Gates: Afghan military focus of U.S. plan

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. and international forces must work to build an Afghan military that can prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for al-Qaida, officials said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the focus of the military conflict in Afghanistan must be the disruption of al-Qaida and a push toward sustainable peace.

"In the context of the president's goal of disrupting, dismantling and destroying al-Qaida, we seek an Afghanistan that is our partner in that endeavor and that can sustain that endeavor after we're gone," Gates said.

His comments came during a review of an assessment on the situation in Afghanistan by U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top military commander in Afghanistan, who described the security situation there as deteriorating.

The review comes against the backdrop of a decline in public support for the war in Afghanistan, which is coming off its deadliest month in years.

"The fact that Americans would be tired of having their sons and daughters at risk and in battle is not surprising," said Gates. "I think what is important is for us to be able to show, over the months to come, is that the president's strategy is succeeding."

Gates said he and his top military commanders would examine the McChrystal report and provide their input on the situation in Afghanistan to U.S. President Barack Obama next week.