U.S. says British comments on Afghan war "defeatist"

By Kristin Roberts

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Monday dismissed as "defeatist" comments by Britain's military commander and its ambassador in Afghanistan that the war there could not be won.

"While we face significant challenges in Afghanistan, there certainly is no reason to be defeatist or to underestimate the opportunities to be successful in the long run," Gates told reporters en route to Europe for meetings with Defence ministers.

The Pentagon chief said part of the solution in Afghanistan, where soaring violence has made that war zone more deadly than Iraq, would be negotiating with members of the Taliban who are willing to work with the government in Kabul.

He compared that to reconciliation efforts in Iraq, where tribal leaders who once fought against U.S. and Iraqi troops have switched sides to fight the insurgency and al Qaeda.

"What we have seen in Iraq applies in Afghanistan," Gates said of the possibility of peace talks with the Taliban.

"Part of the solution is strengthening the Afghan security forces. Part of the solution is reconciliation with people who are willing to work with the Afghan government."

Gates' comments followed statements from Britain's commander and ambassador in Afghanistan that cast doubt on whether the NATO-led war could be won.

Britain's commander in Afghanistan, Brig. Mark Carleton-Smith, told the Sunday Times that the war against the Taliban could not be won. Separately, Britain's ambassador in Kabul, Sherard Cowper-Coles, backed an "acceptable dictator" as the best solution for the country, according to excerpts from a diplomatic cable published in a French newspaper.