Gen. Petraeus says progress in Afghanistan only just begun, 9-year-old war needs more time

Petraeus: Progress in Afghanistan will take time

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says the war began to show modest progress in spring and those gains need more time to take root.

Army Gen. David Petraeus (peh-TRAY’-uhs) tells NBC’s “Meet the Press” about what he calls an “up and down process” of seizing Taliban-controlled territory and creating “small pockets of progress” throughout the country.

Petraeus’ tempered optimism comes as U.S. support for the 9-year war is slipping and the death toll is climbing.

July was the deadliest month for U.S. forces. The White House is hoping that political support will hold until at least December, when Petraeus is due to give Capitol Hill his assessment of the war.

Petraeus took command of the war in July.