Pentagon chief says Afghan success 'within reach'

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S Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday toured the nerve centre of NATO command in Afghanistan, telling officers an imminent troop surge would turn around the eight-year war against the Taliban.

Gates visited the NATO-run International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) joint operation centre, which has 170 staff from 42 nations, saying improved allied cooperation and the sweeping new strategy put success within reach.

"We have all the pieces coming together to be successful here," Gates told staff in the imposing command room with banks of telephones and computers, where commanders coordinate operations throughout Afghanistan.

Gates is the most senior US official to visit the country since President Barack Obama ordered the deployment of an extra 30,000 troops to battle the Taliban, with the goal of starting to withdraw forces in July

They must think we are a bunch of fools. I guess we are, we believed this....

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