Reuters: "US intelligence pessimistic on Afghan war success"

[Xicano]

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence agencies are lining up against the Pentagon in the debate over Afghanistan strategy, arguing that the prospect for success in the war is questionable despite recent military gains.

Experts within the U.S. government, including officials familiar with advice the White House is receiving, say recent progress is undermined by a weak and corrupt Afghan government and Pakistan's reluctance to crack down on militants hiding on its side of the border.

"There is a lot of skepticism within the administration about whether the strategy is working," including among intelligence and some White House officials, said Caroline Wadhams, South Asia expert at the Center for American Progress, a think tank close to the White House.

~snip~

There is a growing belief within Congress that current war policy is in serious jeopardy due to alleged Pakistani recalcitrance and Afghan corruption, according to congressional aides who said those problems were leading prominent lawmakers to conclude privately the United States should extricate its forces sooner rather than later.

So far, few if any congressional leaders are willing to voice these sentiments publicly.



http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1517095920101215

[Arctic Dave]

1. LOL "Pessimistic". Call it what it is, FUBAR. nt

[kenny blankenship]

2. For Red Cross, Afghanistan Situation Now at its Worst

New York Times By ALISSA J. RUBIN
Published: December 15, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan — The International Committee of the Red Cross, which usually seeks to avoid the public eye, held a rare news conference here Wednesday to express deep concern that Afghanistan security has deteriorated to its worst point since the overthrow of the Taliban nine years ago and is preventing aid groups from reaching victims of conflict.

By every measure that the Red Cross tracks, the situation has worsened throughout the country for civilian casualties, internal displacement and health care access and all of it is “against the background of a proliferation of armed actors,” Mr. Stocker said.

Throughout the country civilian casualties have risen steadily , said Mr. Stocker, pointing to the growing numbers of wounded taken to Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar, which the Red Cross supports. Compared with the 2009, admissions so far this have increased by 25 percent to 2,650, and an increasing proportion of wounds are from roadside bombs, he said.

He noted that the Red Cross may be undercounting because it can no longer travel many parts of the country. Access, he said, “in 30 years has never been as poor and as difficult as it is today.”

The IRC also believes the number of internally displaced people-refugees from fighting- is also up 25% over the last year. Hardly surprising given the decision so "surge" troops into Afghanistan by President Obama.