General David Petraeus, commander of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, has told his troops that despite progress on both fronts, the United States and its allies face a tough fight in the year ahead.
With his trademark caution, Petraeus wrote in a letter to all troops in US Central Command, which stretches across the Middle East and throughout Central Asia, that improved security conditions in Iraq remain fragile, and while the Afghan army is improving, ``the difficulties in Afghanistan are considerable.'
It was the first time since Petraeus took charge of Central Command on October 31, following 20 months as the top US commander in Baghdad, that he has offered troops what he called ``my initial assessment of the situation' not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also in Pakistan and elsewhere in that region.
The letter, dated December 9, was released by his office at Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. Petraeus has assembled a team of experts to conduct an in-depth and comprehensive review of his command area; it is expected to be completed by early February. His aides said that is separate from the ``initial assessment' he offered in the letter to troops. The assessment was based on his own discussions and observations during extensive travels in the Middle East, Central Asia and elsewhere during the past few months.
``In Iraq, we are building on the progress achieved by coalition and Iraqi forces in the course of difficult operations,' he wrote. He said gains have been encouraging but still are not irreversible. Petraeus and other commanders have struck that theme many times in arguing against a rapid withdrawal of US forces.
Petraeus mentioned that further troop cuts are planned in Iraq, but he was not specific. President-elect Barack Obama has said he would consult with Petraeus and other commanders and senior civilian defence officials before carrying out his campaign promise to end the Iraq war.
``Numerous difficult issues loom on the horizon in the `Land of the Two Rivers,'' he wrote, alluding to the name derived from the important role the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have played in Iraq's history. He noted the challenges of Iraqi elections to be held in 2009, plus ``resilient enemies still carrying out deadly attacks, lingering ethno-sectarian mistrust and competition' and ``malign external influences.'
Under a security agreement that President George W. Bush signed in Baghdad last weekend, US combat forces are to be out of Iraqi urban areas by June 30 and all US troops are to withdraw by the end of 2011. ``In Afghanistan, we and our Afghan partners are in a tough fight,' Petraeus wrote. Noting that developing the foundations of Afghan government and economy ``is typically more construction than reconstruction,' Petraeus said progress has been painstaking, with much yet to be accomplished.
``The Taliban and other elements that make up the extremist `syndicate,' aided by groups operating from sanctuaries outside Afghanistan, have significantly increased the levels of violence in Afghanistan and contested control of important areas of the country,' he wrote. The Afghan government has ``yet to achieve the necessary levels of competence, integrity, capacity and legitimacy,' he said.
Petraeus noted obliquely the US intention to send additional combat and support troops to Afghanistan next year. More firepower, he said, will be part of a broader effort to help the Afghans as they conduct elections in 2009 and ``strive to achieve progress in the security, economic and governmental arenas.'
Comments
Comments are closed.