Top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan says chances for 'success' are '50-50 at best'

[bigtree]

19 February 2009

US Commander Predicts 'Tough Year' Ahead in Afghanistan

{snip}

"I don't think we should kid ourselves that the chances of success here are, I would say, 50-50 at best," Kilcullen said.

The added troops will undoubtedly kill more Taliban, but in a war of counterinsurgency, the primary mission is not to kill the enemy, but protect the people.

"That's the one key task," Kilcullen said. "If we don't get that right, it doesn't matter. Whatever else we do will be useless, because we'll start losing the war."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/18/eveningnews/main4811790.shtml



"What we want to get to is what I've called the 'tipping point,' where the lead for security is in Afghan units - police and army - and we increasingly are in a more mentoring and training role," he said.

McKiernan says that for the next three to five years, the United States will need to remain heavily committed in Afghanistan. But he says, it is in the international community's vital interest to provide the country with stability.

"The insurgency is not going to win in Afghanistan," said McKiernan. "The vast majority of the people who live in Afghanistan reject the Taliban or other militant insurgent groups. They have nothing to offer them; they do not bring any hope for a better future. The insurgency will not win in Afghanistan."

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-02-19-voa1.cfm