The commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan says the momentum built up by the Taliban has been reversed in the south of the country and capital Kabul.
General David Petraeus said it was important to destroy the safe havens of Taliban.
He also said he would offer President Obama his best professional advice on the wisdom of handing control to Afghan forces next July.
It was the president's prerogative to accept or reject that advice, he added.
The man who staged, if not a victory in Iraq, then certainly a remarkable change in its fortunes, seems confident he can do the same in Afghanistan. BBC News
