Should We Listen To Our Generals In Afghanistan?

Congressman Robert Aderholt Op-Ed Column
Sunday, October 25, 2009

Times-Journal: Should We Listen To Our Generals In Afghanistan?
By Rep Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

Eight years ago, the United States led an invasion of Afghanistan with the purpose of hunting down and defeating Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and its extremist allies. However, the war subsequently took a back seat to the conflict in Iraq.

Over the last two years, we have seen attacks and deaths dramatically decrease in Iraq, and now Afghanistan has become the focus of America’s international policy.

The question that faces Washington today is whether President Obama should listen to his generals in Afghanistan and increase troop levels or pursue a different policy.

This week marks almost 2 full months since the top Afghanistan commander, General Stanley McChrystal, asked for a troop increase after a full assessment of the situation in Afghanistan.

In a 66-page report, made public in September, Gen. McChrystal warned that unless he is provided more forces and a robust counterinsurgency strategy, the war in Afghanistan is most likely lost.

Gen. McChrystal wrote in the report, “Failure to gain the initiative and reverse insurgent momentum in the near term — while Afghan security capacity matures — risks an outcome where defeating the insurgency is no longer possible.”

I fully realize that war is extremely tough. No one wants war, however, but I am disappointed that the President has sounded less confident on the Afghanistan War compared to his position on the campaign trail last March.

I support the fight in Afghanistan but I think it is even more important for the President to listen to the commanders on the ground and provide the necessary resources to prevent a safe haven for terrorists.

As the President’s appointed military leader in Afghanistan, General McChrystal has clearly defined the objectives for victory, and I believe that the President should take his advice very seriously.

Instead, the Administration continues to mull over this decision and even sends messages that they will ignore the advice of their commanders. We can’t afford for this to be the outcome.

Our nation’s military is the strongest in the World and they are led by men and women who are modern day heroes! Our commanders in the field are face-to-face with the challenges in Afghanistan on a daily basis, therefore we should listen to them.

Let’s look back at history… a turning point in Iraq occurred when President Bush listened to his commanders and instituted a surge in January 2007. Many in Congress supported the surge then and many believe that a troop increase is necessary in Afghanistan today, primarily because we trust the commanders in the field.

Presidential nominee Barack Obama even admitted in September 2008 that the escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq, which he had opposed, had succeeded. In a Fox News interview, nominee Obama said the surge of U.S. troops had "succeeded beyond our wildest dreams." Perhaps President Obama should remember nominee Obama as he ponders today’s decision.

General McChrystal’s assessment is clear that the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating and that failure to change the mission would cast serious doubt on our ability to achieve our goals.

Allowing the Taliban and eventually Al-Qaeda to gain control of Afghanistan would expose the United States to a higher rate of terrorist attacks and would clearly not be in our national interests. That’s why we need to fight and hunt down bin Laden and the Taliban there in Afghanistan, so we don’t have to fight them here in the United States.

America’s military forces can accomplish any mission and meet any challenge that lie ahead as long as they receive the support and resources they need. President Obama needs to lead as a Commander-In-Chief and provide the support necessary for our troops to win the war.

We went into Afghanistan to meet an objective. Let’s stand strong and fight until the job is done!

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Congressman Robert Aderholt is serving his seventh term as the U.S. Representative of the Fourth Congressional District of Alabama. Rep. Aderholt serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, and a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee. Rep. Aderholt also serves on the House Budget Committee and the Helsinki Commission.