US Wants 20,000 More Troops To Fight Taliban

British troops in Helmand province recently. Last month was the deadliest for UK forces since the Falklands war. SUSANNAH IRELAND

From The Independent:

British and American soldiers to shoulder brunt of surge's next phase.

The commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan will ask for 20,000 more international troops as part of his new strategic plan for the alliance's war against a resurgent Taliban, The Independent has learned.

The demand from General Stanley McChrystal will almost certainly lead to more British soldiers being sent to the increasingly treacherous battlegrounds of Helmand, the Taliban heartland, despite growing opposition to the war.

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My Comment: Even with a 20,000 troop increase, I have been told by people who I trust on these matters that such numbers are still inadequate. If anything, this number will match what the commanders were originally demanding at the beginning of this year (38,000 troops) .... but were only given 17,000 troops.

These totals also ignore changes in force structure from other countries. Canada is committed to leaving in 2-3 years, and they are responsible for the Kandahar region. Germany may reduce their troop commitment, and if they follow other countries will also reduce their commitments. The idea that Britain can fill in a few gaps .... hmmmm .... no .... that is not going to happen.

Raising the number of Afghan soldiers and police cannot be taken serious. It takes years to make just one effective brigade .... the idea that a number of Afghan brigades can be created in 2 years is fantasy at best .... delusional at worse. And the police .... they have the reputation of being the worse of the worse in the country.

If the Independent is correct in the news that they are receiving on what will be future U.S./NATO strategy in the region .... I must then confess that I do not feel confident that we will succeed in Afghanistan.