...Adm. Mike Mullen, (click title to entry - thank you) chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he found it particularly encouraging that gains against al-Qaida have been made in operations carried out jointly by U.S. and Iraqi military forces. That makes it more likely, Mullen said, that after U.S. troops leave in 2011 the Iraqi government will be able to handle what remains of al-Qaida's capability to launch terror strikes....
I am not going soft on war. Of course, Al Qaeda in Iraq didn't exist before the Bush invasion into Iraq, but, that is besides the point. The USA invaded, the Zarqari terrorist 'unit' was destroyed and that was much to the credit of General Stanley McCrystal.
There is no man in the USA miltiary more dedicated to the best outcome for the USA than General McCrystal. His startling assessments of Afghanistan are frustrating to say the least, but, to put things into perspective, this is the war we were suppose to fight and didn't.
Afghanistan was left to NATO and we all know what happened there. This is a very difficult assignment because during the time the USA was diverted to Iraq, Afghanistan was sinking into corruption while becoming a 'protectorate' to the Taliban.
Initial Assessment of Afghanistan
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19995042/Commander-Initial-Assessment-McCrystal
One of the opening statements in General McCrystal's assessment is 'the circumstances in Afghanistan is serious.'
It gets ones attention. After all, how can a war abandoned for a romp into WMD exploration be so much trouble so many years after September 11, 2001? But. Here we are, the USA with a General stating the circumstances in Afghanistan are serious.
This man not only stated it was serious, but, in the same breath he stated he wished the Officers Club was a firing range. He isn't the kind of fellow one can easily dismiss as political or ambitious. General McCrystal was and has been seriously annoyed by the command he accepted in Afghanistan and the complacency of its leadership. Somehow, along the way, the USA and NATO simply found it easier to accept the 'status quo' of corruption without the needed military manpower to actually fight a war.
What a mess. I actually believe the only way the USA will ever make serious gains in defeating such terrorist networks will be through the dedication of Stanley McCrystal. He just has a keen sense of purpose of miltiary presence that 'means business' rather than surrender.
General McCrystal is a bit of an oxymoron. On one hand he is demanding better outcomes for the USA from his command, but, at the same time there is this complacency to the opium culture.
The USA military is a strange animal at times. I don't accept the fact the opium is necessary to win in Afghanistan. I do however believe the real war, while clearly being fought somewhat effectively in Afghanistan; sincerely lies in Pakistan. The Pakistani authority is making more progress than ever under the Bush Administration.
While, the current assessment, by McCrystal is that Aghanistan is a 'draw,' it is still difficult to believe that. There is ever increasing conflict with a sincere 'core' of terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. That to me states someone is doing something right. But. Then there is Karzai.
It is paramount for Afghanis to take up the protection of their own country, no different than the Iraqis are doing in Iraq.
However.
It is also paramount 'the ability' for al Qaeda to ever recommit to continue to reek havoc and death on the civilized world be extinguished.
...Since Afghan President Hamid Karzai's much anticipated peace assembly earlier this month, the Taliban has launched a series of high profile attacks. Meanwhile, the top U.S. commander in the country, General Stanley McChrystal says the fight against the Taliban will take longer than anticipated in the south.
Analysts say several high profile attacks this week show the Taliban will not back down as coalition and Afghan forces prepare for a major offensive to drive them from their southern stronghold in Kandahar province....
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Violence-Political-Uncertainty-Plague-Post-Jirga-Afghanistan--96100429.html
The war in Afghanistan and Pakistan is tedious, but, it is necessary and my inital reaction is that it is best to undermine the Poppy Culture than fight a war with these folks. The issues are nearly insurmountable, including the vast corruption of the Pakistani ISI.
June 14, 2010
Pakistan’s ISI military intelligence accused of directly funding Taleban
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7149515.ece
But, at the same time there are landmarks of achievement to an end of the corruption if not just a 'light at the end of a long tunnel.' Knowing the 'disease' of the ISI in Pakistan and now Afghanistan by osmosis, I can't help but believe the war has done more good than harm.
Bring the troops home.
