"NATO endorses proposal for gradual handoff to Afghans; Buildup of police force, government among conditions" by Mark Landler, New York Times | April 24, 2010
TALLINN, Estonia — Setting the stage for a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan, the United States and other NATO countries adopted a plan here yesterday that sets conditions for beginning to remove troops from a lead role in Afghan provinces by the end of this year.
The plan, which NATO hopes to turn into a formal agreement with the Afghan government in July, would transfer authority to Afghans when they have met three criteria: a competent local police force, a durable civilian government, and signs of reconciliation with the Taliban insurgency.
NATO’s goal is to announce by November that it has begun to hand over authority in a cluster of provinces, most likely in Afghanistan’s relatively stable north and west, officials said. If successful, the plan would help President Obama meet his deadline of starting to pull out American troops by July 2011. But American officials cautioned that the timetable could slip if security remained poor or if the insurgents proved resilient.
At a meeting of NATO foreign ministers here, the alliance received an update on the progress in the war from General Stanley A. McChrystal, the top military commander in Afghanistan, and Ambassador Mark Sedwill, NATO’s recently appointed senior civilian representative.
As the American-led coalition prepares for its next big operation, in the southern Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, Sedwill said it had learned valuable lessons from the recent campaign to stabilize Marja — namely, that achieving a rough balance of power among competing tribal groups is critical to restoring order. The Marja campaign, he said, had been hampered because some landowners amassed so much power that they had co-opted the local police force, transforming it into a militia used against the people.
“The big lesson we learned in Marja, which we’re taking to Kandahar, is that you got to get the politics right,’’ Sedwill told reporters. “Balanced access to political and economic power is vital.’’
Related: The Boston Globe's Invisible Ink: Lost Marjah Mojo
What a British bull-s***ter, 'eh?
A former British ambassador to Afghanistan, Sedwill has emerged as a major figure in the Western effort in the country. Since his arrival....
NATO’s progress report was welcomed here, since the emphasis in many war-weary alliance members has shifted from the combat mission to turning Afghanistan back over to its people.
And IF THEY ARE you can IMAGINE how the POPULACE FEELS!!
Still,
Of course. But, still, yet....
the Danish secretary general of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, pledged that foreign troops would continue to support Afghan soldiers long after they relinquished command. “It will not be a pullout; it will not be a run for the exit,’’ he said at a news conference.
Then the WHOLE TONE of this article is AGENDA-PUSHING CRAP?
NATO’s commitment has come under question in recent weeks.
By who?
The alliance has fallen 450 people short of a goal to supply 2,000 trainers for the Afghan national police force by October....
“The gap matters,’’ Sedwill said. “We’ve got 100,000 troops there; we ought to be able to find 450.’’
Pffft!
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