This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7930865.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US 'not winning in Afghanistan' Obama hints at talks with Taleban
(about 7 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has said the US is not winning in Afghanistan, saying it is more complex than Iraq. President Obama has suggested there could be talks with moderate elements of the Taleban in Afghanistan as part of a process of reconciliation.
In an interview with the New York Times, he said reaching out to the Taleban could be an option, in the same way outreach had worked in Iraq. Mr Obama told the New York Times that US forces in Iraq had persuaded some Islamic radicals alienated by the tactics of al-Qaeda to co-operate.
However, the "fierce independence among tribes" in Afghanistan presented different challenges, he said. He said there might be similar opportunities in Afghanistan, although the situation there was more complex.
A month into his presidency, Mr Obama authorised the deployment of up to 17,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan.
Asked if the US was winning in Afghanistan, Mr Obama replied: "No."Asked if the US was winning in Afghanistan, Mr Obama replied: "No."
A month into his presidency, Mr Obama authorised the deployment of up to 17,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan.
'Fierce independence'
Mr Obama and his advisors are reviewing the US strategy on Afghanistan, and have looked at what has worked in Iraq.Mr Obama and his advisors are reviewing the US strategy on Afghanistan, and have looked at what has worked in Iraq.
Those tribes are multiple and sometimes operate at cross purposes, and so figuring all that out is going to be much more of a challenge President Obama Those tribes are multiple and sometimes operate at cross purposes, and so figuring all that out is going to be much more of a challenge President Obama class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7896173.stm">Obama's new Afghan strategy
"There may be some comparable opportunities in Afghanistan and in the Pakistani region," he said on board Air Force One."There may be some comparable opportunities in Afghanistan and in the Pakistani region," he said on board Air Force One.
Mr Obama, referring to the US policy in Iraq, said: "If you talk to General [David] Petraeus, I think he would argue that part of the success in Iraq involved reaching out to people that we would consider to be Islamic fundamentalists, but who were willing to work with us because they had been completely alienated by the tactics of al-Qaeda in Iraq." Referring to the US policy in Iraq, he said: "If you talk to General [David] Petraeus, I think he would argue that part of the success in Iraq involved reaching out to people that we would consider to be Islamic fundamentalists, but who were willing to work with us because they had been completely alienated by the tactics of al-Qaeda in Iraq."
However, Afghanistan could be a different situation. But Afghanistan could be a different situation.
"The situation in Afghanistan is, if anything, more complex," he told the newspaper."The situation in Afghanistan is, if anything, more complex," he told the newspaper.
"You have a less governed region, a history of fierce independence among tribes."You have a less governed region, a history of fierce independence among tribes.
"Those tribes are multiple and sometimes operate at cross purposes, and so figuring all that out is going to be much more of a challenge.""Those tribes are multiple and sometimes operate at cross purposes, and so figuring all that out is going to be much more of a challenge."
Terror suspects
He also discussed what the US would do if a terror suspect appeared in a country without an extradition arrangement with the US.He also discussed what the US would do if a terror suspect appeared in a country without an extradition arrangement with the US.
"There could be situations - and I emphasise 'could be' because we haven't made a determination yet - where, let's say that we have a well-known al-Qaeda operative that doesn't surface very often, appears in a third country with whom we don't have an extradition relationship or would not be willing to prosecute, but we think is a very dangerous person," he said."There could be situations - and I emphasise 'could be' because we haven't made a determination yet - where, let's say that we have a well-known al-Qaeda operative that doesn't surface very often, appears in a third country with whom we don't have an extradition relationship or would not be willing to prosecute, but we think is a very dangerous person," he said.
"I think we still have to think about how do we deal with that kind of scenario," he added."I think we still have to think about how do we deal with that kind of scenario," he added.