(8 Mar 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Various of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai ++MUTE++
2. Wide presser ++MUTE++
3. Medium of both men at presser
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Robert Gates, US Defence Secretary:
"The most pressing matter we discussed was the major operation President Karzai approved in Helmand province, where Afghan and international troops have succeeded clearing almost all of Marjha and not only. President Karzai visited the battlefield field yesterday and spoke at length with tribal elders about the concern and needs of the people."
5. Cutaway
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Robert Gates, US Defence Secretary:
"Long term success will ultimately be determined by how well the Afghan government with the support of the international community can respond to the citizens of Afghanistan and inspire their loyalty."
7. Cutaway
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Robert Gates, US Defence Secretary:
"Of course the operation in Marjha is only one of many battles to come in a much part of a longer campaigned focused on protecting the people of Afghanistan. Since Gen McChrystal made population protection the centre piece of his military strategy, civilian casualties have been dramatically reduced. When, despite our very best efforts they do occur we will continue to acknowledge our mistakes and find new and better ways to coordinate more closely with Afghan forces."
9. Wide presser
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Robert Gates, US Defence Secretary:
"I also told him we will continue to work with our NATO allies and other international partners to get more trainers and mentors. We are all united in wanting to see the Afghans assume greater responsibility in the security of their own country and their own people."
11. Cutway journalist
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hamid Karzai, Afghan President:
"Reconciliation will be with those Afghans or those Taliban and other elements who are Afghans, who have been forced into opposition, who are no ideological enmity with Afghanistan and its constitution and who are not part of al-Qaida network or other terrorist networks. Reintegration means with the thousands of Taliban who are sons of the soil, who have been forced into militancy by circumstances or by various other events that forced them there, and that is a process that has the approval of our allied forces."
13. Both men shaking hands and leaving presser
STORYLINE:
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan on Monday to check on the progress of the war''s expansion directed late last year by US President Barack Obama.
During a press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai he said the Marjah offensive - the first major test of a new U.S. And NATO counterinsurgency strategy - is encouraging, but stopped short of saying it suggests that the war is at a turning point.
"The operation in Marjha is only one of many battles to come in a much part of a longer campaigned focused on protecting the people of Afghanistan," he said.
President Karzai also spoke about an action plan for reintegrating Taliban fighters into society and talking with the insurgency''s top leaders will be crafted at a spring peace meeting, known as a jirga, in Kabul.
Karzai said Afghans from all sections of the nation and all walks of life will be attending the jirga.
He says the government is extending an offer to reconcile with members of the Taliban who renounce ties to al-Qaida agree to embrace the Afghan constitution.
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