Noir
09-01-2009, 05:55 AM
It'll be interesting to see if the stratagy changes with the release of this new report.
General Stanley McChrystal acknowledged drawbacks of the approach used for the past eight years
The top US commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, yesterday called for a complete revamp of military strategy in the country, in a sweeping review of operations that acknowledges the disastrous approach of the last eight years and may pave the way for a demand for more troops.
The revised strategy, in the face of the Taliban's expanding influence and waning support for the Kabul government, changes the emphasis from engaging directly with militants to winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan population, officials in Washington and Nato headquarters said.
McChrystal portrayed the recent strategy of western forces as the equivalent of a lumbering bull attacking a matador's cape, gradually tiring and finally being killed off. The general, appointed earlier this year, is to go to Washington later this month to advise Barack Obama on whether he needs more troops in adaddition to the 108,000 international troops already there.
The recommendations came as two further British soldiers were killed yesterday, compounding what is the deadliest year for foreign troops since the 2001 invasion. The deaths of the soldiers from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, took the total number of deaths of UK service personnel since operations began in 2001 to 210. The soldiers were killed in a blast while on patrol north of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province, the Ministry of Defence said. Two American soldiers were also killed in an explosion, the US military said.
Britain is not expected to announce a major increase in the number of its troops in Afghanistan, whatever the US does. Senior British military sources say Britain has effectively increased its contribution by maintaining the extra number of troops sent to Afghanistan this year to help with the elections.
After sending his report to the Pentagon and Nato headquarters, McChrystal said yesterday that, despite the lost ground, victory was still possible. "The situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable and demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort."
McChrystal has already begun to implement the new strategy, ordering his forces not to fire or drop bombs if there is a risk of civilian casualties. He has also shifted the focus from the eradication of the poppy crop, which alienated farmers, to attacking drug traffickers.
A key part of this approach is advocating that US, British and other international forces not only train Afghan forces but operate alongside them.
The basis of McChrystal's assessment is contained in guidelines he sent to troops last week in which he said: "The conflict will be won by persuading the population, not by destroying the enemy."
http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gmg/op/sFKVMju8Scbp0XkxrBkdEvQ/view.m?id=164679&tid=120787&cat=United_States
General Stanley McChrystal acknowledged drawbacks of the approach used for the past eight years
The top US commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, yesterday called for a complete revamp of military strategy in the country, in a sweeping review of operations that acknowledges the disastrous approach of the last eight years and may pave the way for a demand for more troops.
The revised strategy, in the face of the Taliban's expanding influence and waning support for the Kabul government, changes the emphasis from engaging directly with militants to winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan population, officials in Washington and Nato headquarters said.
McChrystal portrayed the recent strategy of western forces as the equivalent of a lumbering bull attacking a matador's cape, gradually tiring and finally being killed off. The general, appointed earlier this year, is to go to Washington later this month to advise Barack Obama on whether he needs more troops in adaddition to the 108,000 international troops already there.
The recommendations came as two further British soldiers were killed yesterday, compounding what is the deadliest year for foreign troops since the 2001 invasion. The deaths of the soldiers from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, took the total number of deaths of UK service personnel since operations began in 2001 to 210. The soldiers were killed in a blast while on patrol north of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province, the Ministry of Defence said. Two American soldiers were also killed in an explosion, the US military said.
Britain is not expected to announce a major increase in the number of its troops in Afghanistan, whatever the US does. Senior British military sources say Britain has effectively increased its contribution by maintaining the extra number of troops sent to Afghanistan this year to help with the elections.
After sending his report to the Pentagon and Nato headquarters, McChrystal said yesterday that, despite the lost ground, victory was still possible. "The situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable and demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort."
McChrystal has already begun to implement the new strategy, ordering his forces not to fire or drop bombs if there is a risk of civilian casualties. He has also shifted the focus from the eradication of the poppy crop, which alienated farmers, to attacking drug traffickers.
A key part of this approach is advocating that US, British and other international forces not only train Afghan forces but operate alongside them.
The basis of McChrystal's assessment is contained in guidelines he sent to troops last week in which he said: "The conflict will be won by persuading the population, not by destroying the enemy."
http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gmg/op/sFKVMju8Scbp0XkxrBkdEvQ/view.m?id=164679&tid=120787&cat=United_States