Michael Ware explained why our major operation in Afghanistan will not be easy
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on July 2, 2009 - 6:52am.
Current Events
Hello Everyone:
It is one thing for a news reporter like Barbara Starr and for a news organization like CNN to announce to the public that a new military operation in southern Afghanistan against the Taliban is taking place:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/01/sitroom.03.html
THE SITUATION ROOM
President Obama Promises Health Care Reform in 2009; Saying Goodbye to Michael Jackson
Aired July 1, 2009 - 18:00 ET
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: "We now want to bring you breaking news from our other CNN Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, who joins us on the phone right now with new information.
Barbara, what can you share with us?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, this word just coming in. The U.S. military has begun what they call a major combat operation at this hour in southern Afghanistan.
A release, a press announcement just coming out within the last few minutes that says about 4,000 U.S. Marines are involved in this combat operation in the Helmand River Valley of southern Afghanistan.
This is ground zero now for the war in Afghanistan. The major goal of the troops, the major goal of U.S. combat is to get the Taliban out of that Helmand River Valley, get them out of the towns and villages, separate the Taliban from the people who live there..."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/01/afghanistan.operation/index.html
U.S. launches 'major operation' in Afghanistan
updated 10:31 p.m. EDT, Wed July 1, 2009
(CNN) -- "U.S. troops have launched a "major operation" against Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials announced in Afghanistan early Thursday.
About 4,000 Americans, mostly from the Marines, and 650 Afghan soldiers and police launched Operation Khanjar -- "strike of the sword" -- in the Helmand River valley, the U.S. command in Kabul announced..."
It is a totally different thing when someone like Michael Ware (who I think is the most objective, credible, insightful, and realistic journalist in the business when it comes to reporting about foreign policy) not only can report about what is happening but also knows the situation like the back of his hand because he has been there, who can explain in specific detail exactly why the fight will not be easy, and who understands how the enemy will probably react to what we are doing!
Here is the CNN Anderson Cooper 360 transcript of Michael Ware explaining exactly what is happening in Afghanistan from experience because "This area where the troops are moving in Helmand, I know it like the back of my hand. I was running around there in 2002," explaining the specific reasons why "This is not going to be an easy place to fight" and why "There's going to be one heck of a fight," and who understands the probable strategy of the insurgents saying that they "will just be sitting back and waiting and watching. And they'll wait for the little posts to be established, and that's what they'll start hitting:"
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/01/acd.01.html
ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES
Drug Enforcement Administration Joins Jackson Death Investigation; U.S. Military Launches New Offensive in Afghanistan
Aired July 1, 2009 - 22:00 ET
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: "But there's breaking news tonight out of Afghanistan to tell you about. U.S. troops have launched a major operation against Taliban fighters in the Helmand River Valley. It's in the southwest part of the country, a region that produces more opium than anywhere else in the world. It is the first large-scale test of the U.S. military's new counterinsurgency strategy. Some 4,000 Marines are involved.
Michael Ware joins me now from Baghdad. He's been covering the pull-out of U.S. troops there, a turning point this week in Iraq.
Michael, Afghanistan. Major operation, 4,000 American troops, Marines pushing through southern Afghanistan. How significant is this?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is significant. I mean, this represents the new focus, both militarily and politically, on Afghanistan.
But I can tell you, Anderson, I lived for a year in Kandahar, which was the former capital of the Taliban. This area where the troops are moving in Helmand, I know it like the back of my hand. I was running around there in 2002. This is ominous terrain.
The Russians never took this territory. And I know that going up the valley where these troops are now, it's littered with the rusting hulks of Russian armor. This is not going to be an easy place to fight.
And I've seen some of this before. Some of this is reminiscent in different parts of Afghanistan. I remember way over in the east of the country going and living with the American Green Berets and some Marines in very small outposts in some of the most fiercest valleys on that part of the country. So in some ways this is the old made new again.
But I can tell you one thing, Anderson. Like I said, no one's ever taken this country off the hands of the commanders there. There's going to be one heck of a fight for this, Anderson.
COOPER: Well, 4,000 Marines, I give them good odds. The British have been fighting there this past year. It is a huge opium-growing area. Is this, though, a change in U.S. strategy? They're not just moving in. Their strategy right now is to move in and hold. Right?
WARE: That's right. That's right. And that's classic counterinsurgency, and we know that Centcom Commander David Petraeus literally rewrote the American manual on this kind of warfare. He applied it here in Iraq, and they're reapplying it in Afghanistan.
But, for example, in areas along the Afghan border, there has long been posts within Afghan villages, where we've seen the troops doing precisely this. Not just move in and clear but stick and stay. The hold concept of the clear, hold and build strategy of counterinsurgency.
It's the first time we're seeing such a devoted effort in this part of Afghanistan. I think what we'll see is, as these troops move in now in force, we'll now see them start to set up their little bases. I would suspect they'll receive little resistance initially. The insurgents there, the Afghan fighters who fought against the Soviets in the same valley, I suspect will just be sitting back and waiting and watching. And they'll wait for the little posts to be established, and that's what they'll start hitting, Anderson.
