The top U.S. military officer said Saturday that the Pentagon could double the number of American forces in Afghanistan by next summer to 60,000 – the largest estimate of potential reinforcements ever publicly suggested.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that between 20,000 and 30,000 additional U.S. troops could be sent to Afghanistan to bolster the 31,000 already there.
This year has been the deadliest for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion to oust the Taliban for hosting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Suicide attacks and roadside bombs have become more dangerous, and Taliban fighters have infiltrated wide swaths of countryside and now roam in provinces on Kabul’s doorstep.
U.S. commanders have long requested an additional 20,000 troops to aid Canadian and British forces in two provinces just outside Kabul and in the south. But the high end of Mullen’s range is the largest number any top U.S. military official has said could be sent to Afghanistan.
Mullen said that increase would include combat forces but also aviation, medical and civilian affairs support troops.
“So some 20,000 to 30,000 is the window of overall increase from where we are right now,” he told a news conference at a U.S. base in Kabul. “We certainly have enough forces to be successful in combat, but we haven’t had enough forces to hold the territory that we clear.”
And that is the key – not just killing the terrorists, but demonstrating to the locals that we won’t abandon them if they help us. Its a liberal, western myth that savages like the Taliban and al Qaeda get popular support – they get support, but only out of fear for what they will do if crossed. Right now, in various areas of Afghanistan, the people are certain about what the terrorists will do, but are unsure what we will do. If we show that we’ll kill the terrorists and then protect the locals, the locals will move over to our side in the battle, and just as in the “Anbar Awakening” in Iraq, that will be the signal for the complete rout of the enemy in Afghanistan.
Obama has pledged to fight for victory in Afghanistan, and he has my whole-hearted support in whatever efforts prove necessary to secure victory. Obama has the advice of experience commanders – all he has to do is take it, and allow our magnificent armed forces to do the rest.
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