Afghan Decision Still Waits on President

The decision to send additional military forces to Afghanistan that the current ground commander General Stanley McChrystal requested back in August still awaits the president’s approval. The decision was to be made on or before the November 7th Afghanistan runoff election has been complicated by the announcement by former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah to withdraw from the runoff.

This action should not be the trigger that the president uses in not allowing more troops to be sent to Afghanistan. The counterinsurgency strategy presented by General McChrystal had been put together in the most comprehensive manner utilizing the talents and expertise of many inside and out of uniform and across the political spectrum.

The counterinsurgency strategy advocated by General McChrystal requires more forces to be used that protect the population from Taliban attack, this same approach worked successfully as part of the Iraq surge of 2007-2008. All counterinsurgency strategy places a premium on protecting the population first and foremost! Protecting the population this strategy then can begin at the same time by building up the institutions of the Afghan government to include its army and police forces.

Pundits across the political isle take the wrong analogy from history when they often use the term that this is the “graveyard of empires” and will lead the U.S. too defeat in Afghanistan. If these same pundits would re-read history they would find out that dating back to Alexander the Great, British and Russians all have tried to conquer Afghanistan and impose its own government on the nation.

The Afghan people remember that the United States came to Afghanistan in 2001 not as an invading army but liberated them from the ruthless Taliban regime. Currently they know U.S. forces protect them in the day, but then are intimidated by the Taliban at night. A forceful and robust counterinsurgency strategy articulated by Gen. McChrystal would have U.S. forces spread out among the population centers protecting the people at the same time building up other elements of Afghan governance.

The president needs to stop worrying about having a viable government partner in Kabul and realize that the people of Afghanistan are more concerned with their safety then what happens in Kabul. Once safety is assured the U.S. can focus on the stability and quality of the government and its impact on the Afghan people.

The president should focus less on the advice from his political advisors and more on his advice from those who know how to fight a counterinsurgency. Each day he waits the situation gets worse and it seems that he is looking for any excuse not to send the forces requested or split the difference between counterinsurgency strategy and counterterrorism approach.

It’s time for the president to make a decision!