Afghanistan will be a major challenge for Obama

US secretary of state Colin PowellColin Powell warned on Thursday that the Afghan war would be the second biggest challenge for President-elect Barack ObamaBarack Obama after his inauguration on Jan 20. The first challenge, of course, would be dealing with the economic crisis. But Mr Obama would also need to pay “a lot of time and attention” to the war in Afghanistan, he added.

The war in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal areas is also on top of the agenda of CIA
And CIA would start briefing Mr Obama on top-secret intelligence and “the full range of capabilities we deploy for the United States. During the election campaign, Mr Obama promised to increase US troops in Afghanistan and to provide American and allied troops whatever they needed to defeat the Taliban.

He also pledged to attack suspected terrorist targets inside Pakistan’s tribal belt if US intelligence agencies had solid information about the presence of a senior Al Qaeda or Taliban leader at a particular place and if Pakistanis were unable or unwilling to go for him.

Powell appreciated Obama’s line of action and Said “I’m very, very proud to have a new American president, who also happens to be an African-American.”