U.S. Plans Shift to Elite Units as It Winds Down in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON The United States plan to wind down its combat role in Afghanistan a year earlier than expected relies on shifting responsibility to Special Operations forces that hunt insurgent leaders and train local troops, according to senior Pentagon officials and military officers. These forces could remain in the country well after the NATO mission ends in late 2014.
The plan, if approved by President Obama, would amount to the most significant evolution in the military campaign since Mr. Obama sent in 32,000 more troops to wage an intensive and costly counterinsurgency effort.
Under the emerging plan, American conventional forces, focused on policing large parts of Afghanistan, will be the first to leave, while thousands of American Special Operations forces remain, making up an increasing percentage of the troops on the ground; their number may even grow.
The evolving strategy is far different from the withdrawal plan for Iraq, where almost all American forces, conventional or otherwise, have left. Iraq has devolved into sectarian violence ever since the withdrawal in December, which threatens to undo the political and security gains there.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/world/asia/us-plans-a-shift-to-elite-forces-in-afghanistan.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all?src=tp
This is what should have been done from the beginning. Hey, who got Bin Laden?
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Still, having our special forces over there stirring the pot isn't how I'd go about making friends and influencing people.
But if we're going down from thousands of occupying troops to a few hundreds of special-forces guys, it'll improve things.
I'd still prefer that we got out entirely.
Robb
(39,665 posts)But probably an improvement, I agree.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)The more victories we get, the better.
carla
(553 posts)are you talking about? The USA got its ass kicked AGAIN. All those armaments and no one who understands how useless they are. Talking is the final result of ALL US wars. The "losers" are always the guys who drive US troops out of their country. Iraqi's have won, now the Talib are going to win. And you think victory is just not having as many die as before...
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)No further comment.
carla
(553 posts)can now kill our best trained special forces soldiers. Great, just a brilliant strategy ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WAR OF AGGRESSION.