Gates Says More U.S. Troops Are Needed in Afghanistan

By Merle D. Kellerhals Jr.

Washington - While the United States is withdrawing combat forces from Iraq as the levels of violence decline and security by Iraqi forces improves, additional forces are being sent to Afghanistan to bolster security as the insurgency strengthens, say senior U.S. defense officials.

"The president has decided to send more troops to Afghanistan in response to resurgent extremism and violence reflecting greater ambition, sophistication and coordination," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at a September 10 congressional hearing.

President Bush announced September 9 that the United States will withdraw approximately 8,000 combat and support troops from Iraq by February 2009, and they will not be replaced by other troops. This follows the withdrawal of about 30,000 "surge" troops sent to Iraq to rein in sectarian violence and quell a mounting insurgency.

"The continuing drawdown is possible because of the success in reducing violence and building Iraqi security capacity," Gates said. "Even with fewer ... U.S. troops in Iraq, the positive trends of the last year have held and in some cases steadily continued in the right direction."

Gates said the recent turnover to Iraqi security forces of Anbar province - the 11th province (of 18) for which the Iraqi government now has lead security responsibility - highlights how far security has come and the situation has improved.

At the same time, Bush announced that he was sending a Marine combat battalion to Afghanistan in November and a full Army combat brigade in January to bolster forces there. Both units had been ordered to Iraq but have been diverted to Afghanistan, Gates said.

"Security is just one aspect of the campaign, alongside development and governance. We must maintain the momentum, keep the international community engaged and develop the capacity of the Afghan government," Gates testified.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who also testified with Gates, said the recommendations sent to Bush and Gates for troop reductions in Iraq and increases in Afghanistan represented a consensus view of the military leadership.

House Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton said troop reductions in Iraq are necessary to rebuild U.S. military readiness and to provide additional forces in Afghanistan.

"Our troops in Iraq are doing a magnificent job, making it possible for the Iraqi people to build the foundations for their new government. But Iraq cannot continue to overshadow other critical U.S. security needs," Skelton said. "The effort in Afghanistan must move to the forefront and once again become our top priority."

Leaders in Afghanistan praised the United States for committing more forces to battle against a resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida insurgency.

"The government has a common stance on this: We need and welcome more foreign troops to tackle the war along with local forces," chief Afghan presidential spokesman Humayun Hamidzada said September 10, according to news reports. "In the long term, the strengthening of [Afghan] national entities, their training and equipping, is the solution."

Afghan officials also announced September 10 that Afghanistan was expanding its national army to 134,000 soldiers.

"We welcome the decision taken in Kabul today ... by the Joint Coordination Monitoring Board to endorse [Afghanistan's] plan to expand the size of the Afghan National Army," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "We fully support [Afghan] efforts to assume the lead for security operations in the country."

McCormack said the Afghan army has made progress in recent years and is well respected by Afghans for its operational success and professionalism.

"A fundamental objective of our counterinsurgency strategy is to connect the Afghan people to their government through strengthened institutions, especially at the subnational level, and improved rule-of-law functions," McCormack said.

Source: U.S. Department of State

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