Published: October 12, 2005
Rice Says U.S. Committed to Partnership with Afghanistan
Says U.S. force deployment will change with political circumstances
The deployment of coalition and international military forces in Afghanistan will change as political and security conditions evolve, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, but the United States will not abandon the Afghan people before Afghanistan is able to achieve stability and economic progress.
"It is absolutely the case that military forces will change, the structure will change over time as the conditions demand and Afghan military and police forces are taking more of the load. That's only appropriate," Rice told Radio Afghanistan in an October 12 interview. "But you can be sure that we have a long-term commitment to Afghanistan, as long as the Afghan people want our partnership and friendship they will have it."
She said American and NATO forces would remain as long as necessary to free Afghanistan from the threat of terrorism.
Rice also said the United States would increase its support for the Afghan government's efforts to confront the rising problem of the narcotics trade.
Speaking to Afghan President Hamid Karzai about the drug trade issue at a press availability after the two met, Rice said, "[W]e will redouble our efforts with you to help to educate the Afghan people, to help to eradicate, to help to bring alternative livelihoods to those who choose a legal path, and also to support your efforts at criminal justice for those who continue in those activities."
Karzai reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the problem. "[I]f we fight drugs, corruption, we will be a state respected and standing on our own feet. If we fail, we will fail as a state eventually and we will fall back in the hands of terrorism. Therefore, if you give us an option, the Afghan nation will take the first option, the option of fighting drugs and being a strong, powerful, very, very respectable state," he said.
Rice, who met with a group of Afghan businesswomen earlier in the day, praised the Afghans' entrepreneurial spirit and said this spirit would be a key to rebuilding the Afghan economy. She said the United States would support the development of small businesses in Afghanistan.
The secretary said that continued political and economic development would be the key to defeating terrorism and urged all Afghans to unite behind the vision of a more peaceful and prosperous future.
"The Afghan people have an important role to play in defeating the terrorists. It is my hope that now with the parliamentary elections done that all Afghans will now see that the road ahead and the future is on the political front, not in violence," she said.
Source: U.S. Department of State
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