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| Afghanistan |
| US Envoy Warns of 9/11-Style Attack if Mission Quitted |
| 2012-04-01 |
| The US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker has told a British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, that Al Qaeda would be able to increase its presence if the West leaves Afghanistan prematurely. His comments come as the US is preparing to withdraw the bulk of the surge this year and plan to end transition to Afghan forces next year. "If we decide we're tired, they'll be back," Ambassador Crocker has warned. "Al Qaeda is still present in Afghanistan. If the West decides that 10 years in Afghanistan is too long then they will be back, and the next time it will not be New York or Washington, it will be another big Western city," he further said. The report said that Al Qaeda gunnies have returned to Afghanistan and will use the country as a base to launch September 11-style attacks on Western cities. US military and intelligence officials have said that nearly 100 Al Qaeda operatives are in Afghanistan. Mr Crocker said that Al Qaeda remained a potent threat despite suffering setbacks. "We have killed all the slow and stupid ones. But that means the ones that are left are totally dedicated," he said. "We think we've won a campaign before our adversaries have even started to fight. They have patience, and they know that we are short on that," he said. Last month, President B.O. said Al Qaeda had suffered severe damages in the last two years. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |