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Petraeus said recent U.S. missiles have killed 3 of the top 20 extremist leaders in Pakistan's border zone

Petraeus: Afghan tribes needed to fight militants



Fisnik Abrashi, AP BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – Afghan tribes are needed as crucial battlefield allies against the Taliban and other extremists in the same way local militias rose up to oppose insurgents in Iraq, the new military overseer of America's 2 wars said Nov. 6.

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The tactic has long been endorsed by Gen. David Petraeus — the former top U.S. cmdr. in Iraq whose outreach to Sunni sheiks helped oust al-Qaida-inspired militants from key areas and sharply decreased attacks. "This is a country in which support of the tribes, of the local communities, for the overall effort is essential," Petraeus told The AP at the massive Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul. He added that Afghanistan has not had "a tradition of central govt extending into the far reaches of its provinces and its districts." "We will certainly support what Pres. Karzai decides to adopt," said Petraeus. "We traditionally have not armed tribes ... But again, we have to see how that evolves here and see what kinds of initiatives and structures might be looked at." Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, said in a recent interview with the AP that he is "absolutely ready" to reach out to tribes as an auxiliary force. He noted, however, that any deals would have to be in "connection with the Afghan govt." In Afghanistan, U.S. and other foreign troops use local militiamen for security at some bases, but the efforts so far have concentrated on training the country's fledgling SF. In the interview, Petraeus said the war in Afghanistan is closely intertwined with the fight in Pakistan, and they need to be tackled together. Petraeus said recent U.S. missiles have killed 3 of the top 20 extremist leaders in Pakistan's border zone. He did not identify the leaders killed, but described the attacks as "hugely important."


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