Afghanistan
The United States has made a long-term commitment to help Afghanistan rebuild itself after years of war. The U.S., along with others in the international community, currently provides resources and expertise to Afghanistan in a variety of areas, including humanitarian relief and assistance, capacity-building, security needs, counter-narcotic programs, and infrastructure projects. The U.S. also supports the Afghan Government in its efforts to establish a framework for a vibrant civil society, one that emphasizes democratic principles through a rule of law and creates accountable and transparent forms of government.
The United States and its international partners remain committed to helping Afghans realize their vision for a country that is stable, democratic, and economically successful, and to an Afghan government committed to the protection of women's rights, human rights, and religious tolerance.
Comments on Afghanistan Elections
Special Representative Richard Holbrooke (Aug. 24): "Let's just wait for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Complaints Commission (ECC) to reach their verdicts. ... And the United States and the international community will respect the process set up by Afghanistan itself." -Full Text
Recent Elections in Afghanistan
President Obama (Aug. 21): "Over the last few days...we've seen acts of violence and intimidation by the Taliban, and there may be more in the days to come. We knew that the Taliban would try to derail this election. Yet even in the face of this brutality, millions of Afghans exercised the right to choose their leaders and determine their own destiny." -Full Text
Afghanistan Elections
Secretary Clinton (Aug. 17): "The Afghan people will go to the polls to elect a President and new Provincial Councils. This election day will not be without its challenges, but the Afghan people have seen unparalleled campaigning, debate and dialogue in their country. ... The Afghan people should be commended for their courage in conducting this election despite the stresses of wartime, and we and the international community are proud to support them." -Full Text
In Afghanistan, a Time to Debate and Decide
-Op-Ed by U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry (Aug. 3)
Afghanistan
Assistant Secretary Crowley (Aug. 11): "This is not just about the State Department, although we have a vitally important role to play and we'll be deploying hundreds of civilians to Afghanistan in the coming weeks and months. But this is, as the Secretary has described, a whole-of-government effort. So it is obviously the State Department and NGOs, it is Agriculture, it is other aspects." -Daily Briefing
Afghanistan
Deputy Department Spokesman Wood (Aug. 10): "We’re engaged in a long-term struggle, as I’ve said before, against violent extremism. And whether Baitullah Mehsud is dead or alive doesn’t impact our understanding of what continues to need to be done to fight extremism" -Daily Briefing
Security in Afghanistan
Special Representative Holbrooke (July 29): "It’s absolutely essential that over time Afghanistan assume responsibility for its own security and combat troops draw down. Of course, economic assistance, training, advisory work will continue for quite a while. The current force levels of police and army are clearly going to have to be increased." -Full Text -Video
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