Washington: President Barack Obama`s
national security advisor has voiced concern about Americans
growing weary of the war in Afghanistan, despite what he
called apparent "elements of success."
Asked in an interview whether US engagement in
Afghanistan risked the same loss of support that undermined
the war in Vietnam, James Jones replied that such a prospect
was "very worrisome."
"The biggest fear would be that we might get to a point
where we decide that we can`t turn this violence around," the
retired US Marine Corps general told CNN yesterday, adding
that he doubted that would happen.
A USA Today/Gallup opinion poll released earlier this
month indicated that 60 per cent of Americans thought the
situation for the United States in Afghanistan was "very or
moderately bad."
Public support for Obama`s management of the conflict
meanwhile fell to 36 per cent, from 48 per cent in February.
On the progress of the war in Afghanistan, Jones said:
"The elements of success are all present, and they are
visible. We know what they are. We are working very hard with
both sides, on both sides of the (Afghan-Pakistan) border."
"Specifically in Pakistan, we need to see more activity
on the part of the Pakistani army to go after the insurgents
in the safe havens that allow the transit between Afghanistan
and Pakistan to go on," he added.
"This is fundamentally important."
Jones acknowledged that parts of the Pakistan military
"have played both sides in years past, because of their
uncertainty with regard to our long-term stay and long-term
commitment."
"Hopefully," he said, those elements will become
"increasingly part of the solution."
PTI