COOPER: Let's keep those Marines in the prayers tonight..."
I wish that a video was already made of this report but I will look out for it on CNN and on YouTube.
I know many of the things that Michael Ware reports and explains are not always pleasant. But while I fully realize that no reporter or journalist is perfect, I can honestly say that I have never known Ware to make an unsound or an unreasonable judgment call in all of the years that I have been watching him!
Michael Ware in my opinion did show some optimism when he said "we know that Centcom Commander David Petraeus literally rewrote the American manual on this kind of warfare. He applied it here in Iraq, and they're reapplying it in Afghanistan," how our troops will "Not just move in and clear but stick and stay," and how "It's the first time we're seeing such a devoted effort in this part of Afghanistan."
I really hope that our troops are successful using this new strategy and I am glad that there is someone around like Michael Ware to watch who I think has a much deeper insight and understanding of things like this than any other news reporter or journalist I have seen so far!
Mitch Dworkin
http://mitchdworkin.com/
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http://www.securingamerica.com/
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/16039
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Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on July 7, 2008 - 2:51pm.
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Listen to Gen. Wes Clark fight for Dems on Sean Hannity's radio program: An excellent example for all of us to follow and what we all need to be doing to help fight back against extreme right wing Neocon smear propaganda!
in Afghanistan:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/07/05/sotu.intv.mullen.part.1.cnn (10:26)
The situation in Afghanistan 10:26
Adm. Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, explains the situation on the ground in Afghanistan.
Source: CNN
Added On July 5, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/07/05/sotu.intv.mullen.part.1.cnn (10:26)
Here is the CNN transcript link and the quote of what Adm. Mullen told John King about how hard and how long that the fight in Afgnanistan will be:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/05/sotu.02.html
STATE OF THE UNION WITH JOHN KING
Interview With Michael Mullen; Reliable Sources
Aired July 5, 2009 - 10:00 ET
JOHN KING, HOST: "In terms of resistance -- sir, I'm sorry for interrupting -- but in terms of the resistance the Marines have faced in the early days, is it what you expected? Or are you concerned that the Taliban are melting into the countryside, if you will, and hiding because they know you're there?
ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS: Well, I think generally it's what we expected. There has been some of that.
There's actually been some pretty tough fighting as well. All of that really ties into the expectations that we have.
This has been a Taliban stronghold for a significant period of time. It's grown over the last two or three years. And so what the Marines are there for is to really concentrate on that, clear that area -- I'm sorry, defeat the Taliban that's there, clear it, and then hold it so that, again, we can start to build.
And we think it's going to be a pretty tough fight for, you know, a fair amount of time. You know, weeks to months, certainly, at least.
KING: Weeks to months..."
hard that the fight will be in Afghanistan and she also seems to think that the outcome of this fight is unclear right now which I would agree with:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/05/sotu.03.html
STATE OF THE UNION WITH JOHN KING
State of the Union: Best Political Team on Television
Aired July 5, 2009 - 11:00 ET
JOHN KING, HOST: "So Barbara, empty your notebook for us. Admiral Mullen was relatively optimistic about what's happening in Afghanistan. He sounded a little bit less so when I asked him, what happens if they all just melt across the border into Pakistan.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: You know, that is still the same issue. How many years have we been all been out here talking about that battle or that offensive in Afghanistan.
KING: This will be the one that will really makes the difference?
STARR: Look, they hope so. President Obama's surge, 21,000 extra troops into Afghanistan -- it does give the U.S. military more capability to go in, seize territory and hold territory.
But as long as you have the Taliban drifting away, melting into the hills, into the desert, they're waiting it out. That's what these insurgents do.
So, fundamentally, this is going to be a waiting game. Can they push the Taliban out long enough to establish security, make the people feel that their lives are more secure there, and give the Taliban nowhere to come back to, eventually, or do the Taliban do what they always do, and just wait it out for another day?..."
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/17/sitroom.02.html
THE SITUATION ROOM
Florida Couple Murdered; Bombers Strike Marriott & Ritz Hotels; Caught in Swine Flu Fears
Aired July 17, 2009 - 17:00 ET
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates, says that more U.S. troops could be sent to Afghanistan if the new American commander there, General Stanley McChrystal, says he needs them. But Gates adds, he isn't expecting a significant increase in American forces.
Bob Woodward is the award-winning veteran author and journalist for "The Washington Post". He is just back from Afghanistan. Bob, thanks for coming in.
BOB WOODWARD, THE WASHINGTON POST: Thank you.
BLITZER: I am deeply worried, and I am sure you are, about what's happening in Afghanistan right now. The U.S. is pouring in more troops. And even more troops, thousands more, might be needed. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
WOODWARD: Look, they haven't fixed it and the war continues. I think it is something that Obama, and the White House, and the Pentagon, and everyone else involved in this are deeply concerned. Because as everyone says, Afghanistan is not Iraq. It is not something where you can surge X number of troops and kind of fix the problem. The big difference in walking around there, it is a primitive country.
