U.S. Central Command’s Gen. Joseph Votel and Gen. John Nicholson. Twitter
Kevin Baron, Defense One: Meet the Believers: The Afghanistan War’s US Commanders are Ready For a Reboot
What's different this time? New rules, new plan, new firepower, new hope.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – There’s a new faith among the latest U.S. generals who have come to win the war in Afghanistan, but plenty of old realities. U.S. Central Command’s Gen. Joseph Votel, who is overseeing the Trump administration’s Afghanistan War reboot, came here to see its beginning and its promise of victory, with newly arriving squadrons of attack jets, howitzer cannons, and hundreds of specialized and experienced U.S. troops.
Just hours earlier, the 4-star distinguished visitor had been in Kabul discussing those plans at the Afghan Ministry of Defense when a suicide attacker detonated a massive car bomb disguised in an ambulance. Welcome back to the war.
The blast, which killed at least 100 and injured 235 more, was blocks from Operation Resolute Support headquarters, so close that some the general’s staff heard it. As the compound locked down, troops and civilians from a dozen countries came scrambling out of the dining hall, weapons in tow. Others exchanged concerned glances. But most just told stories, complained about being stuck, and kept on eating lunch. After 16 years, you get used to some things.
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WNU Editor: The above post is a must read. What's my take. The U.S. is going to use the model that was used to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria .... and use it in Afghanistan. In short .... provide air support, intelligence, and advisers on the ground to assist Afghan forces in attacking Taliban strongholds. Will this new strategy succeed? I have my doubts. I am not a fan of former U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel but he is right with this analysis (Afghanistan worse than ever, Russia ‘holds the cards’ in Syria, warns former DoD boss, Defense News)....
.... “After 17 years in Afghanistan, the situation is worse than it’s ever been. I think the American people, the Congress, the United States are going to start asking some pretty good questions,” Hagel said. “The American military can’t fix the problems in Afghanistan. Poppy production, corruption, tribal decisions, topography. All the uncontrollables are there. You don’t fix that with the military.”
Indeed. You cannot fix Afghanistan with the military alone.
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