Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Miles Wolf Tamboli-Talk Radio News

General David Petraeus, the U.S. CentCom Commander, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday that as the military's focus shifts from efforts in the Central Helmand River Valley, where forces have overtaken Taliban sanctuaries in Marjah and Nad-i-Ali to overtaking strongholds in Kandahar Province, strategies are becoming more comprehensive.

"The effort [in Kandahar] features an integrated civil-military approach to security, governance, and development," said Petraeus. The objective of this method is to provide a rising tide of security that will expand incrementally over time and establish the foundation of improved security on which local Afghan governance can be built."

Added the General, "We and our [international] partners have worked hard to get the 'inputs' right in Afghanistan: to build organizations, command and control structures, and relationships needed to carry out a comprehensive civil-military campaign."

Patraeus emphasized the strategy employed by General Stanley McChrystal, Commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan. According to Petraeus, "Central to achieving progress in Afghanistan ... is increasing the size and capability of [the Afghan Army]. General Stan McChrystal has placed a premium on comprehensive partnering with [Afghan forces]."

Wednesday's hearing followed General Petraeus' collapse the day prior. Petraeus quickly recovered Tuesday and made assurances that he was simply dehydrated.