West falters in Afghan War
It is sad but true that the US and NATO are not making much headway in driving away the Taliban terrorists. It appears that the Afghan war may go the way of the Vietnam war unless there is a dramatic change in the allied tactics.
THE WAR against the Taliban terrorists fought by the American, the British and other NATO nations is not going on well. The civilian support back home is dwindling. The hard core politicians in the UK and the USA are not convinced that an additional surge, increase in troop strength will make much difference. It appears that the Afghan war may go the way of the Vietnam war unless there is a dramatic change in the allied tactics.
US General Stanley McChrystal was brutally frank in his assessment of the ground situation of war in Afghanistan and the remedial measures to be taken forthwith. He cautioned the policy makers in the White House that it would be a grave mistake to scale down the military mission in Afghanistan. Why the west went there eight years ago was to contain and possibly eliminate the Al Qaeda and the Taliban so that they do not plan and execute another 9/11 attack on America and other parts of the civilised world. The detractors ask-where is the progress? The increasing number of body bags of the NATO troops arriving home sag the morale of the nations and erode people's support to political parties that made the decision to go into Afghan war. What is the solution?
The Americans and the British should provide support to encourage other NATO countries to support the surge. Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy has gone on record to support withdrawal of the NATO forces. If the war is unwinnable, let us get out of there, he said. It will be a blunder, opines the commanding general. Getting out at the moment means handing over the country and a safe heaven to the Taliban to plan and execute another 9/11 on the western world. Hold the fort at least until 2013, in Afghanistan and keep training the local Afghan Army to take over then and go home thereafter - that is the considered opinion of General Stanley McChrystal. He has the backing of the Pentagon. He has briefed the US President in the war situation room in the White House. However, it is not clear whether the President will support the general's plan. The President's advisors are divided on the subject.
The general clarified that killing more and more Talibans is not victory. They recruit more men. When the Afghan people say that the NATO is winning that means victory. The Afghan elections were vitiated by fraud. The Afghan people are unsettled by the talk of NATO withdrawing from the scene. These rumours go against political stability. So, stop all talks of withdrawal and wage war with determination- that is the advice of the commanding general.
Above all, win the hearts and minds of the common man on the Afghan street. Don't drive away his car or cart just because a military convoy is passing. Let the NATO provide a sense of safety and security to the common Afghan citizens and the war will be won by the NATO forces.
The Americans and the British should provide support to encourage other NATO countries to support the surge. Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy has gone on record to support withdrawal of the NATO forces. If the war is unwinnable, let us get out of there, he said. It will be a blunder, opines the commanding general. Getting out at the moment means handing over the country and a safe heaven to the Taliban to plan and execute another 9/11 on the western world. Hold the fort at least until 2013, in Afghanistan and keep training the local Afghan Army to take over then and go home thereafter - that is the considered opinion of General Stanley McChrystal. He has the backing of the Pentagon. He has briefed the US President in the war situation room in the White House. However, it is not clear whether the President will support the general's plan. The President's advisors are divided on the subject.
The general clarified that killing more and more Talibans is not victory. They recruit more men. When the Afghan people say that the NATO is winning that means victory. The Afghan elections were vitiated by fraud. The Afghan people are unsettled by the talk of NATO withdrawing from the scene. These rumours go against political stability. So, stop all talks of withdrawal and wage war with determination- that is the advice of the commanding general.
Above all, win the hearts and minds of the common man on the Afghan street. Don't drive away his car or cart just because a military convoy is passing. Let the NATO provide a sense of safety and security to the common Afghan citizens and the war will be won by the NATO forces.
.he Canadian who will take over the leadership of NATO forces in Kandahar says recommendations made in the Manley panel report should help the war-torn country move towards a fuller democracy.
Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson will lead Joint Task Force Afghanistan after a handover ceremony in May. He told Canada AM Friday that Canadian soldiers can help Afghanis achieve a stable country through a three-prong process.
The Manley panel recommended earlier this year that NATO find a 1,000-soldier battle group to assist Canada's 2,500 troops in Kandahar province -- one of the most insurgency-wracked parts of Afghanistan. It also said Canada's soldiers should be supplied with helicopters and aerial drones. NATO indicated earlier this month that it will provide the additional troops and equipment.
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