U.S. Army soldiers drive a convoy into Gardez City, Afghanistan, the Paktia provincial capital, to meet with local officials, Feb. 17, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker IIIA Half-Dozen Gargantuan Bases -- Captain's Journal
Philip Smucker in the Asia Times:
Although the US is not technically losing, it would be extremely hard to argue that Afghanistan’s safety has not been sacrificed due to the policies of a risk-averse American government. A basic premise of the US military’s own strategy is that ultimate success is gained “by protecting the populace, not the counter-insurgency force”. This principle is violated daily.
The Pentagon’s high-tech-centric approach to the fight in Afghanistan has produced - since 9/11 - a half-dozen gargantuan bases - with more on the way. These are little more than anachronistic monuments to the US military’s superior firepower. At Bagram and Jalalabad air bases, aerial drones, commanded by joystick pilots in the deserts of Nevada, circle and land. Invisible F-16s and F-15s lay figure-eight smoke trails in the blue skies above Tora Bora. At dusk, the snow line of the Hindu Kush is flush with Apache attack helicopters and larger Chinooks. None of them are the key to victory.
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My Comment: Will this strategy change .... I doubt it. President Obama and Congress are risk averse when it comes to military matters, and have already stopped the requested deployment of troops into the region by half. The message is clear to the commanders on the ground ... you must do with what you have.
Is this enough .... probably not. Is it safe to leave forces in isolated regions with the knowledge that support may or may not come on time in the event of a fight .... probably not also. But what is safe is big bases .... and this is what is happening.
The other problem is that the war in Afghanistan involves numerous other NATO partners .... where each has a different philosophy in fighting this conflict. Some are in the field, but many are just playing it safe. This bunker down mentality is never a guarantee for success .... never.