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December 10, 2009

Top General Predicts Rise in Afghan Violence
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One day before the Nobel ceremony, the head of US forces in the Middle
East said he expects violence to rise in Afghanistan as the US escalates
the war. General David Petraeus made the prediction in testimony before
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Gen. David Petraeus: “As in Iraq, our troopers and their partners in
Afghanistan will have to fight their way into enemy strongholds and
clear enemy-controlled population centers. As in Iraq, the situation is
likely to get harder before it gets easier. Violence likely will
increase initially, particularly in the spring as the weather improves.”



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