Thursday, June 4, 2009

McChrystal wants ''holistic" approach to Afghan war.

Perhaps this is meant to parallel the Taliban jihad or "holy war". Both sides will resort to unholy tactics. McChrystal used to be head of a special operations (black ops) group and no doubt he will increase those operations. This is no doubt another aspect of Obama's emphasis upon change bringing in a master of dirty tactics and calling them by nice names.

This is from abc (Australia)

McChrystal wants 'holistic' approach to Afghan war
By Washington correspondent Kim Landers for AM

Posted Wed Jun 3, 2009 9:11am AEST Updated 11 hours 36 minutes ago

US President Barack Obama has ordered an extra 21,000 troops to Afghanistan. (US Army: Staff Sgt Michael L Casteel, file photo)
The US general who has been put in charge of the Afghanistan war says success in the seven-year-old conflict will not be quick or easy.
Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal says the war can be won if a proper counter-insurgency campaign is mounted.
His comments came as more than 40 people were killed in a surge of militant attacks across Afghanistan yesterday.
Fighting is escalating across Afghanistan, with suicide attacks, roadside bombs and battles between US troops and Taliban fighters.
The violence raises fresh concerns about the stability in Afghanistan ahead of the August presidential election, and Lieutenant General McChrystal says the situation is serious.
"There is no simple answer. We must conduct a holistic counterinsurgency campaign, and we must do it well," he said.
"Success will not be quick or easy; casualties will likely increase; we will make mistakes."
Lieutenant General McChrystal has been testifying at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
He is set to replace General David McKiernan, who was sacked last month in an unusual wartime shake-up.
Republican Senator Lindsay Graham has quizzed him about the consequences of failing in the more than seven-year-old conflict.
"Everyone's asked about winning; tell me the consequence of losing. What would happen if America lost in Afghanistan?" Senator Graham said.
"What would happen is it would break down into civil war," Lieutenant General McChrystal said.
"There would be... I don't believe that the Taliban would take over Afghanistan; I think it would go back to what it was before 2001, and that would be an ongoing civil war between different factions.
"I believe that Al Qaeda would have the ability to move back into Afghanistan, and I cannot imagine why they would not do that.
"I think that if they're within that kind of safe haven in Afghanistan with the ongoing problem in Pakistan, I think Pakistan would find winning its insurgency very, very difficult, if not impossible."
Senator Graham: "Would it probably lead to the collapse of the civilian government in Pakistan?"
Lieutenant General McChrystal: "I think it's very likely."
Lieutenant General McChrystal says he will also draw on the advice of Australian

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