On another front, DT obtained a copy of an after action review of operations in Afghanistan from former 24th Infantry Division commander in Operation Desert Storm and now International Affairs professor at West Point, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who traveled to Afghanistan in mid-February.
During his visit, McCaffrey met with a wide range of military leaders, intelligence officials, diplomats and local Afghans to get a read on how things are going over there. This is something McCaffrey is exceedingly good at. His OIF post-op was outstanding and lacked the politically-charged rhetoric of many other assessments then and now.
Overall, hes optimistic that the U.S and NATO can without question, achieve our US national objective of a functioning law-based state — with a performing, non-drug economy — which rejects sanctuary for terrorism. This is the cross-over year. The execution of our plan in the coming 24 months will decide the outcome in the country.
But rhetoric and political will cannot achieve our goals. Afghanistan needs strong US inter-agency and Congressional support to provide the dollars, equipment, combat soldiers, ANA and ANP mentors, and vigorous NATO and Afghan leadership to pull this mission from the fire.
McCaffrey is calling for a $500 billion investment over the next 10 years to build the Afghan army and police force into capable, dominant institutions.
The Afghan economy is booming at 12% growth rate a year. $14 billion has been spent on aid since 2001. Six TV channels and a hundred free/uncensored publications are available to the people. Literacy is increasing rapidly. The ring road is now 2/3 complete. The 40,000 soldiers of the ANA are growing rapidly in numbers and capability. There are 45,000 NATO and US troops in-country. There is a functioning democracy with an elected Parliament —and a serious, dedicated Afghan President in office.
Afghanistan can be a strategic victory in the struggle against terrorism. We are now on the right path.
Theres also good information on Pakistans role in the festering conflict, a NATO force hamstrung by constrained rules of engagement, the success of U.S. airpower and an innovative option for creating more tier one special operators
in my view, the Pakistanis are NOT actively supporting the Taliban — nor do they have a strategic purpose to de-stabilize Afghanistan
the Pakistanis need better US support for COIN operations in South and North Waziristan. We need to sort out a set of strategic tools to help them do better. They immediately require the $395 million they have requested for their Frontier Corps. It will be a disaster for our strategic purpose if we push them to premature military action which destroys them as a unifying and stabilizing force in the region
as a general statement, however, the NATO forces are too weak on the ground, lack essential supporting elements (helicopters, engineers, logistics, intelligence), have severely restrictive rules-of-engagement, and may lack the national political will to fight when required. It is possible that the Taliban will try to knock one or more of these NATO nations out of the war. A major blow to the Italians, the Canadians, the Dutch, the Spanish, or the Germans might shatter their weak domestic political support
we need to take a revolutionary look at the methods of creating these Tier One forces. It will require a separately funded recruiting program similar to WWII OSS programs to identify college graduates, with superb athletic skills, who will volunteer for a 24 month training program (to include total immersion language training in Arabic or Dari) — followed by a four year employment tour
(Gouge: NC)
– Christian
I’m sad to say that The Canadian will to stay in Afghanistan is very weak. The media provides very uplifting stories but people as a whole ignore the positives coming out of Afghanistan.
I see Afghanistan like a Rwanda or another country torn by decades of wars that are owed something fore being ‘forgotten’.
The big problem with Afghanistan is the association with the war in Iraq… They are both umbrellaed under the war on terror which immediately became unpopular in many countries when they illegally attacked Iraq.
However, I think this war/battle have almost been saved from the grips of being lost.
In other words, if we don’t come up with $500 billion and a lot of troops and commitment, Afghanistan is lost.
It doesn’t look good after Iraq.
For McCaffrey’s predictions on Iraq, see here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_McCaffrey#Comments_on_Iraq_War
Whoops fore should be for
Wembley -
It’s not lost… but George W has lost a lot of political credit with Iraq.
Canada is committed until 2009 (I think) but that doesn’t mean a party may come in and change that. Polls say that the Average Canadian approval is at 56% approval. But the approvers are a very silent bunch while the disapprover’s are very loud.
Myself, I’d say I approve of the war in Afghanistan as I believe we should continue to stay out of Iraq (The JTF2 is another story). Afghanistan has proven its will not to be thrown into chaos and the people seem to want help, and want more of it. I wish I could tell people that Afghanistan is not Iraq, and there is good work being done.
Luckily Afghanistan is nothing like Iraq. We need more NATO troops from countries committed to allowing their troops to actually fight. Sadly most NATO countries have not allowed there troops to be based in the volatile regions where there needed. Only the UK, the US and Canada have done that, and only the UK and US in any numbers that matter. Sadly both countries are too tied up in Iraq to concentrate enough equipment to the realistically winnable campaign in Afghanistan.
We in the UK are starting to come-around slightly, withdrawing men and equipment from Iraq, and sending more to Afghanistan, let
500 billions … for a land-locked country at world’s end inhabited by peasants and goatherds…
A typical example for the fact that people have lost the sense for relations.
500 billions would be enough to reconstruct the finances of whole latin america.
A complete waste on an unimportant country. The past years have proven that Al Qaida DOES NOT NEED Afghanistan as safe heaven.
The presence of foreigners in Afghanistan provokes the ancient national sport of expelling foreigners and rallying under the only force that opposes them consequently … the Taleban.
Virtual net works, virtual role of the game, I did not as him what people. It is only a game; happy is the purpose of the game. I chat with him happy. I have an on line he will not be alone to upgrade and earn GuildWars money, but rather for the first time chat with me, in this way we often sit together.
Later, in January of this year, I have entered into this long hoped for world. Following in their previous game, I have some experience, at first I bought some RF cp to arm my number, so I grew up gradually. Later, I joined the empire of darkness, I recognize some friends. Later matured, I separated from the darkness; to join a trade union has just established a new, expanding trade union began a journey, and I recognized a lot of friends.
Looking back at the past, in those days, we played together; we have no much rappelz money, we have no need equipment and no senior friends too us, but I am still playing very happy. Rappelz left everywhere in our laughter. There is only one reason is that I have her around, I would meet, everything becomes unimportant. One thing I feel very sorry, that is when I married her, mo gorgeous fireworks, mo friends of blessing. Now I have heart, I feel wronged her, I am sorry to her.
I always adhere to and keep a distance from everyone. Until now, I did not have a true friend, although I was a lonely, although I did not like the other players that they have many friends send them cheap zeny, I must be rely on myself, at least I will not hurt anybody, and perhaps this is kind of happiness.