--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: US forces have been increased [in…" description: "\"US forces have been increased [in Afghanistan ] from some 21,000 to about 31,000 over the past two years and a number of coalition countries have also ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghani_2795813.png" --- # US forces have been increased \[in Afghanistan \] from some… ![“US forces have been increased [in Afghanistan ] from some 21,000 to about 31,000 over the past two years and a number of coalition countries have also increased their forces, there still are not sufficient troops.” quote by David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghani_2795813.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghani_2795813.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghani_2795813.png) > “US forces have been increased \[in Afghanistan \] from some 21,000 to about 31,000 over the past two years and a number of coalition countries have also increased their forces, there still are not sufficient troops.” [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. Increasing troop levels alone does not guarantee sufficient security; broader strategy and allied commitment are needed. **In simple terms:** More troops aren't enough without a solid plan. Key Takeaway Focus on strategy, not just numbers. Themes military strategy allies Mood cautious realistic Type analytical strategic When to use this quote - policy planning - international cooperation - resource management Key Concepts force allocation security policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance troop numbers with sustainable strategy? - What non‑military tools could complement force increases? A Different Perspective More troops may strain budgets and public support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Coalitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalitions/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Forces Increased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forces-increased-1033474/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Increased Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increased-afghanistan-3413055/) [Increased Forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increased-forces-3413056/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Over the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-the-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient/) [Sufficient Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient-troops-3413057/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [In the past, war was confined for the most part to men in uniform, but with increased mechanization of armies and the introduction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/in-the-past-war-was-confined-for-the-most-part-to-men-in-uniform-but/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [The g-forces increased and I wasn't able to continue to hold the camera against the window, so I had to lay it back against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/the-g-forces-increased-and-i-wasn-t-able-to-continue-to-hold-the/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [The question is always how you get the number of troops needed. They do not have to be coalition forces. We also have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-question-is-always-how-you-get-the-number-of-troops-needed-they/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [The art of coalition command - whether it is here in Afghanistan, whether it was in Iraq or in Bosnia or in Haiti -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it-is-here-in-afghanistan/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [Progress in Iraq has always been about teams of people and teams of teams - and ultimately about young men and women, Iraqi as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/progress-in-iraq-has-always-been-about-teams-of-people-and-teams-of/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [There has, indeed, been very substantial progress in Iraq over the past year - violence is down by 80 percent, civilian deaths by about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/there-has-indeed-been-very-substantial-progress-in-iraq-over-the-past/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [We have to go massively, like we did in the first Gulf War where we destroyed Saddam's ability to take Kuwait. We need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/we-have-to-go-massively-like-we-did-in-the-first-gulf-war-where-we/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [There's a lot of things we can do to balance out what Obama's done and going forward show the American people the Republican Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/there-s-a-lot-of-things-we-can-do-to-balance-out-what-obama-s-done/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [I am involved with so many charitable organizations. Lung Cancer because of my dad, Breast Cancer because as a woman and mother of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-robbins/i-am-involved-with-so-many-charitable-organizations-lung-cancer/) [Lois Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-robbins/) > [Jubilee 2000 is a broad coalition which has moved the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/jubilee-2000-is-a-broad-coalition-which-has-moved-the-earth/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [A too-swift and easy coalition victory may substantially increase the risk of future wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-manne/a-too-swift-and-easy-coalition-victory-may-substantially-increase-the/) [Robert Manne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-manne/) > [For there is hardly a state or nation in existence which has not once had the misfortune, even if it was in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/for-there-is-hardly-a-state-or-nation-in-existence-which-has-not-once/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) ## 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 Afghanistan quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [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/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [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/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "US forces have been increased [in Afghanistan ] from some 21,000 to about 31,000 over the past two years and a number of coalition countries have also increased their forces, there still are not sufficient troops.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Petraeus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghanistan-from-some-21-000-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afghanistan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghanistan-from-some-21-000-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghani_2795813.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghani_2795813.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/192/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghani_2795813.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“US forces have been increased [in Afghanistan ] from some 21,000 to about 31,000 over the past two years and…” — David Petraeus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Petraeus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "US forces have been increased [in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghanistan-from-some-21-000-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/us-forces-have-been-increased-in-afghanistan-from-some-21-000-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```