Defense Official: Operations In Marjah And Helmand Has Been Successful

By Monique Cala University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy said she was 'optimistic for the future' of military offenses in the Afghan towns Marjah and Helmand.

"So far the evidence suggest this fundamental shift and approach has been extremely successful," said Flournoy during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The percentage of Afghan civilian casualties caused by coalition actions has dropped substantially."

The operation is a combination of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan forces working together to remove the Taliban and restore security to Marjah and central Helmand.

Flournoy highlighted how the perception of Americans on the ground in Afghanistan has improved recently due to the fundamental approach. Yet, the joint staff did warn that things could get worse before they get better.

"We may well see increases in violence, increase in attacks on our forces," said Flournoy. "Our adversaries are cunning, they are adaptable, they are tenacious and we will need to continually reaffirm out commitment and refine our response."

Lieutenant General John Paxton said, "In spite of recent success, we know this is going to be a hard fight. There are going to be pockets of intense resistance. There will be perhaps one step forward two steps back for awhile."

The ratio of Afghan Armed forces to U.S. troops in Marjah is now 1 to 2. Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) called it 'considerable progress' from 1 to 5 last September.

"Operation Moshtarak is first operation in Afghanistan where coalition planning has been fully interrogated with our Afghan partners from the very start," added Paxton.

McKiernan: It could get worse before it gets better

The commander of the International Assistance Force in Afghanistan wants it known-- Afghanistan is not Iraq.

"I find it sometimes, not very helpful to compare Iraq and Afghanistan. I think they are two very different environments," said Gen. David McKiernan during a press briefing at the Pentagon.

McKiernan has been the ISAF commander for four months at a time when political attention seems to be returning to Afghanistan. "The environment there is even more complex than I would have thought prior to my arrival. It's complex in terms of geography, it's complex in terms of demographics, of resources, or more specifically the lack of resources...the lack of the availability of people who can provide governance in Afghanistan..."

There is a growing acknowledgement in the U.S. government and the Department of Defense that there can not be a solution in Afghanistan without addressing growing problems with terrorism and unrestrained lawlessness in the tribal areas of Pakistan. McKiernan said that the heaviest fighting in Afghanistan is along the border regions with Pakistan, in Regional Commands East and South. "We're at a higher level of violence this time this year than we were last year. In the east and south we are seeing a greater amount of insecurity in certain areas...The idea that it might get worse before it gets better is certainly a possibility in Afghanistan."

In eastern Afghanistan, McKiernan reported violence is up and there has been an increase in foreign fighters. Because of this change, McKeirnan said, "the additional military capabilities that have been asked for are needed as quickly as possible." McKiernan has asked for four brigade combat teams, including enabling parts such as helicopters and logistics support for Afghanistan, adding to the request made by his predecessor Gen. Daniel McNeil.

The Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee that three to four additional combat brigade teams may be deployed to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009.

McKeirnan said that because of the nature of the conflict in Afghanistan he can't define what success should look like. "It's important that winning is seen in Afghan terms," he cautioned. "Winning in Afghanistan is about the future of the Afghan government and it's about extending the authority of a legitimate Afghan government that meets the needs the meets of the people there. It's not about the future of NATO. It's not about any coalition success. It's about Afghans."

Senators tour Afghanistan, hear the need for more troops

"The situation is good, but we feel that there is a lot more work to do," said Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on a conference call with reporters to discuss his trip to Afghanistan to meet with President Hamid Karzai. Senator Reid was accompanied by other members of the U.S. Senate including Jeff Bingamen(D-N.M.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Isakson (R-Ga.). The delegation flew first to Kyrgyzstan. After visiting troops and commanders in Afghanistan, they are staying for a day in Kazakhstan.

The Senate majority leader said there is concern about the resurgence of the Taliban, but that the ability to "deal with them" has been increased. Principal areas of concern are in eastern Afghanistan, as well as increasing violence in the south on the border with Pakistan.

Ried reported that the senators had met commanders in Afghanistan, principally Gen. David McKiernan, commander of International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan (ISAF). "They generals made it clear that they need more resources," he said.

ISAF commanders have requested three additional combat brigades, specifically citing the need for trainers and mentors for Afghan army and national police. At the April summit in Bucharest, the Department of Defense increased pressure on NATO allies to increase troop levels to Afghanistan and remove caveats that keep certain countries' troops from combat. Recently the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the DoD is considering sending more troops to Afghanistan "sooner rather than later." The Defense Department recently extended the deployment of about 3,450 Marines in Afghanistan by one month. Additionally, about 200 trainers were slated to go to Afghanistan last week.

Reid emphasized that he wants to give Afghanistan the attention it needs, saying it would have been better is Afghanistan had been given consistent troop level from the beginning.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have said they would send 10,000 more troops to Afghanistan if elected president.