Good News From General Petraeus

Yesterday’s Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that General Petraeus stated “that a recent pledge by a southern Afghan tribe to stand up to the Taliban shows the military push in the country’s most violent region is making headway and stifling the insurgents’ “central nervous system.””

The article reports:

“A prime indicator of this success, Petraeus said, is the announcement by the Alikozai tribe that they would halt insurgent attacks and expel foreign fighters from one of the most violent spots in the country — Helmand’s Sangin district. The expansion of both NATO and Afghan forces in the region has made such a move much more tenable that it would have been a year ago, he said.”

In return, NATO quickly pledged to support the Alikozai tribe by bringing in schools and finishing a key road in the area. 

Although this is a great turn of events, it does not really guarantee anything.  The article further points out:

“Success is far from guaranteed. Disenchanted Alikozai tried to rebel against the Taliban in 2007 but failed because of a lack of resources and coalition help. And a similar move by the Shinwari tribe in eastern Afghanistan last year was at first lauded as a major step forward by U.S. commanders until the Afghan government turned against the idea, saying that NATO was undermining its authority by working directly with the elders.

“”That was an earlier time. That was back in the exploration stages,” Petraeus said, noting that Karzai has since set up a formal reintegration process to accommodate those who want to realign themselves with the government. He said the growth of the Afghan security forces has made it easier to support those who do take a stand.”

I believe that if anyone can win the war in Afghanistan, General Petraeus can.  I just finished reading Charlie Wilson’s War and was amazed both by the courage and the brutality of the Afghan fighters.  The problem seems to be that when there is no strong central government, they simply attack each other.  Hopefully, we can establish a cohesive country that will protect its people and the freedom of its people.  The book was an eye-opener.