Fox Exclusive: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Afghanistan's Future

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NATO's Secretary General told Fox it's too soon to contemplate a time-line for troop withdrawals.

Even so, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance must accelerate a transition to handing off security responsibilities to Afghan Army and police forces -- but could not name a single province where such efforts are succeeding.

"It's premature to present any time table," Rasmussen said in an exclusive interview with Fox News. "This is reason why i stress that we will stay as long as takes to secure the country. Having said that, it is not forever. We have to make sure that the Afghans can again become masters in their own house."

When asked what success would look like or how he and NATO members define victory, Rasmussen said:

"My criterion of success would be to gradually hand over lead responsibility for the security to the Afghans themselves. We have to train and educate more soldiers, police, so that they can take over responsibility for security province-by-province as their capacity develops."

When asked if these efforts were working in a single province, Rasmussen said he couldn't.

"Not sufficiently, we have to do more but not just more of the same, and that's my point, We have to make sure that the Afghans will take more ownership for development in their own country across-the-board from security to development in the civil sector."

Pressed to point to a place where the situation is improving, Rasmussen haltingly mentioned a section of Helmund Province.

"The situation is not satisfactory. In particular the security situation is not satisfactory. But actually I visited the southern Helmund province recently. I also visited the very same province one year ago, and I saw clear progress as far as security is concerned. Not least thanks to increase number of american troops. So the number of troops matters."

Even so, Rasmussen told Fox it's too early to decide whether more US combat forces should be deployed in line with the suspected recommendation of top US Gen. Stanley McChrystal for up to 40,000 more troops.

"It's premature to make any judgement as far as resources is concerned."

Rasmussen has traveled to Afghanistan more than half a dozen times. President Obama has never been to the war-torn country. The secretary general demurred when asked if Obama should see the battle space, or at least part of it, up close.

"It's always beneficial to see what is actually going on with your own eyes, but there are many channels to get information. I'm not going to interfere with Presiden Obama's travel schedule. But, for me, it was very profitable to visit Afghanistan."

As for the messy presidential election, Rasmussen acknowledged accusations of voter fraud complicated NATO decisions on future financial aid and any increase in troop strength.

"We need a credible and accountable government in Kabul. We would very much like to see the Afghan government step up endeavors concerning the fight against corruption, good governance, in general. and delivery of basic services. I think we should let the Afghans decide whether they consider the election credible."

Rasmussen also called for a "new contract" with Afghanistan's government - he never mentioned Hamid Karzai - that links future aid to an end to graft.

"We need a strengthened fight against corruption and a government accountable to its international obligations," Rasmussen said. "I support (an effort) to organize an international conference before the end of this year with the aim to establish a new contract between the international community on the one side and the Afghan government on the other side. And make sure they understand that it is a prerequisite for continued international commitments that they actually deliver on their promises."

Rasmussen bristled at the phrase uttered by some US troops that the acronym for NATO's deployment in Afghanistan (ISAF - International Security Assistance Force) actually stands for I Saw Americans Fight.

"I've heard that," Rasmussen said, his face clenching slightly. "It is really an oversimplification and I would add to that, a very dangerous over-simplification. If you talk down the contributions from other NATO allies, they may not be inclined to increase their contributions when we request so. Let me remind you that 40% of our troops are provided by non-US troop contributors. Let me remind you that 14 countries are fighting in the hot spots in the south. Let me also remind you of the sad fact that 20 countries have suffered casualties in Afghanistan. So it is a dangerous oversimplification."

Rasmussen dismissed linkage between Afghanistan and Vietnam.

"It's not adequate adequate parallel. I say we will stay as long as it takes, but its of course not forever."

He denied that formulation -- as long as it takes, but not forever - is inherently contradictory.

"No, because the strategy should be a transition to an Afghan lead. We should gradually hand over the lead to Afghanistan. We have a clear vision as to how we can ensure that Afghanistan will be a secure, stable society. It's important that they understand they will not be be left behind. If the afghans fear they would be left behind, they will return to Taliban."