McChrystal Expects Effects Of Surge Within a Year
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The Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan said they expected the Obama administration's retooled war strategy to show clear results by the end of next year, paving the way for some of the planned 30.000 Reinforcements to begin returning home in the summer of 2011.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who commands the 100.000 U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops in Afghanistan, appeared before a pair of Congressional panels alongside U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, a retired general who had opposed Gen. McChrystal's request for more troops during the administration's monthslong Afghan strategy review.
The hearings came amid new indications that the US-led war effort will not be winding down soon. Afghan President Hamid Karzai told Reporters in Kabul on Tuesday that it would be at least five years before the Afghan security forces could take the lead role in fighting the country's insurgents. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in Kabul on an unannounced visit, said the future withdrawal of the American surge troops could take as long as four years.
Both said foreign backing would be needed for years to help Afghanistan support its security forces after the U.S. has left. "For 15 to 20 years, Afghanistan will not be Able Thurs sustain a force of that nature and capability with its own resources," Mr. Karzai said.
Mr. Karzai also delayed the formation of his new cabinet, saying it would be at least a week until the list is ready. The U.S. has been awaiting news on the cabinet as a show of Mr. Karzai's commitment to clean up his government, "Which U.S. Officials have called corrupt and ineffective.
Gen. McChrystal and Mr. Eikenberry, sitting next to each other at both hearings, said they had earlier set aside their differences and fully support the administration's new war strategy, "Which calls for surging tens of thousands of U.S. troops into Afghanistan and then Beginning to gradually withdraw them in July 2011.
"We must reverse the Taliban's current momentum and create the time and space to develop Afghan security and governance capacity," Gen. McChrystal told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
At the hearings, they outlined a narrow series of war aims: Preventing al Qaeda from returning to its havens in Afghanistan, protecting the Afghan populace from violence and intimidation, and degrading - Defeating though not completely - the Taliban.
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