--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question is always how you get the…" description: "\"The question is always how you get the number of troops needed. They do not have to be coalition forces. We also have to expand the training program fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/david-petraeus-11182_afghan_the-question-is-always-how-you-get-the-n_2672975.jpg" --- # The question is always how you get the number of troops… ![“The question is always how you get the number of troops needed. They do not have to be coalition forces. We also have to expand the training program for the Afghan National Army and the national police, in particular. and Defense Secretary Robert Gates has already announced support for a…” quote by David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/david-petraeus-11182_afghan_the-question-is-always-how-you-get-the-n_2672975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/david-petraeus-11182_afghan_the-question-is-always-how-you-get-the-n_2672975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/david-petraeus-11182_afghan_the-question-is-always-how-you-get-the-n_2672975.jpg) > “The question is always how you get the number of troops needed. They do not have to be coalition forces. We also have to expand the training program for the Afghan National Army and the national police, in particular. and Defense Secretary Robert Gates has already announced support for a significant increase in the Afghan army.” [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The focus is on determining troop numbers, expanding training for Afghan forces, and increasing support for the Afghan army. **In simple terms:** Determine troop needs, train Afghan forces, increase support. Key Takeaway Plan and strengthen Afghan security. Themes military strategy training resource allocation Mood strategic formal Type policy operational When to use this quote - policy planning - military operations - international aid - security assessments Key Concepts force sizing capacity building Questions to Reflect On - How many troops are truly needed? - What training gaps exist? A Different Perspective Political constraints may limit resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghan/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Coalition Forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalition-forces-453469/) [Coalitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalitions/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gates/) [Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase/) [Increase Afghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase-afghan-2517390/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needed Coalition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-coalition-2517391/) [Number Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-troops-2517392/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary/) [Significant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significant/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [Training programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training-programs/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Troops Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops-needed-2517389/) ## Related quotes > [We must either reduce the number of our engagements or increase the number of our troops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/we-must-either-reduce-the-number-of-our-engagements-or-increase-the/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [We have the smallest navy since 1916, we have the lowest number of troops since the end of the Second World War. We've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/we-have-the-smallest-navy-since-1916-we-have-the-lowest-number-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [We've had Saudis and Jordanians and Pakistanis who have - and Syrians - who have been involved in armed attacks against coalition forces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/we-ve-had-saudis-and-jordanians-and-pakistanis-who-have-and-syrians/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [I apologize to coalition forces and all the families, detainees, the families, America and all the soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynndie-england/i-apologize-to-coalition-forces-and-all-the-families-detainees-the/) [Lynndie England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynndie-england/) > [We are in the process of trying to liberate that country. And at the moment where the war ends and the coalition forces occupy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/we-are-in-the-process-of-trying-to-liberate-that-country-and-at-the/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The plan was criticized by some retired military officers embedded in TV studios. But with every advance by our coalition forces, the wisdom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/the-plan-was-criticized-by-some-retired-military-officers-embedded-in/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [ No one received them \[the coalition forces\] with roses. They were received with bombs, shoes and bullets. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/no-one-received-them-the-coalition-forces-with-roses-they-were/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [“Fuck off," some of them seem to be yelling at coalition forces. A lot hinges on the appropriate military response. "Fuck you" might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/fuck-off-some-of-them-seem-to-be-yelling-at-coalition-forces-a-lot/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Increased coalition presence feeds the notion of occupation. It contributes to the dependency of Iraqi security forces on the coalition, ... It extends the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-casey-jr/increased-coalition-presence-feeds-the-notion-of-occupation-it/) [George W. Casey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-casey-jr/) > [ \[Insurgents\] pose no strategic threat to the United States or to the Coalition Forces. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bremer/insurgents-pose-no-strategic-threat-to-the-united-states-or-to-the/) [Paul Bremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bremer/) > [We now have a satisfactory solution not only to coalition forces, but also to the Iraqi authorities themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prescott/we-now-have-a-satisfactory-solution-not-only-to-coalition-forces-but/) [John Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prescott/) > [United States and Coalition forces will remain in Iraq and will operate under American command as part of a multinational force authorized by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gerlach/united-states-and-coalition-forces-will-remain-in-iraq-and-will/) [Jim Gerlach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gerlach/) > [The people of Iraq are grateful for what the people of the United States of America and our armed forces and our coalition forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-isakson/the-people-of-iraq-are-grateful-for-what-the-people-of-the-united/) [Johnny Isakson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-isakson/) > [Coalition forces have encountered serious violence in some areas of Iraq. Our military commanders report that this violence is being insticated by three groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/coalition-forces-have-encountered-serious-violence-in-some-areas-of/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Being a perfectionist, I didn't want to settle