US to Replace Top General in Afghanistan (McKiernan Out & McChrystal)

Herald Net ^ | 10 May 09 | Pauline Jelinek and Anne Gearan

[xzins]

The Pentagon will replace its top general in Afghanistan as President Barack Obama tries to turn around a stalemated war, defense officials said.

The exit of Gen. David McKiernan comes as more than 21,000 additional U.S. forces begin to arrive in Afghanistan, dispatched by Obama to confront the Taliban more forcefully this spring and summer.

McKiernan, on the job about a year, has asked repeatedly for additional forces. Obama’s revamped strategy for Afghanistan does markedly increase the number of U.S. forces in the country but focuses on nonmilitary solutions as a better long-term solution.

Military officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said McKiernan will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was likely to announce the new leadership in Afghanistan later today, an official said.

[Straight Vermonter]

I wonder if giving the Pashtuns their own country would not be more successful. The remainder of Pakistan and Afghanistan seem to be more or less stable with just the backward "Pashtunistan" causing trouble.

This map includes Balochistan in Pashtunistan which I think is a mistake.

[americanophile]

"The “nonmilitary solutions” is hopefully their way of phrasing Petraeus’ strategy of going town by town isolating the enemy, destroying them, and then controlling the cleansed area."

I hope you're right...since what you describe is in fact a military strategy.

[swarthyguy]

Before the Partition of India, the Pathans were proIndia, they did not want amalgamation into Pakistan, as Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan stated.

However, Imperial politics dictated that the Pathani populations were bifurcated by the existing Durand Line and the geography necessitated Pathans going into Pakistan.

Even last year, the ANP won the elections, a secularish party, moderate and progressive, but had to concede Sharia in their areas when the Pakistani Army didn’t come to their aid.

[DTogo]

McCrystal is Special Ops Chief....this is VERY bad news for Al Qaeda..

Only to the extent the idiots in Washington let him do his job.

Fight to win? We'll see.

[Straight Vermonter]

The Durand Line is just one more colonial era remnant that causes trouble 100+ years after the fact. Giving the Pashtuns their own country helps to isolating them. Trying to incorporate them into Pakistan and Afghanistan has been, and is, a disaster.

[taillightchaser]

I hope all you guys are right, but I have a real problem picturing zero doing anything pro-military.

[SevenMinusOne]

Shooters are extremely happy about this choice - Understand that. McChrystal is a damn fine choice (though he will likely butt heads with the WH about wanting to be more aggressive).

[1010RD]

Very. This change does sound like an improvement.

Militarily we can win. The trouble is the politics foreign and domestic.

[1010RD]

this is VERY bad news for Al Qaeda the Taliban in Pakistan.

[1010RD]

Looks like he eats more than just snakes.

[1010RD]

Sadly, they're not just closing them, but destroying them. The historical and archaeological value alone is unfathomable. They are anti-intellectual. If it isn't in the Koran who needs to know it.

[RetiredArmy]

Afghanistan was the Soviet's Vietnam. They got their asses kicked there. Plus, they had a lot of tanks, etc., which we do not have in Affieland. Yet, they got their butts kicked. I seriously doubt that we can do a total win there. The country is just too mountainous and isolated. Plenty of hills for the bad guys to hide in. Hit and run stuff. We will just do some damage here and there, but I doubt a total win. Same crap we did in Nam. Hump for days, weeks, and never see Charley, then all of a sudden, there the little sucker was and we got bloodied.

[1010RD]

The problem will be resupply from Iran.The problem goes back to before Persia even existed as an empire. The geography, tribalism and economics of Afghanistan are tough, tough and terrible. We'll be there forever. It will be a long, slow process and the setbacks are built in.

[1010RD]

You’ll note all the problems internationally that occur due to arbitrary political boundaries imposed by previous empires, no? Politicians kick the can down the block in every era.

[swarthyguy]

That one Sufi shrine had apparently been closed to visitors and devotees, but you are absolutely correct, the ancient Buddhist statuaries are being devastated, never mind the Hindu temples of antiquity, long gone.

[Mr. Jazzy]

The Russians also tried to ANNIHILATE an entire generation of Afghani's with anti personnel devices aimed at children. They were NOT trying to "win hearts and minds", just make slaves which is why the Mooj grabbed an even tighter control on the country side. Our forces have done a LOT of good for the urban areas and the TB's know it. They are now the ones using outright intimidation on the populace and they will loose. These people want to live their lives, grow their poppies and goats. There are a very large number that will not put up with the Taliban any more. That is why Pakistan is now the HQ and home of AQ

Good hunting, General McChrystal.

[swarthyguy]

The Soviets never expanded into Pakistan.

As in Nam, the US never really stopped the resupply ships entering Haiphong harbor.

In AFPAK, for the past seven years, the US has allowed the Talibs to R&R in Pak before venturing back into Af.

We’ve been fighting with a hand tied simply because of political considerations.

Now, it seems the situation is too dire to engage in figleafism.

Hence the long over due expansion of efforts into Pakistan.

[yazoo]

I had the privilege of working with McChrystal in Iraq. They don’t come much better.

[yazoo]

“He lead the hunt for Zarqawi....and got him.”

And hundreds of other bad guys. He knows how to use technology and boots on the ground to accomplish the mission.

[1010RD]

Yes, I have a hard time understanding a world perspective that on one hand is absolutely certain it is correct and yet everything is a threat to it.

These Islamists need some serious psychological help. Lead is only a short-term solution.