The Administration has allowed an "unauthorized leak" of its new Afghanistan "Strategy." It's not a new political strategy to float the balloon on the eve of a big announcement, to test the waters and work out the kinks before the official announcement.
The biggest problem is that this administration is more about talk and changing labels than on action. It's great at forming Blue Ribbon Panels to address issues the Chief Executive has been campaigning on for years. As noted previously in this publication, the White House didn't even have an Afghanistan, Pakistan, nor Terrorism Policy.
So, here's some feedback for the Administration:
1) Same as when you were a candidate: Listen to the Generals, give them the tools they need to get the job done.
"Obama plans to send 4,000 more U.S. military troops whose mission will be to train and expand the Afghan army to take the lead on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency." AP 3/27/2009
2) 4,000 Troops is a drop in the bucket. I understand there are limitations to Military manning. We
"A pillar of the strategy for Afghanistan will be greater engagement with local and provincial leaders, as opposed to a focus on the central government, according to officials familiar with the document." ibid
This sounds a LOT like the Petreaus Plan you refused to acknowledge. The problem is this is not Iraq. Undermining the duly elected President of Afghanistan is a bad idea. It is time President Obama swallowed his pride and apologized to Karzai for his arrogant manner in their only meeting.
"The hundreds of additional civilian advisers being sent to Afghanistan will concentrate on improving life for ordinary Afghans and will include experts in agriculture in a country where subsistence farming is the norm. The civilians are also meant to help extend government services and the administration of justice." AP, ibid
3) Hundreds!?!?!? Hundreds? That's a LOT of mission for a few hundred civilians that currently have NO idea what Afghanistan Culture and Terrain is. And let me tell you something about Afghan Farmers: They're magicians already! They take a small plot of mountainous desert, build walls and somehow make things grow. They know how to make things grow. They need water, which means wells.
On the other hand, it would be a great Sitcom: 22 year old College Graduate arrives in Afghanistan, scared, fresh from his agriculture studies to teach a 50 year old stubborn Afghan how to farm in the desert. 23 year old American returns from the battlefield and writes a book about farming without water. Perhaps, he'll be able to tell me how those goats live on the rocks.
OK, Seriously, it is good that Obama came to his senses on Iraq, even if he felt compelled to change the name and pretend it didn't happen to be a successs. And it is good that he's looking for solutions in Afghanistan, but this is nothing but window dressing.
General McKiernan, his replacement, General Petraeus, and Admiral Mullen need to sit down, form a plan that addresses the realities in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Armed Forces and present it to the President. The CinC needs to implement that plan.
Obama needs to get rid of his pre-conceived arrogant notions about Karzai, get rid of his "special envoy" who has managed to make things worse and appoint real Diplomats as Ambassadors to Afghanistan and Pakistan. War is not a place to micromanage the battlefield. It's a place where higher commanders put their expectations on the table, provide the needed tools to their subordinates, and then replace those that can't achieve the goals laid out, with those ready and able to do so.
Afghanistan is not a place where we can expect peace in a month, a year, and maybe not even a decade. It is a place where patience and resolve must overcome centuries of a culture of corruption and ingrained indoctrination of hate. It is a place where cultures of authority abuses have led to acceptance.
President Obama, if you want to win in Afghanistan, you need to get rid of the yes men and find people like Uncle Jimbo, Bouhammer, and Other Outspoken NCO's that have been on the ground, men that know the culture, the terrain, and could care less about your political future. You need advisors that care about Victory, not politics. You need advisors that care about the Nation, not your approval or approval ratings.
Stumble It!
