Troops face long road ahead in Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Troops face long road ahead in Afghanistan
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 25, 2008 14:25:06 EST

“In Afghanistan, we do what we can. In Iraq, we do what we must.”

That statement, made in congressional testimony in December by Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is a growing concern for U.S. officials.

The long, costly slog in Iraq may finally be bearing some fruit, despite an early-January uptick in violence. But the massive commitment of troops and money that has fueled that effort has not been matched inside its rugged neighbor to the east, and many observers worry about the prospects for long-term success there.

While signs of progress in security, infrastructure and governmental organization can be seen, last year was also the most violent in Afghanistan since the Taliban was driven from power in 2001. The opium poppy trade that U.S. officials say fuels the Taliban resurgence enjoyed a record crop. And U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about the porous border with neighboring Pakistan, whose army remains overmatched by Islamic fundamentalist insurgents operating in rugged, barely governed tribal areas.

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But he acknowledged that winning on the battlefield won’t suffice “unless we can put those tactical military wins together with improved governance by the Karzai regime and improved, coherent reconstruction packages on the economic scene.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_nextafghan_080125w/