BLITZER: You went with General Jim Jones, the retired commandant of the Marine Corps, who is now President Obama's national security adviser. He studied this closely. Did you get the sense from your conversations with him, hearing him brief U.S. military personnel, he was coming back to Washington more upbeat?
WOODWARD: No. I think they are worried. They want to make sure the strategy they have got is implemented. Now, of course, the strategy is not just military. They want to improve the economy and they want to improve governance in Afghanistan.
As I say, it's not a modern state. It's not like Iraq, where they have vast oil wells. So they can spend the money to increase their own military and police force, which everyone agrees. So this is now Obama's war. There is not light at the end of the tunnel in the near future.
BLITZER: One of the big problems, the U.S. is pouring in a lot more troops. Going to have 68,000 troops, the president approved another 21,000. That may not be enough. There is deep concern that the Afghans, themselves, President Karzai, they are not stepping up to the plate.
WOODWARD: Yes. A big concern about Karzai, as a leader. I went with General Jones to talk to Karzai. He is very outgoing and friendly and highly Westernized, but you dig behind that, and a lot of people say he is making deals with people who are corrupt in order to win the election next month. And not putting people in, or keeping people, in the Afghan government who are really going to fix things for the people in Afghanistan.
BLITZER: Most of Afghanistan's wealth is from poppies, from opium. They are the biggest supplier of opium around the world. Is there any progress being made in reducing that?
WOODWARD: Well, you know what? They've actually decided now -we can't fix that, because that is the farmer's income. I talked to the general on the ground in Afghanistan. And I asked about that. He said, we do not want to eradicate the poppy crop now. We can't do it, because I will have 21,000 angry farmers. I can't deal with that.
BLITZER: That was an American general, you're talking about?
WOODWARD: That was an American general. There is a new policy of -- we'll deal with the drug problem later.
BLITZER: Are the Pakistanis, on the other side of the border, the Swat Valley, are they making progress in going after the Taliban and Al Qaeda?
WOODWARD: They have. That is an optimistic note. But, boy, what's going on in those ungoverned regions of Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden presumably is. I wouldn't bet any money on it, but you know, it's the best guess. And, in Pakistan, there they are recruiting. They are plotting. It is scary stuff.
BLITZER: Does the Obama administration have confidence in that man, President Asif Ali Zardari?
WOODWARD: You know, he's somebody - you talk to people about it. And we talked with him, also. And he talks like he is on top of the game. You ask people about what's going on and they say, he doesn't know much about governing. He is Benazir Bhutto's widower. That's why he is in that office. He is somebody who spent 11 years in jail, somebody who is a businessman, and not naturally a politician.
And so, the situation, Afghanistan, Pakistan, they are linked. Afghan - Af/Pak policy, as they call it, the leaders of those two countries are not as strong as the United States and our allies would like.
BLITZER: We will see what happens in the Afghan elections in August. That's going to be critical as well..."
same report which are definitely worth looking at in my opinion:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/01/acd.01.html
ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES
Drug Enforcement Administration Joins Jackson Death Investigation; U.S. Military Launches New Offensive in Afghanistan
Aired July 1, 2009 - 22:00 ET
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: "Michael, you're been in Baghdad. Two days since the U.S. pulled back troops out of major cities. A big milestone. We've seen pictures of Iraqis yesterday dancing in the streets. How have they reacted and how are American troops reacting right now?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, this has really been a mixed bag of emotions across the spectrum from Iraqi to American. I mean, on the eve of this landmark handover, which was -- which is the end of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, there was tumultuous scenes among the Iraqis.
I went to a park here in central Baghdad. Literally hundreds of families picnicking, bands strolling about the park like mariachis. Young men singing and dancing, draped in Iraqi flags.
National television, state TV had a countdown timer in the corner of its screen, its anchors draped in national flags. For them, this is like popping the champagne cork on Iraqi nationality -- nationalism. They're such a fiercely proud people, and whether it was well intended or not on our part, they see this as the end of a foreign occupation, and they've been celebrating it that way.
They declared it a national holiday, indeed, National Sovereignty Day.
Among some in the American mission, that hasn't been easy to take. I know that some of the officials who were aggrieved that such a celebration, they felt, belied the American sacrifice in this country. Four thousand, three hundred and twenty-four American servicemen and servicewomen laid down their lives. And some felt that not enough due was being paid to that here in Iraq.
And I'd like to think that at least in America people paused and stopped on that day to think about that sacrifice, Anderson.
COOPER: Yes. It's a good point, Michael. We got a lot of e- mails from viewers, kind of angry at seeing those pictures, and saying they didn't see a lot of Iraqis saying "thank you." And that's something they would have liked to hear, certainly.
Michael Ware, appreciate the reporting from Baghdad tonight. Michael, thanks..."