A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deploys flares during a flight over Afghanistan on Nov. 12, 2008. The squadron is deployed to Bagram Air Base. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon, U.S. Air Force. (Released)McKiernan Discusses Challenges in Afghanistan
-- U.S. Department Of Defense
-- U.S. Department Of Defense
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2008 – Afghanistan’s complex environment colors military operations in the nation, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan told the Atlantic Council of the United States here yesterday.
Army Gen. David D. McKiernan said Afghanistan’s culture of violence, exacerbated by more than three decades of warfare, combines with the opium poppy trade to produce a toxic brew in the nation.
Afghanistan’s heroin trade funds the insurgency, McKiernan said. While the Taliban is the main group in the country, various other extremist groups continue to merge and fall apart and find common ground with drug traffickers, he said.
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My Comment: A depressing commentary from the man in charge. It is clear that he is under no illusion that his job in Afghanistan is going to be easy. He accurately lists the problems in the country .... and the direction that we should be going.
Bottom line .... it is going to take a very long time to pacify Afghanistan (if successful).