Michael Yon’s latest:
16 July 2009
Ghor Province, Afghanistan
On a per capita basis, Afghanistan is becoming more dangerous for British and American troops than Iraq ever was. For those who fought in places like Anbar, Basra, Baghdad, Diyala and Nineveh, that’s saying a whole lot. On a per capita basis, there are strong indications that Afghanistan will prove more deadly than Iraq during 2006-2007. One can only imagine how many days and nights Secretary Robert Gates and his advisors must have agonized over troop levels here. On the one hand, we have a fraction of the troops we need, but on the other, increasing troop levels increases hostility toward us. Secretary Gates has made it clear to me that his biggest concern is that we will lose the goodwill of the people and they will turn against us. This happens to be my own biggest concern. The agony is in knowing we need more medicine and the medicine can be highly toxic here. Many people have complained that the new restrictions on air strikes will hurt us, but from my boots, General McChrystal (the new boss here) has fulfilled the intent of his boss, and that the decision, though tough, was wise; if we lose the widespread assent of the Afghan people, it’s all over but for the bleeding.
Today our chances are not good, but there remains a real chance to succeed…
Read the whole thing, then donate to Michael Yon, as he is a reader-supporter war correspondent and the one of the very few we can rely on 100% to tell us the truth, no matter how rough it is.
My view is that we should risk more troops on the ground – but this is Obama’s campaign, and he’s determined to have it done his way, and that means – at least for now – that we’ll go with a smaller force. I hope it works – I pray it works, and President Obama can rely upon my absolute support in the efforts he makes to achieve victory in Afghanistan. Certainly, the our troops and our allies – including, especially, our Afghan allies – seem to have the sheer grit necessary to carry the matter through. As in all American wars, the key is support – if the troops are given proper support from home, they’ll do whatever we ask of them and they won’t quit until they win, even if they have to go through trial-and-error until they find the right talisman for victory.
Do Not Forget These Men and Women – think of them, every day; pray for them, always. Support them, if you can.
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