Dutch Maj. Gen. Mart C. de Kruif, NATO's regional commander. They discussed "the future of southern Afghanistan, to include the addition of American troops later this year," the statement said. The U.S. is rushing up to 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and some will go to the southern provinces. Some 32,000 U.S. troops already in Afghanistan serve alongside 32,000 other NATO-led troops, the highest number since the U.S.-led invasion began in 2001.