Bush cautions of long struggle on surprise Afghanistan visit

Kabul, December 15, 2008- US President George W. Bush warned of an extensive struggle on part of the foreign troops to establish stability in Afghanistan while he was on a surprise farewell visit to Afghanistan.

The information about this visit was kept reserved; the place of Bush’s arrival was also not disclosed to more than a few important people/officials.

At present, (since America’s invasion on Iraq) people of Iraq despise the American leader. This became more evident when during this visit an Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at Bush. This violent behavior represents extremely aggressive sentiments of most of the Iraqis.

Bush’s Air Force One official plane landed at Bagram Air Base (near Kabul) where he spoke to men of US troops, it was made sure that the lights of the plane while landing are off to ensure President’s safety. Secrecy was maintained regarding the place of landing.

After addressing US troops, Bush headed for Kabul. Blackhawk helicopter flew Bush to Kabul where he had talks –as per his schedule- with Hamid Karzai, Afghan’s President.

In a joint news conference with Karzai (at the presidential palace), President Bush said, "This is going to be a long struggle. Ideological struggles take time… Are there difficult days ahead? Absolutely. But are the conditions a lot better today in Afghanistan than they were in 2001? Unquestionably, undoubtedly they're better."

There has been massive instability in Afghanistan since the time Taliban regime ended in 2001. To handle the hostile conditions triggered by US-led coalition (since 2001), 70,000 foreign troops have been planted in Afghanistan.

The conditions are getting worse which is evident from General David McKiernan, the top commander’s demand to deploy more than 20,000 extra US soldiers to combat the insurgency.

While Karzai maintained that the conditions in Afghanistan are difficult and the “mission is essential," people of Afghanistan "don't want to be a burden on the international community for ever.”

Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki signed a security pact which had new guiding principles for US soldiers who are installed in Iraq. "The war is not over, but with the conclusion of these agreements... it is decisively on its way to being won," Bush remarked.