The situation in parts of Afghanistan is deteriorating. The Afghan insurgency is expanding, especially in the south and west, and violence is well above last year's level. The weakness of the Afghan government sustains this insurgency and the Taliban, fueled by revenues from narcotics trafficking, are broadening their attacks.
On March 27, 2009 President Obama announced a new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan and at the NATO summit in April our nation successfully sought allied unity for the new strategy.
The New Strategy
- disrupt terrorist networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan to degrade their ability to launch international terrorist attacks;
- promote a more capable, accountable, and effective government in Afghanistan;
- develop self-reliant Afghan security forces that can lead the counter-insurgency with reduced U.S. assistance;
- involve the international community to actively assist in addressing these objectives, with an important leadership role for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
I commend President Obama for endorsing this new strategy and for increasing the resources devoted to Afghanistan. The United States provides about 30,000 to a 62,000 troop NATO-led coalition there, and an additional 21,000 U.S. forces will go to Afghanistan during 2009.
Our commanders in the field are implementing a comprehensive counter-insurgency approach that works to defeat existing insurgent groups, develops the institutions required to address the root causes of the conflict, maintains relentless pressure on terrorist organizations affiliated with the insurgency, dismantles illegal drug networks, and prevents the emergence of safe havens for those transnational extremist groups.
This campaign has several components, but first and foremost is a commitment to protecting and serving the people. Our forces, along with allied troops, must focus on securing the Afghan people and building their trust. As part of this focus, we will take a residential approach and, in a culturally acceptable way, live among the people, understand their neighborhoods, and invest in relationships.
In addition, we will also invigorate efforts to develop the capabilities of the Afghanistan National Security Force, including the Afghan National Army, the Afghan Police, the Afghan National Civil Order Police, the Afghan Border Forces, specialized counter narcotics units, and other security forces.
Our goals should go beyond stabilizing the conditions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We must eliminate the ability of the Taliban to control portions of both countries and prepare their security forces to win on their own.
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