US President Barack Obama has said there will be no quick or easy victory over the Taliban.

美国总统奥巴马表示，对塔利班没有一个快速或简单的胜利。

Mr Obama did not discuss the likely outcome of the Afghan elections

But he told a meeting of veterans in Arizona the conflict in Afghanistan was a "war of necessity", crucial in protecting Americans from terrorism.

"If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency¹（起义） will mean an even larger safe haven² from which al-Qaeda would plot to kill more Americans," he said.

He spoke³ as campaigning for Thursday's elections in Afghanistan ended.

Earlier, a survey by the BBC's Afghan service suggested that the government has limited or no control in 30% of the country.

A spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said the government did not agree with the findings, and that there were security problems in just a few districts.

Dwindling⁴ enthusiasm

President Obama is winding⁵ down America's unpopular war in Iraq and stepping up the campaign in Afghanistan.

As he does so, he is working hard to shore up support for the fight against the Taliban.

He is sending 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan and success or failure there will help determine how history views his administration.

Mr Obama says this is a war of necessity（必然地）, not choice, but the US lost 44 soldiers in Afghanistan in July and at least one opinion poll has shown a drop in popular support for the mission.

Speaking to an audience of military veterans in Phoenix⁶, Mr Obama appeared to be preparing US opinion for the long haul.

"The insurgency in Afghanistan didn't just happen overnight and we won't defeat it overnight," he said.

"This will not be quick, nor easy. But we must never forget this is not a war of choice, this is a war of necessity."

This week's Afghan presidential and provincial⁷ elections will provide a test of the new US strategy of providing security on the ground, while also working to engage Pakistan in some kind of move towards regional stabilisation.

Significantly, Mr Obama did not discuss the likely outcome of those elections.

US enthusiasm for Mr Karzai has dwindled（减少，缩小） over the years and the prospect⁸ of him winning a second term is viewed in Washington with resignation（辞呈） rather than hope.