Kill Osama to defeat Qaeda: McChrystal

Osama bin Laden is an iconic figure among extremists who must be captured or killed in order to defeat al-Qaeda...

Osama bin Laden is an iconic figure among extremists who must be captured or killed in order to defeat al-Qaeda,top US commander in Afghanistan Gen Stanley McChrystal said on Tuesday.

I dont think that we can finally defeat al-Qaeda until hes captured or killed, McChrystal told lawmakers before a Senate committee.

He also cautioned that killing or capturing the Saudi-born leader of the group that mounted the September 11,2001 attacks would not by itself dismantle al-Qaeda.

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McChrystal said Osamas very existence fanned extremism globally.

I believe he is an iconic figure at this point,whose survival emboldens al-Qaeda as a franchising organisation across the world.

The new Afghan policy announced by US President Barack Obama will set conditions for beginning of withdrawal of US combat troops from the area in the next 18 months,Commander of the US Central Command Gen David Petraeus said on Wednesday.

Petraeus said at a hearing on Afghanistan by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Over the next 18 months,implementing the new Afghan policy,will enable to improve the security of the people and increase capabilities of the Afghan security forces to help improve Afghan governance.