for just getting by, so I enrolled in a vocal training program. I then learned that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/being-a-perfectionist-i-didn-t-want-to-settle-for-just-getting-by-so/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) ## More by David Petraeus > [ There \[in Afghanistan\] is also a growing insurgency threat from al-Qaida, the Taliban and other extremist elements, some of which comes from the tribal… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/there-in-afghanistan-is-also-a-growing-insurgency-threat-from-al/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [The job of the leader is to get the big ideas right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-job-of-the-leader-is-to-get-the-big-ideas-right/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [Over the last few years they have done a superb job in their fight against al-Qaida. As you may recall, our embassy in Jedda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/over-the-last-few-years-they-have-done-a-superb-job-in-their-fight/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/after-being-married-for-over-37-years-i-showed-extremely-poor/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [Money can be a very important form of "ammunition," although we should never forget that when you're being shot at the most important ammunition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/money-can-be-a-very-important-form-of-ammunition-although-we-should/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he expressed very clearly that what he wants from me is my best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-president-and-i-sat-down-in-the-oval-office-and-he-expressed-very/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [Don't forget Yemen, where there are also extremist elements, as we saw recently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/don-t-forget-yemen-where-there-are-also-extremist-elements-as-we-saw/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [If you look at casualties, you find countries that had much higher loss rates per capita than the US. Denmark comes to mind, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/if-you-look-at-casualties-you-find-countries-that-had-much-higher/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [I will not ever run for political office. I can assure you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/i-will-not-ever-run-for-political-office-i-can-assure-you/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [Political progress will only take place if sufficient security exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/political-progress-will-only-take-place-if-sufficient-security-exists/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [Even the Interior Ministry in Riyadh was hit. Since then, the Saudis have employed a very intelligent and comprehensive approach to counter al-Qaida, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/even-the-interior-ministry-in-riyadh-was-hit-since-then-the-saudis/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [In Afghanistan you are not rebuilding, you are building. There is very limited infrastructure and extreme terrain, with deserts in the south and mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/in-afghanistan-you-are-not-rebuilding-you-are-building-there-is-very/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [“We have relearned since 9/11 the timeless lesson that we don’t always get to fight the wars for which we’re most prepared or most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/we-have-relearned-since-9-11-the-timeless-lesson-that-we-don-t-always/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [Iran, as we have already discussed, has carried out very, very harmful activities inside Iraq. Funding, trainings, arming and, in some cases, even directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/iran-as-we-have-already-discussed-has-carried-out-very-very-harmful/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [This is actually true of the overall fight against al-Qaeda and trans-national extremists, that as you put pressure on them in one location, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/this-is-actually-true-of-the-overall-fight-against-al-qaeda-and-trans/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) [Explore all 61 David Petraeus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) ## More Afghan quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [If it is terrorism, if it is war on terror, then the Afghan people will join you on terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/if-it-is-terrorism-if-it-is-war-on-terror-then-the-afghan-people-will/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan to transform her own life and ended up revolutionizing the lives of many of her Afghan sisters. This book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-hamilton/deborah-rodriguez-went-to-afghanistan-to-transform-her-own-life-and/) [Masha Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-hamilton/) > [Mecca and Medinah is a very special place in the hearts of every Muslim but particularly for every Afghan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/mecca-and-medinah-is-a-very-special-place-in-the-hearts-of-every/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] decided to leave more troops than he had originally planned in Afghanistan. We have a very cooperative government there, with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-president-barack-obama-decided-to-leave-more-troops-than-he-had/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Over the past 30 years, hand grenades, tanks, fighter jets, missiles, helicopters and assault rifles have replaced traditional floral patterns in rug making and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cole/over-the-past-30-years-hand-grenades-tanks-fighter-jets-missiles/) [Henri Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cole/) > [We've got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-ve-got-to-see-a-state-where-the-afghan-government-can-handle-its/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [It's going to be really interesting to see what the heroin market does in the next two years or so. One thing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/it-s-going-to-be-really-interesting-to-see-what-the-heroin-market/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [And across Afghanistan, every single day, Afghan soldiers, Afghan police and ISAF troops are serving shoulder-to-shoulder in some very difficult situations. And our engagement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-allen/and-across-afghanistan-every-single-day-afghan-soldiers-afghan-police/) [John R. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-allen/) > [Well, the movie isn't bad. For a while, I even told myself I liked it, even as it missed one mark after another. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edelstein/well-the-movie-isn-t-bad-for-a-while-i-even-told-myself-i-liked-it/) [David Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edelstein/) > [I mean, honestly, we have to be clear that the life for many Afghan women is not that much different than it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-mean-honestly-we-have-to-be-clear-that-the-life-for-many-afghan/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) [Browse all 144 Afghan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The question is always how you get the number of troops needed. They do not have to be coalition forces. 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