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Afghan fight seen as serious and deteriorating'
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 23 - 08 - 2009


The top U.S. military officer described
the situation in Afghanistan as «serious and
deteriorating,» but refused to say today whether
defeating a resilient enemy would require more than the
68,000 American troops already committed, according to AP.
Adm. Mike Mullen also expressed concern about eroding
public support as the U.S. and NATO enter their ninth year
of combat and reconstruction operations.
The comments from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff underscore the challenges that the U.S. and its
allies face against a resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida
fighters who use safe havens in neighboring Pakistan to
hide and launch attacks.
In broadcast interviews, Mullen and U.S. Ambassador Karl
Eikenberry said that last week's presidential election in
Afghanistan was historic, given the threats of intimidation
voters faced as they headed to polling stations. It could
be several weeks before it's known whether incumbent Hamid
Karzai or one of his challengers won.
«We're not sure exactly what the level of voter turnout
was,» said Eikenberry, a retired three-star Army general.
«Taliban intimidation, especially in southern Afghanistan,
certainly limited those numbers.»
President Barack Obama's strategy for defeating the
Taliban and al-Qaida is a work in progress as more U.S.
troops are put in place, Mullen said.
The situation in Afghanistan needs to be reversed in the
next 12 month to 18 months, he said. But Mullen wouldn't
say whether more American forces troops would be needed.
A large number of civilian experts is also required to
help bring stability to Afghanistan's government and
develop the economy, he said.
«I think it is serious and it is deteriorating, and I've
said that over the last couple of years, that the Taliban
insurgency has gotten better, more sophisticated,» Mullen
said.
Three years ago, the U.S. had about 20,000 forces in the
country. Today, it has triple that, on the way to 68,000 by
year's end when all the extra 17,000 troops that Obama
announced in March are to be in place. An additional 4,000
troops are arriving to help train Afghan forces.
«I recognize that we've been there over eight years,» he
said. «But this is the first time we've really resourced a
strategy on both the civilian and military sides. So in
certain ways, we're starting anew.»
«We're just getting the pieces in place from the
president's new strategy on the ground now,» he said. «I
don't see this a mission of endless drift. I think we know
what to do.»
The Obama administration is awaiting an assessment about
the situation from the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan,
Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal. That report is expected in
about two weeks and will lead to decisions about whether
more troops are necessary.
«His guidance from me and from the secretary of defense
was to go out, assess where you are, and then tell us what
you need,» Mullen said. «And we'll get to that point. And
I want to, I guess, assure you or reassure you that he
hasn't asked for any additional troops up until this point
in time.»
Just over 50 percent of respondents to a Washington
Post-ABC News poll released this past week said the war in
Afghanistan is not worth fighting.
Mullen, a Vietnam veteran, said he's aware that public
support for the war is critical. «Certainly the numbers
are of concern,» he said. But, he added, «this is the war
we're in.»
Arizona Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the Senate
Armed Services Committee, said he wants the military
leadership in Afghanistan to use the same aggressive
approach that Gen. David Petraeus used successfully in
Iraq.
McChrystal should say exactly how many troops he needs in
Afghanistan, let the Congress debate it and Obama would
make the ultimate decision, McCain said.
Troops in Afghanistan should «clear and hold» an
environment for people so that economic and political
progress can be made, he said. McCain said he worries
McChrystal will be pressured to ask for lower troop totals
than he needs.
«I don't think it's necessarily from the president,» he
said. «I think it's from the people around him and others
and that I think don't want to see a significant increase
in our troops' presence there.»
On the question of what it will take to turn the tide in
Afghanistan, McCain echoed Mullen's projection: «I think
within a year to 18 months you could start to see
progress.»
McCain acknowledged that public opinion on Afghanistan is
slipping. But he said that opinion could be reversed.
«I think you need to see a reversal of these very
alarming and disturbing trends on attacks, casualties,
areas of the country that the Taliban has increased control
of.»


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