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US in Afghanistan failure warning US in Afghanistan failure warning
(about 2 hours later)
The US mission in Afghanistan will "likely result in failure" unless troops are increased within a year, the top general there has said in a report.The US mission in Afghanistan will "likely result in failure" unless troops are increased within a year, the top general there has said in a report.
Gen Stanley McChrystal made his assessment in a copy of a confidential report obtained by the Washington Post.Gen Stanley McChrystal made his assessment in a copy of a confidential report obtained by the Washington Post.
He recently called for a revised military strategy in Afghanistan, suggesting the current one is failing.He recently called for a revised military strategy in Afghanistan, suggesting the current one is failing.
More than 30,000 extra US troops have been sent to Afghanistan since May - almost doubling the US contingent.More than 30,000 extra US troops have been sent to Afghanistan since May - almost doubling the US contingent.
The number of US troops in Afghanistan is already set to rise to 68,000 by the end of the year.The number of US troops in Afghanistan is already set to rise to 68,000 by the end of the year.
But in his latest assessment, Gen McChrystal is quoted by the Washington Post newspaper as saying: "Failure to gain the initiative and reverse insurgent momentum in the near-term [next 12 months] - while Afghan security capacity matures - risks an outcome where defeating the insurgency is no longer possible." But in his latest assessment, Gen McChrystal is quoted by the Washington Post newspaper as saying: "Failure to gain the initiative and reverse insurgent momentum in the near-term (next 12 months)... risks an outcome where defeating the insurgency is no longer possible."
He warned that "inadequate resources will likely result in failure".He warned that "inadequate resources will likely result in failure".
Pre-occupied with protection of our own forces, we have operated in a manner that distances us ...from the people we seek to protect Gen McChrystal Profile: Gen Stanley McChrystal Afghanistan: Security map
Gen McChrystal is expected to ask for tens of thousands of extra forces to be deployed. He also says that training for Afghan forces needs to be speeded up.
Gen McChrystal said that failure to provide adequate resources "also risks a longer conflict, greater casualties, higher overall costs, and ultimately, a critical loss of political support".Gen McChrystal said that failure to provide adequate resources "also risks a longer conflict, greater casualties, higher overall costs, and ultimately, a critical loss of political support".
"Any of these risks, in turn, are likely to result in mission failure.""Any of these risks, in turn, are likely to result in mission failure."
'Losing support' But he adds that the increase in troop numbers must come in the context of a revised military strategy in the country.
The newspaper says that the report has been presented to US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. Gen McChrystal has consistently called for a strategy which makes its top priority the protection of the Afghan people.
Correspondents say US President Barack Obama will have to ponder the implications of devoting more resources to a conflict which opinion polls suggest is losing support among the American people. In this report he criticises the Nato forces he commands for focusing more on tackling insurgents than protecting Afghan civliians.
Gen McChrystal has consistently called for a military strategy which makes its top priority the protection of the Afghan people against the Taliban. "Pre-occupied with protection of our own forces, we have operated in a manner that distances us - physically and psychologically - from the people we seek to protect," he says.
In a report circulated among senior Nato and US officials last month, he said Afghans were undergoing a crisis of confidence because the war against the Taliban had not improved their lives. 'Crisis of confidence'
That report did not make any direct call for increasing troop numbers. But 2009 has been the deadliest year for foreign troops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
However, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen, told the US Senate Armed Services Committee last week that more troops might be required to tackle the mounting Taliban insurgency. Italy is holding a day of mourning for six soldiers killed in a Kabul bomb attack last week. And the future of German troops in Afghanistan has become a central issue in Germany's election campaign.
Gen McChrystal has made protecting civilians a central plank of his strategy.
In a blunt evaluation, Gen McChrystal also reserves censure for the Afghan government saying that corruption is as much of a threat as insurgency.
All of these factors, he claims, has led to a "crisis of confidence among Afghans."
The increase in troop numbers would provide security for Afghan people and create a space in which good governance can take root, Gen McChrystal argues.
The Washington Post says that the report has been presented to US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
A recent opinion poll showed that a narrow majority of Americans now oppose the conflict.
Last week the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen, told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that more troops might be required to tackle the mounting Taliban insurgency.
But President Obama later said there was "no immediate decision pending" on sending more troops to Afghanistan.But President Obama later said there was "no immediate decision pending" on sending more troops to Afghanistan.
"You have to get the strategy right and then make the determination about resources," Mr Obama said."You have to get the strategy right and then make the determination about resources," Mr Obama said.
The BBC's security correspondent Nick Childs says the timing of this leak and the the stark language contained in it, is certain to pile the pressure on the Obama administration, particularly when he has just said he is not ready to make a final decision.
This is largely because the issue has become so politically charged in Washington, our correspondent says.