Right now, we are discussing with the Afghans how they can best achieve the goals that theyve set for themselves with our help, the State Department spokesman, Ian Kelly, told reporters at his daily press briefing.

He said President Karzai has laid out a number of priorities for his government in providing services for the Afghan people.  These priorities are providing security, creating jobs, and generating economic growth, and delivering effective and accountable governance to the Afghan people, or fighting corruption.

Noting that theses goals are shared with the Afghan Government, he said.  So what were looking to do is to help them implement their own priorities, Kelly said.

The Obama Administration is looking for a new chapter in our relationship with the Afghan Government, based on improved governance, a serious effort to eradicate corruption, and a joint effort to accelerate the training of Afghan security personnel, he said.

Because the end goal here, of course, is for the Afghans to provide for their own security and provide the kind of services that a responsive and accountable government should provide for, Kelly asserted.

Stating that the

US is looking for an Afghan-led process, he said: We believe that this is these are important goals for any government, to be able to provide security, to be responsive to the needs of the people and be able to deliver the kind of services that theyre looking for.

Reiterating that it is not really for the US to impose any kind of deadline, Kelly said: I think youve heard what the Secretary has said and what the President has said, that we will be looking for deeds and not just words.  And these are important issues, and wed look for them to act very quickly to implement.

But again, he said, the important thing is that this is a process that they own.  This has got to be done by Afghans for Afghans.  But we stand ready to help them as they go through this important process, Kelly said.

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