US general leading Iraq, Afghan wars says US took calculated risk in southern Afghan push

Petraeus says US took needed risk in Afghanistan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The general commanding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan said Tuesday the military took a calculated risk when it warned people in the Afghan city of Marjah of a major offensive designed to clear the area of insurgents.

Army Gen. David Petraeus (peh-TRAY’-us) said the main reason was to reduce civilian casualties.

“We have to do everything possible to limit the loss of innocent life, and that they know that we are doing that as well,” he said.

He said that some extremists may have escaped with the advanced warning, but that they would be “hunted down.”

“We’ve killed boatloads of bad guys in Afghanistan,” Petraeus told several hundred people at a luncheon sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, a nonpartisan group that educates members about international issues.

Petraeus said the U.S. is making progress in a campaign to drive extremists from Afghanistan, but he also warned that the mission is far from over.

“This is going to be a hard year. There is nothing easy about Afghanistan,” Petraeus said.

Instead of making a speech, Petraeus, who was the top commander in Iraq before becoming head of the U.S. Central Command in October 2008, answered questions from the audience.

They asked him about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and even whether he would consider a run for president. He smiled and quoted what he said was a line from a song: “What about ‘No’ don’t you understand?”

Petraeus told the crowd that after more than eight years of fighting in Afghanistan, the U.S. finally is getting enough troops, diplomats and organizational structure to be able to keep extremist groups from taking over again there.

NATO forces and Afghan soldiers have been conducting a major new offensive against the Taliban in the southern province of Helmand to establish a civilian Afghan government in the former insurgent stronghold of Marjah.

Petraeus said the mission will take time.

“This is a 12 to 18 month campaign we are embarking on. It’s not going to be easy,” he said.

He said the United States has to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a terrorist stronghold again. He noted that much of the planning for the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks took place in Afghanistan.

“We cannot let Afghanistan become a sanctuary or safe heaven again for Al-Qaeda or other terrorists,” he said.