Washington Post: “The Department of Defense on Sunday evening released a declassified version of Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s [Commander – NATO International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan U.S. Forces, Afghanistan] assessment of the war in Afghanistan. The Post agreed to publish this version [searchable], which includes minor deletions of material that officials said could compromise future operations, rather than a copy of the document marked “confidential.”
“The situation in Afghanistan is serious; neither success nor failure can be taken for granted. Although considerable effort and sacrifice have resulted in some progress, many indicators suggest the overall situation is deteriorating. We face not only a resilient and growing insurgency; there is also a crisis of confidence among Afghans — in both their government and the international community – that undermines our credibility and emboldens the insurgents. Further, a perception that our resolve is uncertain makes Afghans reluctant to align with us against the insurgents. Success is achievable, but it will not be attained simply by trying harder or “doubling down” on the previous strategy. Additional resources are required, but focusing on force or resource requirements misses the point entirely. The key take away from this assessment is the urgent need for a significant change to our strategy and the way that we think and operate.”
New York Times: Obama Is Considering Strategy Shift in Afghan War – “But the review suggests the president is having second thoughts about how deeply to engage in an intractable eight-year conflict that is not going well.”
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