[00:00.69]Leading United States officials have said the American military
[00:03.49]will continue its presence in Afghanistan for a number of years
[00:07.29]despite beginning to withdraw in 2011.
[00:10.12]In a series of media appearances,
[00:12.07]officials stressed that
[00:13.67]the date should be seen as the beginning of handing over responsibility
[00:16.23]to Afghan forces.
[00:17.77]Imtiaz Tyab report from Washington.
[00:20.37]Speaking on a Sunday morning political chat show,
[00:22.46]the Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that
[00:24.95]despite President Obama’s plan
[00:26.93]to begin withdrawing the troops from the region in July, 2011,
[00:30.52]the US was likely to maintain a significant military presence in Afghanistan
[00:35.39]for a number of years.
[00:36.85]The Defense Secretary said
[00:38.39]the pullout date was said
[00:39.90]to underline the urgent need for the Afghans to speed up recruiting
[00:43.39]and training soldiers and getting them into the field.
[00:46.76]A comment followed criticism from opposition Republicans
[00:49.79]who say announcing a withdraw date sent
[00:52.38]a dangerous signal to insurgents.

Leading United States officials have said the American military
will continue its presence in Afghanistan for a number of years
despite beginning to withdraw in 2011.
In a series of media appearances,
officials stressed that
the date should be seen as the beginning of handing over responsibility
to Afghan forces.
Imtiaz Tyab report from Washington.
Speaking on a Sunday morning political chat show,
the Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that
despite President Obama’s plan
to begin withdrawing the troops from the region in July, 2011,
the US was likely to maintain a significant military presence in Afghanistan
for a number of years.
The Defense Secretary said
the pullout date was said
to underline the urgent need for the Afghans to speed up recruiting
and training soldiers and getting them into the field.
A comment followed criticism from opposition Republicans
who say announcing a withdraw date sent
a dangerous signal to insurgents.