But Clinton, speaking to reporters on her plane bound for Brussels, said she had spoken to as many as 25 fellow foreign ministers in the last week and said she was encouraged by what was, overall, a positive response. "There's an understanding about the importance of the mission that the President has described. There is a desire to be able to explain it to the publics of various countries, and to make sure that in coalition governments the political stars are in alignment to be able to announce additional commitments. We feel good about it," she said.
Clinton suggested that because of the need in some cases for parliamentary approval for troop pledges, announcements of new commitments may not come immediately.
She said she anticipated skeptical questioning in Brussels, much like that she and other top officials encountered in U.S. Congress, about the President's announcement of a July, 2011 target date for the beginning of a U.S. troop withdrawal.
Citing misunderstandings about the withdrawal target, Clinton said the United States does not contemplate any precipitous action. "Starting in 2011, we will be prepared for a responsible transfer of security responsibility to the Afghan security forces based on the conditions as we evaluate them at that time. Now, that doesn't mean we're going top get to 2011 and jump off a cliff. It means that we're going to be as careful and deliberative as necessary, but that we expect by 2011 to be able to pass off the responsibility for security to an improved, larger Afghan security force," she said.
Clinton said the training of Afghan forces, which she suggested had been a secondary priority during the Bush administration, will be stepped-up through what she termed partnering in combat.
Regardless of what happens in Afghanistan, it's a relief to know that Hillary is involved. The whole thing would be much more frightening without her as SOS.
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It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony