What a picture they chose
I'm sorry. My last tour of duty in the Army was three years in a NATO unit. It was three years that couldn't end quick enough and made me very eager to get out of the military altogether. All due to the fact that none of my commanders during those years were American and cared not a single bit about American interests. I didn't think very much of it beforehand, but since that time I a vehemently opposed to anyone other than American officers commanding American soldiers.
This is the new ISAF commander's intent.
http://www.afnorth.nato.int/ISAF/mission/mission_operations.htm
ISAF COMMANDER'S INTENT - ISAF IX
My guiding intent is, through our actions and a linked information operation firmly rooted in substance, to reinforce the people of Afghanistan's belief that long-term peace and growing economic prosperity from which everyone can benefit is possible if they continue to give their government, and its international partners, their support and encouragement.
ISAF, in partnership with the GOA and the International Community, is to think and plan for the long-term future of Afghanistan, seizing short-term opportunities as they occur but always in a way that is in step with the long-term vision for the country. We are to focus on action that actively assists the GOA in nurturing and further developing the consent of the people to the GOA (our centre of gravity) and its international partners, not least NATO. Respect for the people of Afghanistan and their faith is to be central to all we do.
Within this framework, ISAF will:
a. In step with GOA's National Development Strategy, concentrate on those activities that will most clearly and quickly assist the GOA in its drive to establish the sustainable economic growth on which the future of the country depends. Some examples of this approach include:
1. Helping ensure the security of mineral resources, border crossing points, and the transport network, water and power supplies.
2. Supporting the GOA in the development and prosecution of its Counter Narcotics (CN) campaign.
3. Assisting in the GOA's economic and human resource development strategy so as to enable Afghanistan to become increasingly self-sufficient.
b. Work to resolve conflict and reduce tension within Afghanistan, focusing on the holistic defeat of the residual insurgency threat to the country. Supporting and helping to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to a standard that will enable them in time to assume full responsibility for the internal and external security of the country will be critical to success.
ISAF is to be prepared to respond positively to requests to help the GOA and International Agencies (IA) with its guidance, advice and coordinating skills as required, in order to assist actively in the achievement of these aims.
My Main Effort is to extend and deepen the areas in which the GOA and IAs/NGOs can safely operate in the interests of the people of Afghanistan, enabling the ANSF increasingly to take the lead in achieving this aim. In this way too I will seize the initiative against those who oppose the GOA through violent means, by using appropriate and well considered measures - including the robust use of force should it be necessary - at times and in places of my choosing thereby forcing them to respond to my design.
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
ISAF continues to support the Government of Afghanistan, GOA, in providing a safe and secure environment in the Kabul, northern and western regional Areas of Operation. Currently ISAF forces are responsible for providing security assistance in more than 50% of Afghanistan's territory. ISAF has operational control over nine NATO-ISAF PRTS and two Forward Support Bases, with two regional co-ordinating bodies to facilitate command and control.
Instead of chasing down the Taliban, Nato forces will garrison key towns and villages. It wants to bolster the weak government of President Hamid Karzai and win the support of local people by promoting much-needed development.That's a brilliant idea. Create large, immobile targets for Taliban raiders to strike at will.
I don't like this
um, when did UK generals start wearing stars?
We (U.S.) can't expect NATO nations to contribute soldiers to Afghanistan if we're going to refuse to ever let anyone else command the ones we send. Unfortunately, we can't have it both ways.
That it is. This isn't the first war involving Britain it has caused.
Might as well resurrect Cornwallis and other British colonial generals to oversee our troops too.
I would have expected something like this to happen if Clinton were President. We're just all ONE big happy group of states now. Very sad day.