McKiernan Leaves As U.S. Strategy Shifts

CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric Looks At America's New Approach In Afghanistan

(CBS)  CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric traveled to Kabul last week and sat down with Gen. David McKiernan for what would be his last interview as top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. McKiernan stepped down from his post Monday at the request of Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Couric reports on the U.S.'s new strategy in Afghanistan.

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This is what the America's new Afghan strategy looks like up close. Rather than staying on large bases, U.S. and international forces are fanning out into the country, setting up smaller operations in local communities, working with Afghan security forces and trying to get to know the people they're trying to protect, reports CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric.

On a mountain top in Afghanistan's rugged Logar Province, soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division watch over U.S. convoys as they bring supplies to one of those new outposts. The Taliban are fighting back - bombings and ambushes are a daily occurrence there.

"They kind of observe what you do as you come in and they always like to shoot as you're leaving," Lt. Jay Boston said.

Logar Province lies just south of Kabul and the Taliban are fighting hard to hold on to it so they can use it to launch attacks on the capital.

This is just one of several regions that are very much in play.

"There are large areas in Afghanistan where we are not winning," Gen. David McKiernan told Couric in an exclusive interview days before his resignation as U.S. commander in Afghanistan became public. "There are areas where I've said we are stalemated - that we don't necessarily control, the Taliban doesn't necessarily control … that there's a feeling of insecurity."

But the harsh reality is this: there are simply not enough boots on the ground to reach every corner of this vast rugged country, reports Couric. Even with the additional troops coming in, it's impossible for them to be everywhere they need to be. But the U.S. military is beginning to make some inroads.

As the Americans build these new small bases in the countryside, they are also hiring Afghans workers and are already plans to introduce a community-based security forces like. It's already been done in Wardak Province next door and, so far, it's popular with the tribal leaders.

"We brought up their village elders to the graduation, they were ecstatic. They were proud, their sons were now in a uniform, they were paid, they had some sort of a equipment, and they were going to come back to their village and provide local security - guard the roads, guard the mosque, guard the school," McKiernan said.

But even as he outlined the new strategy, McKiernan made it clear he was still not convinced there were enough troops to pull it off.

Couric: We have heard stories from U.S. soldiers who have moved into areas in the mountains and Logar Province, and they have been told to be first Americans to set foot in that village, and that is eight years into this war. Do we have enough troops, General, to actually place soldiers in some of these remote areas?

McKiernan: No, no we don't have enough troops of any country, including Afghanistan, to have a persistent security presence everywhere in Afghanistan. And that is why we need more military capability.

[p_syrus]

The administration upon military advice from the pentagon is shifting strategies in Afhghanistan. This is a GOOD thing. To have the most impact a new theater commander more attuned to the new strategy is being detailed to the region. That is a SMART thing.

Unfortunately for Gen. McKiernan is rank is such that there are very very few posts open to him as an active duty officer. This is an indicator of how SUCCESSFUL he has been in his army career. Accordingly, he will submit his "resignation" and go off to enjoy the fruits of his lengthy service. Senior officer retirement packages do not exactly constitute "military hardship". This whole process is a completely NORMAL process in the termination of active service among commissioned ranks.

In addition, Gen. McKiernan will likely spend some time as a "consultant" among the dubious talking heads who now rule the nation's media offering them a measure of "intellectual credibility" by their association with him. Thus he will finally have a chance to CASH IN on the america "greed is good" society.

Pardon me if I don't accept the "good man done hard by" routine being played out by a load of talking yahoos.

[paddyhayes]

Republicans would never fire General Officers.

Lincoln certainly didn't.

<snicker>

If what you are doing isn't working, do something else.

[whosaid1]

You know this HOW?! LOL IF you clowns would take a few night courses you could actually READ and UNDERSTAND the meaning of Words! As it is you only embarrass yourself and the Country.
Posted by skyk-2009

Skyk-2009....this is a serious question....would appreciate a serious response. Many, if not most of your comments are about someones "lack" of education....want to share your education level with us ??

[whosaid1]

Posted by pensacola:

Pensacola...a wonderful place....spent most of my youth there...........

[hotpaulie]

It's too bad George "stay the course" Bush is no longer in charge.

[whosaid1]

Posted by stn_sage

nevertheless, this man's career is finished...it's obvious that "does NOT negatively reflect" .. means something different to you than it does to me. My 32 years of working in "his" environment tells me that your opinion is not an informed one....

[babooph]

Very fast, after the civilian death denial.

[pensacola8-2009]

Gen. David McKiernan's exit signifies a lack of resolution. Whenever field ops starts entering conflicts with the Pentagon, because rules are becoming political, we usually see the scenario where the war is being run from the grandstands instead of the playing field, and that usually invites loss of resolution.

The premise of the problems is that the enemy is adaptable and can influence the conduct of the war to steer the US combat troops into either a disadvantage, or a stalemate. Both scenarios rob us of resolution.

It is not clear which scenario was part of Gen. David McKiernan's position, although he publically admits the stalemate - the lesser of the two.

This is exactly a repeat of the long scenario lived out in Vietnam - alternating between survivng a long miserable exhistance without resolution, and escalating forces to resolve against an adaptable enemy, until Washington decides to take political risk to negotiate and seek an diplomatic exit. In Vietnam, although hostilities with the USA were ended through diplomacy, the adaptable enemy went around US troops to eventally defeat South Vietnam 8 months later.

