Train Afghans, Corrall Al Qaeda: America’s Enduring Mission in Afghanistan

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http://breakingdefense.com/2014/02/train-afghans-corrall-al-qaeda-americas-enduring-mission-in-afghanistan/



The commander of US Special Operations Command, Adm. William McRaven, will deliver the keynote speech this morning at the National Defense Industrial Association’s Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict conference. One of the most respected analysts of special forces, Linda Robinson of the RAND Corp., wants to send a message to the admiral’s bosses and to Congress: special operations troops will be more effective in Afghanistan if we keep a sizable force there — substantially larger than the 2,000 some advocate — to train and assist the Afghans so we can work with them to curb the predations of the surviving members of Al Qaeda and their friends. It’s a compelling argument, bolstered by examples of recent US successes — and one cautionary tale — in a range of countries. Read on. The Editor.

Train Afghans, Corrall Al Qaeda: America’s Enduring Mission in Afghanistan
By Linda Robinson
on February 10, 2014 at 11:30 PM

During his State of the Union address last month, President Obama reiterated his commitment to withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan by year’s end and, with that, he said, “America’s longest war will finally be over.” But when most American boots leave Afghan soil in December, the U.S. mission there does not end.

But the overarching mission of preventing al Qaeda from threatening the United States is an enduring one that will require a long-term commitment not just to counterterrorism, but to training, advising and assisting Afghan forces so that they are better able to prosecute their own campaign against the terrorists in their midst.

The Pentagon has recommended that 10,500 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan after the end of the year to continue targeting al Qaeda-affiliated fighters and to provide advice and assistance to Afghan security forces. But there are those who favor leaving a much smaller force of perhaps 2,000 behind to conduct counterterrorism operations without devoting resources to helping Afghan forces meet their own security needs. This would be a mistake.

Counterterrorism and assisting Afghan forces are not distinct and separate jobs, though they are being portrayed that way by some. My colleagues and I have examined past episodes in which the two missions have occurred simultaneously and found that they complement and reinforce each other in many ways. Conducting both missions in coordination can provide the kind of force multiplication needed to accomplish long-term U.S. goals and prevent Afghanistan from reclaiming its position atop the list of the world’s terrorist safe havens.

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1. Same old shit, in other words, wrapped in new slogans. nt