Gates 'Appalled' by Afghan Leaks

Washington responded on Thursday to the revelation of a split between its top civilian and military officials in Afghanistan by stressing the need for an “exit strategy” for US troops stationed in the country.

The move came as Robert Gates, defence secretary, fulminated against the latest leaks of the administration’s internal deliberations over the strategy for Afghanistan.

“It’s important to fully examine not just how we’re going to get folks in but how we’re going to get folks out,” said Robert Gibbs, White House spokesman, in the wake of a warning by Karl Eikenberry, US ambassador to Kabul, against an additional, large-scale deployment of troops without a change of behaviour from the Afghan government.