We have been sucked into participation of a war of attrition that we cannot win without wholesale killing not seen since WW-II. Every American will have to live with the reality that every enemy, who could never have the resolve inside theirself to become our friend, will have to die to end this war.

[skyk-2009]

Yes, our strategy is shifting to position of weakness. We have the next wimp Jimmy Carter in charge....Obama. Obama and the liberals are just like the French because the only words they know are surrender and retreat. A liberal wouldn't even fight to defend their mother because they're cowards. They say they believe in peace, that's not it, they're spineless. Look what the liberals are made up of...gays...welfare recipients....racists....convicts...druggies.....now does that sound like an Army that you would like to be part of. I rest my case.
Posted by enjoylife63 at 2:00 AM : May 12, 2009

I see you still haven't gotten that Foil changed there have ya! Now maybe to ditto heads, stay the course is a good option but to folks who can actually THINK??? Well if you aren't being successful ONE way then you try a new way. Now aren't you supposed to be back in your room soon? ROFLMAO

[skyk-2009]

Katie, made sure he had a dumb look on his face.
Katie, is a big liberal ********
Posted by Libertarian1776 at 12:21 AM : May 12, 2009

You know this HOW?! LOL IF you clowns would take a few night courses you could actually READ and UNDERSTAND the meaning of Words! As it is you only embarrass yourself and the Country.

[skyk-2009]

General McKiernan leaves because he knows it is impossible to cover and protect him men scattered all over Afghanistan. When things start going bad , I don't want to hear anyone blame it on Bush. Now would be a good time for president Bush to come forward and tell America that he thinks Obama is a fool........................................................................
Posted by Sir_Majesty at 4:28 AM : May 12, 2009

There's a reason you are allied with the Nutty Right! YOU can't READ!

[ambroa]

enjoylife63 and all the other Jimmy Carter and Obama bashers are, thank God, slowly retreating into the sunset. Jimmy Carter, by the way, is one of the most admirable and decent men to sit in the White House in my lifetime (I remember FDR) and while his Republican counterparts were trying to increase their earnings after leaving the presidency, he was working to build homes for the homeless and save African children from disease and death. A wimp indeed.

[erb0087]

"Yes, our strategy is shifting to position of weakness. We have the next wimp Jimmy Carter in charge....Obama."

No, the fact that these wars are still going on after all these years, means George W. Bush wasn't exactly FDR or Truman.

[stn_sage]

To whosaid1, nancy_naive, and gravyboat45:

CBS has rewritten the article since I first saw it, in the version I saw they mentioned General McCrystal is taking over for General McKiernan. "MAC" is a special forces general.

In other words, the administration realizes that conventional operations---as McKiernan practices---are NOT sufficient in neutralizing the Taliban! Therefore, "MAC" is being brought
in to apply the type of operations which HE has been trained to employ!

Also, I qualified my statement by saying---which is totally correct---that a new, incoming president has every right and responsibility to employ the field commanders of his choice!

Under these cited circumstances, I say again, that replacing McKiernan does NOT negatively reflect upon HIM! He was left short-handed from the beginning AND the Taliban have launched INCREASED activities! This is not McKiernan's fault!

Under OTHER circumstances, I would entirely AGREE with the points you were making!
Under the current situation, I do NOT!

[Libertarian1776]

Katie, made sure he had a dumb look on his face.
Katie, is a big liberal ********

[gravyboat45]

You are a sweet boat man and not a yankee doodler...lolololol
Posted by shazmispanks

Answer the question, when the yankee doodle dander hits the fan, can I sleep on your couch?
Posted by gravyboat45

How much is Labatt's in Canada, I'll need a LOT!

[gravyboat45]

You are a sweet boat man and not a yankee doodler...lolololol
Posted by shazmispanks

Answer the question, when the yankee doodle dander hits the fan, can I sleep on your couch?

[cs4466]

"Comment on: U.S. Commander In Afghanistan Ousted"

It's a good start. Nice job, Mr. President!

[Culture_Warrior_in_09]

shazmispanks

Don't you have class tomorrow? School is out in 3 weeks.You can make it until then right? Then you can spend all the time on the internet making fun of people all you want, in your miserable little life you live.

[gravyboat45]

Posted by shazmispanks

You're just jealous, 'cause nobody wants to attack Canadia. Who would want it? Bunch of back bacon eatin, beer swillin, yellow snow eatin freaks.

WE DON'T EAT YELLOW SNOW IN AMERICA MISTER!
Posted by gravyboat45 at 6:57 PM : May 11, 2009


Hahahahalololololol

Nah nah nah we are just peace loving nation and we did not allow the juebegone thugs to hijack our country and use us for their poxy fights around the world ..Thus proving the yankee doodle effect of being dumber then a planks of woody wood **********...Oh and we have no desire to dominate or rule the world like some genetically deformed jubegones thugs crave for while wearing those emergency ******** on their crooked heads........Strange that you american choose to follow such goonish kind of some wall thumpers........lolololololololhahahahahahaha
Posted by shazmispanks

Do you have an extra couch?