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Show i Think THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009 The race against time Afghanistan John F. Kerry SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST To foreign power has remained welcome in Afghanistan for a sustained sus-tained period, and the British and the Soviets paid a bitter price for trying. Our goal has never been to dominate Afghanistan but, rather, to eliminate al-Qaida's haven and to empower Afghans to govern their country in line with their best interests inter-ests and our national security. We shouldn't delude ourselves into thinking that we are in anything but a race against time in a region suspicious of foreign footprints. The United States is not in Afghanistan to make it our 51st state but to make sure it does not become an al-Qaida narco-state and terrorist beachhead capable of destabilizing neighboring Pakistan. We must renew our original mis N MUSADEQ SADEQAssociated Press Afghan president Hamid Karzai looks on as Netherlands' Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende, unseen, speaks during a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday. After seven years in office, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's star is rapidly waning in Washington, with President Barack Obama saying Afghanistan's government is detached from the surrounding communities it is supposed to serve. ( 0 jyj fjjjfo , N Rytw typical mow. Prmtrng errors .tyct to comrctMm. Orcm Slore: 1950 North State Strect'Orem, Utah (801)224-0999 Hours: Mon-Sat 8nm-1 0pm Pharmacy Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm 224-3131 Provo Store: 655 East 300 SoutlWrovo, Utah (801)373-7439 Hours: Mon-Sat 7am-10pm Pharmacy Hours: Mon-Sat. 9am-7pm Springville Store: 340 South Ma!nSpringville, Utah (801)489-4377 Hours: Mon-Sat 7am-11pm Pharmacy Hours: Plon-Sat 9am-7pm 4897327 CLOSED SUNDAYS FI I , rl i h. -QLJ ' .y. A, J . L .. H Lffi WtM l 'Ifl I . TMiiniinwmr n ii. i r fc.JjBHnnw4ian.amA. i MwifciWftiMaaiiilwai iwn -1" tnf' fi--ffTnni i rr r n - ri ti iinnwuiiiflfc -jWiMgBUmfci&a&jaBia i ?k $99 , w $499 . Ttnh-r $-369 70 I j Gallon Milk JL ' - Rtbeye Steaks U Asparagus J ,,. Chunk Liht f f. j . Proust ot L-ko Tuna a s ? i ft ' 2 'it- ; L. , mrrr- -,mi,n,.,,l,l .i: Lgajl , ; 1. 7-12.6 OZ. Stiampm, imi-ni-n i m m- , i-r.u., . Hair Care ' Toothpaste lamptms 1 Tissue " IJ in sion and President Obama has rightly pledged to recommit to Afghanistan as the center of our global counterinsurgency campaign, beginning with the deployment of as many as 30,000 additional troops. In 2006, 1 argued that more troops were needed. I still believe that. But troops alone will not bring victory. Our military mili-tary commitment must be matched with realistic goals, beginning with a comprehensive new bottom-up strategy strat-egy acknowledging Afghanistan's history of decentralized governance and recognizing the capabilities of our NATO and Afghan allies. Last year was the deadliest since we arrived in Afghanistan in 2001. A senior U.S. commander warned recently that "it's going to get worse before it gets better." We will sue- -ceed only by maintaining bipartisan support and public backing at home and winning back the Afghan people See AFGHANISTAN, Page 5 Jj ' j MM j li'AdA5 99 Stouffer's P Beautiful ' QQ llb.foh-vSwt ' 4 CT .Vrvr.Vii;t-( '; $$QQ $ Dozen. 4 I Srrmvberries. Z ,.r 3 ''l " I ! Roses -fi-vi,tf1i;vt " ' f FT- " y r- - J Clu (vJs I I I I El LI Kl(- ... ' j ..-i, "... ' ' j' ' " "J 1 ! ', f V nfiJmMmimmrm.'m .imim.1 k'j I t - - ; J f I ,J' ,v : ., - f u.m& Premium Ice Cream -i 1 ITS ' 'u, , i -. !, f M: ; Si I . ' i f J 1 |