This photo shows U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, center, talking with Mr. John Hutton, left, as Senior Military Assistant David Rodriguez looks on, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/ Defense Dept., Tech Sgt Jerry Morrison)
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Updated: Friday, 21 Nov 2008, 3:18 PM EST
Published : Friday, 21 Nov 2008, 3:17 PM EST
CORNWALLIS, Nova Scotia (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he would like to see significant numbers of U.S. forces go into Afghanistan before planned national elections there next year.
Gates said Friday there are no firm plans for when the U.S. would add troops after a few thousand already announced for January.
But he said that successful Afghan elections are probably the single most important goal for 2009. He added that he thinks grim accounts of backsliding in the seven-year-old war are too pessimistic.
Gates represented the U.S. at a gathering in Nova Scotia of nations with large numbers of fighting forces in southern Afghanistan.
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