thedrifter
02-19-09, 07:20 AM
US general foresees years of war in Afghanistan
Julian Barnes, Washington
February 20, 2009 - 12:00AM
A DAY after US President Barack Obama ordered new soldiers and marines to Afghanistan, the top US commander there said he might need more troops in coming months to bolster a war effort that could last an additional five years.
General David McKiernan plans to use the 17,000 soldiers and marines being sent by Mr Obama to try to break an impasse in fighting with the Taliban in the southern part of the country.
"What this allows us to do is change the dynamics of the security situation, predominantly in southern Afghanistan, where we are at best stalemated," General McKiernan said.
The new deployments, raising the overall US troop level to about 55,000, would fulfil needs until Afghanistan's August 20 presidential election, he said. But he held open the possibility of additional troop requests. The next requests are likely to include a training brigade, needed to help double the size of Afghan security forces to 135,000, and another combat detachment from the army or marines.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the Administration would not consider further troop requests until a strategy review was completed in April. Mr Gates, who is travelling to a NATO meeting in Poland, also said he planned to press allies this week to follow the US example.
"It is a new administration, and the Administration is prepared to make additional commitments to Afghanistan," Mr Gates said. "But there will clearly be expectations the allies must do more as well."
Leading ally Britain has already said it has no plans to send extra troops to Afghanistan.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on a visit to Kabul that Britain was already paying a high financial and human cost for its role in the conflict. He said high casualty rates had "traumatised" Britain and that the US decision to send reinforcements needed to be matched with economic and political change.
His comments were seen as an attempt to put pressure on Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Mr Miliband said: "The high level of British casualties is something which brings trauma to Britain, but we know that it is very strongly in our national interests that … (Afghanistan) doesn't become an incubator again for terrorists."
In a bid to persuade other European countries to send troops, Britain has announced plans for a 3000-strong permanent defence force for NATO in Eastern Europe.
In an interview with the Financial Times, British Defence Secretary John Hutton said the force could persuade some reluctant NATO countries to send troops to Afghanistan, by assuring them that there were enough troops to defend alliance territory.
Mr Miliband's visit came as Italy announced it would use its presidency of the G8 to hold a regional summit on Afghanistan and bring Iran on board in efforts to stabilise the country. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said: "Italy is considering how to involve Iran, not whether to involve Iran."
General McKiernan said US commanders also remained troubled by extremists in sanctuaries along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and expressed concern about this week's ceasefire between Islamabad and militants in Pakistan's Swat Valley.
"We're going to watch this very carefully and see how that does affect the insurgency on the Afghan side of the border," he said.
LOS ANGELES TIMES, AGENCIES
Ellie
Julian Barnes, Washington
February 20, 2009 - 12:00AM
A DAY after US President Barack Obama ordered new soldiers and marines to Afghanistan, the top US commander there said he might need more troops in coming months to bolster a war effort that could last an additional five years.
General David McKiernan plans to use the 17,000 soldiers and marines being sent by Mr Obama to try to break an impasse in fighting with the Taliban in the southern part of the country.
"What this allows us to do is change the dynamics of the security situation, predominantly in southern Afghanistan, where we are at best stalemated," General McKiernan said.
The new deployments, raising the overall US troop level to about 55,000, would fulfil needs until Afghanistan's August 20 presidential election, he said. But he held open the possibility of additional troop requests. The next requests are likely to include a training brigade, needed to help double the size of Afghan security forces to 135,000, and another combat detachment from the army or marines.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the Administration would not consider further troop requests until a strategy review was completed in April. Mr Gates, who is travelling to a NATO meeting in Poland, also said he planned to press allies this week to follow the US example.
"It is a new administration, and the Administration is prepared to make additional commitments to Afghanistan," Mr Gates said. "But there will clearly be expectations the allies must do more as well."
Leading ally Britain has already said it has no plans to send extra troops to Afghanistan.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on a visit to Kabul that Britain was already paying a high financial and human cost for its role in the conflict. He said high casualty rates had "traumatised" Britain and that the US decision to send reinforcements needed to be matched with economic and political change.
His comments were seen as an attempt to put pressure on Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Mr Miliband said: "The high level of British casualties is something which brings trauma to Britain, but we know that it is very strongly in our national interests that … (Afghanistan) doesn't become an incubator again for terrorists."
In a bid to persuade other European countries to send troops, Britain has announced plans for a 3000-strong permanent defence force for NATO in Eastern Europe.
In an interview with the Financial Times, British Defence Secretary John Hutton said the force could persuade some reluctant NATO countries to send troops to Afghanistan, by assuring them that there were enough troops to defend alliance territory.
Mr Miliband's visit came as Italy announced it would use its presidency of the G8 to hold a regional summit on Afghanistan and bring Iran on board in efforts to stabilise the country. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said: "Italy is considering how to involve Iran, not whether to involve Iran."
General McKiernan said US commanders also remained troubled by extremists in sanctuaries along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and expressed concern about this week's ceasefire between Islamabad and militants in Pakistan's Swat Valley.
"We're going to watch this very carefully and see how that does affect the insurgency on the Afghan side of the border," he said.
LOS ANGELES TIMES, AGENCIES
Ellie