Petraeus: Deadline puts pressure on Afghans

Army Gen. David Petraeus voiced support Tuesday for President Obama's decision to begin reductions of U.S. forces in Afghanistan in July 2011, but said it would be years before Afghan forces could handle the security of their country on their own.

The former commander of forces in Iraq who now oversees both wars as head of U.S. Central Command was nominated last week to become the Afghan war commander after Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal resigned from that post.

The July 2011 date, Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing Tuesday morning, sends a "message of urgency" to Afghanistan even as the United States sends an additional 30,000 troops to quell rising violence in the country.

"Productivity experts say there is no better productivity tool than a deadline," he said.

Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., raised concerns about the July 2011 date, saying it is "so harmful" to the mission there. Afghans, he said, are fearful the Taliban, which controlled the country until U.S. forces toppled its regime in late 2001, will take over once American troops leave.

"We are asking them to take a huge risk, and they will be far less willing to run it if they think we will begin leaving in a year," McCain said.

Petraeus said he has sought to assure both the Afghan and Pakistan governments that the United States does not plan to abandon its mission in Afghanistan next year. Any withdrawal of troops would be done responsibly, based on conditions on the ground, he emphasized.

Ensuring success in Afghanistan, Petraeus said, requires developing quality Afghan security forces in sufficient numbers -- a task that he called "hugely challenging" and "akin to building an advanced aircraft while it is in flight, while it is in design and while it is being shot at."

Petraeus also warned that the military will face several more months of heavy fighting as it roots out insurgents and tries to eradicate safe havens.

"My sense is the tough fighting will continue," Petraeus said. "Indeed, it may get more intense."

During the hearing, Petraeus and key lawmakers praised McChrystal for his years of military service, particularly for his successes in Iraq and Afghanistan. The four-star general's resignation came after he and his staff made insulting comments about the president, Vice President Biden and senior members of the Obama administration's national security team in a Rolling Stone magazine profile.

Shortly after the hearing, the committee approved Petraeus' nomination on a voice vote in the hope of lining up a Senate vote before the Independence Day recess. McCain said he was confident Petraeus would be "quickly and overwhelmingly confirmed."