McChrystal: Cooperation Key in Afghanistan

(CBS)  The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, says success will require tens of thousands of additional troops and a new way of operating.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates made it clear this week he doesn't want the general saying that - or giving any other opinions - in public anymore.

But just a few weeks ago, McChrystal talked freely with CBS News correspondent David Martin in Afghanistan about what he believes it will take to win. His report tonight draws on never-before-seen portions of that interview.

After eight years of fighting the clock is running out for the U.S. in Afghanistan.

"I believe it's our most important chance now," McChrystal said in the interview. "You can never say there wouldn't be another, but I wouldn't count on one."

CBS News Special Report: The Road Ahead

Everybody knows McChrystal wants more troops, but when he spoke with "60 Minutes" in August he made clear more troops alone will not defeat the Taliban.

Related: McChrystal on "60 Minutes"

"We're going to change the way we operate," he said, by "connecting with the people in a way that the people don't believe that you're an outsider and occupier."

McChrystal wants to see less traditional warfare - airstrikes, ambushes, raids - and more cooperation - soldiers helping to protect civilians.

But he knows American troops - whether they're protectors or occupiers - can't win this war by themselves. He needs to vastly increase the size of Afghan forces.

"I'm recommending about a total of 400,000 people between the army and the police," he said - doubling its current size.

McChrystal admitted, "It'll take us longer than I'd like."

But McChrystal believes he only has 12 months to turn this war around, and that's not time enough for the Afghan government of Hamid Karzai to put its house in order.

"There's corruption in the afghan government at senior levels," he said.

When Marines launched an offensive into Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, the stated goal was to cut off the Taliban from their primary source of money - the annual poppy crop. But McChrystal's deputy, Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, told CBS News there was a second objective.

"It's not only the money for the, for the Taliban," Rodriguez said. "It's also some corruption that's in the Afghan leadership, in part of their government, their security forces too for that matter."

The operation in Helmand is denying both the Taliban drug money and government officials drug money.

"It's a balance of both," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez himself represents a change in the way the U.S. is fighting this war. incredibly enough. This is the first time a single commander has been in charge of day-to-day operations throughout the entire country.

What American forces need most in Afghanistan, says Maj. Gen. Mike Flynn, McChrystal's top intelligence officer, is a few quick wins - by which he means not military victories but convincing Afghans they will be better off siding with the U.S. than with the Taliban.

"What we've got to do in 12 to 18 months is just show that we basically know what we're doing out here," Flynn said. "There's some glimmers of success that we need to show."

Eight years of fighting and the U.S. is still looking for glimmers of success.

[militarylover]

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[TrueNorseman]

I'm one humble member of the European ISAF troops preparing to deploy to Afghanistan this November. I've had the honor and privelege of serving with my US Brothers (and Sisters) in Arms in the Balkans and other parts of the world. After reading general McChrystal's assessments, his directives, and after watching 60 Minutes tonight, I can only say one thing: Thank you, sir! I'm honored and delighted to serve under a true leader who dares showing integrity, courage and steadfast dedication to his trade! I'd only wish we'd have more higher echelon leaders like you!

[mahalapril]

Afghanistan would have been overran already [like the Russia's 150,000 troops]if these Talibans, Al-Qaida and multinational islamic fanatics were not distracted to the Iraq war where our US troops IN IRAQ wiped out hundreds of thousands of these MULTINATIONAL ISLAMIC FANATICS.Now they are assembling in the safe havens of Pakistan and with time with increasing overwhelming numbers will defeat the US if not stopped now. We need to completely destroy the whole population of these barbaric Taliban,Al-Qaida and the multinational islamic terrorists in Pakistan now or we lose eventually and more 9/11 terrorist attacks follow.

[tibu987]

Note that the Israeli's are not losing thousands of their troops in these Middle-East "wars"

[tibu987]

Rather than take only Gen. McChrystal's advice, how about an anonymous
poll by POTUS of all the high ranking military officials in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and that of the high ranking country officials.

Me, I would take all of our troops out and send them home and let the Arabs kill each other as they have been doing forever. There has never been true peace in those countries.

These are civil disturbances and not "war" as they so often remind us. We are not at "war" with Iraq, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.
It would have been wiser for Obama to devote his time to ending these skirmishes and leave the health bill for later or, the next administration which surely will not be his.

Bring our troops home now.
Vote for term limits when possible, vote the incumbents out of office.

[bajajohn1]

The General wants more interaction with the civilian community in order to develop trust between the U.S. military and them. Well, the only communication poor people understand is called 'money.' In Vietnam, the cultural iniatives failed for the most part. This is an ancient culture that has been around longer than the U.S. has existed.

[ramos1129]

think McChrystal should speak with the President before appearing on news shows. I am sure President Obama has full confidence in the General, and would not have placed him in the position he holds now, without knowing he is the right person for the job. But even he, must follow an established method of order !
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The General should stay off the news shows. By appearing,authorized or not, he is giving ammunition to Obama haters such as Rush, Bech, Hannity, etc that he does not agree with the CIC.

[ramos1129]

We're going to change the way we operate," he said, by "connecting with the people in a way that the people don't believe that you're an outsider and occupier."

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We cannot do the above. The longer we stay, for whatever reason, the more we are de factor outsiders and occupiers.

[tibu987]

Generals throw troops at problems.

Politicians throw money at problens.

Seldom are either effective.

[reveal5]

Mr. Karzai has proven himself to be corrupt...General McChrystal is fighting pancreatic cancer...It is time for a serious, sober, and considered reevaluation of the situation in Afghanistan. The general picture has changed immensely since the flawed Afghan election. Mr. Karzai can no longer be seen as a trusted ally. America is, apparently, in bed with a corrupt Afghan regime and drug runners/terrorists who supply cash to the regime...What a mess! The only chance for stabilization is the winning of hearts and minds, as in Iraq. The Iraqi surge gave the opportunity for Iraqi warlords and tribal leaders to find a place of cooperation with each other and the United States. This turned the tide in Iraq and led to the "stabilisation" of the Iraqi situation..this is, in other words, a proven strategy. Whether we can pull it off in Afghanistan is the question. The truth is that until and unless enough Afghani's are trained to take over their own security, the situation will continue as is...In Iraq, only when enough Iraqi's were trained and stepped up to defend their own country, was the United States able to pull back and begin withdrawal. The same will hold true in Afghanistan. The question is, is it possible to attain the winning strategy in Afghanistan, and at what cost, and in what amount of time................................ Just another thought, as always, the overwhelming majority of fringe posters here do not have a clue and are simply incapable of reasonable discourse on any issue.

[bajajohn1]

Karzai was Bush's boy.

[reveal5]

And......Don't forget that Pakistan has nuclear weapons. Pakistan, of course, borders Afghanistan. America can not risk a strong resurgence of terrorists which, in time, could challenge Pakistan. This is an unacceptable possibility. America must ensure that Pakistan's nuclear weapons are never in jeopardy. We have been reassured that America has contingency plans in place for any such scenario. However, those contingency plans must and will change if a resurgence and significant multiplying of terrorist forces ensues in Afghanistan.