Richard WarnickWhy We Are Losing Afghanistan: The Official Report
USAF A-10 Warthog over Afghanistan
According to statistics provided in a new report from the United States Institute of Peace, the use of air power in Afghanistan by U.S. and NATO allies increased from 5,000 pounds of munitions per month in 2005 to 168,000 pounds in December 2007. The result is that “civilian casualties increased by 62 [percent] in 2008, compared to figures from the first six months of 2007.” The report says the increase in air power is a result of a shortage of troops and suggests that the resulting increase in casualties is “a key reason for the Taliban comeback”:
Stabilizing Afghanistan requires the support of the Afghan people. This presents a fundamental dilemma in that stability requires security, and security requires targeting insurgents, which, in turn invariably leads to civilian deaths. These civilian casualties have led to the erosion of civilian support for the counter-insurgency.
Troop levels in Afghanistan have been insufficient given the geographic and demographic scope of the challenge, resulting in increased reliance on air power as a substitute for ground forces.
Nearly twice as many U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq so far this month. July 2008 is the first month in which the American military has suffered more casualties in Afghanistan than in Iraq.
UPDATE: In an interview, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States described the border his country shared with Pakistan as “the central front of the war on terror, certainly,” stressing the need for additional American forces.
UPDATE: In Time Magazine, Rory Stewart writes that simply throwing more troops and more money into Afghanistan isn’t the answer. Military strategy ought to be focused on counterterrorism, not counterinsurgency. Development aid should address local priorities. Only the Afghans themselves can bring about a legitimate government.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am
The success in Iraq, and the promise of same in Afghanistan should be comforting to the conservatives. When all the fearsome insurgents are dead, it just might resemble heaven. God bless us everyone.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Right on, cav!
And God bless Sen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Indeed, watching this mess continue to unfold could be more fun than watching the bozo from Idaho with the wide stance!
July 30th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I worked for Teds’ son Ben for a terrible month, 20 years ago in the Bering Sea. The story of the Polar Star and Thorne Taskers’ vessel, catcher processor, Optimus Prime. Those boys are crooked, as crooked gets, and they say the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Funny thing is that it took so long for it to be discovered. People like the Stevens’ feel that Alaska is their own personal property, it is a bountiful place up there, and the inside cronies protect their schemes, just not very well, so great is their arrogance and sense of entitlement.
Ben is to be indicted as well soon perhaps, when that happens I’ll have to send him a “get well” card, and advise him… don’t drop the soap buddy, it’s a long way from the heyday, hey boy?
I am surprised there isn’t a top post on Ted here. I have quite a story to tell.
On topic did we ever “have” Afgahnistan? I will never forget a video of an assassination attempt on Karzai, which was stopped by an onlooker as he passed in his Rover, the ever present American troops shot the assassin and the man who spotted him first, and grappled with him. There they were, both shot at close range with machine gun fire, as the Karzai convoy rumbled on through. We have never controlled that place, and likely never will.
Canadians shot a 2 and 4 year old to death in Afghanistan, when their parents car came to close to a convey couple days ago. That is making friends in all the right places.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Albert, are you shocked, as am I, that they are accusing the honarable (R) Senator from Alaska with something like letting one of his sponsors pick up the tab at the salmon sushi bar? I for one am beside myself with joy that Justice is finally being dished to Mr. Stevens. I worry though that they may not be going quite far enough in thier search for ‘indescretions’. I don’t suppose this exposure will impede his stature or abilities in the Senate.
In the end, if there ever is an end, it is quite possible that the joke will be on us.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Agreed, cav!
But then again, his post-indictment speech yesterday did note that his public service began during WWII, so I guess we need to throw the dude a break.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
One think for sure. Stevens is going through the “tubes” today. We can all hope he goes down the tubes like Cunningham. Sort of amazing that somebody in Washington actually had to pay a price, but it really happened.
July 31st, 2008 at 5:22 am
McCain / Stevens 08.
July 31st, 2008 at 7:56 am
cav:
I wonder what a Stevens shadow government would be like.