AFGHAN ARMY TO TAKE MANY MORE BILLIONS AND YEARS

"... the United States has spent more than $17 billion since 2001 trying to build the ANA (Afghan National Army)... The Afghan government claims that the ANA numbers more than 100,000 troops... (but)... an unpublished preliminary military report... for Central Command Commander Gen. David Petraeus... indicates that at least some ANA battalions (Kandaks) are undermanned by as much as 50 percent... .Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi expects to expand the ANA to 240,000 soldiers for which the United States has pledged an additional $16 billion..."
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Analysis/2010/01/05/Outside-View-Training-the-Afghan-army/UPI-83911262709907/

"... Mr. Karzai... once again rais(ed) the prospect of a far more drawn-out foreign troop presence before Afghans would be able to assume full responsibility for their own security. It could take 5 to 10 years for Afghan forces to take over from the American-led coalition,... and even longer to end his country’s dependence on financial aid to sustain its military. That is far longer that President Obama’s goal to begin drawing down American forces by the summer of 2011.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/world/asia/29diplo.html?sudsredirect=true