Thursday, May 3, 2012

Misleading Report Released on Progress in Afghanistan

The April 2012 "Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan," a biannual report to Congress in accordance with Section 1230 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181) as amended, was provided to Congress.  The report falsely depicts operations in Afghanistan as a success.  This misleading report is merely paint placed on an old, run-down house.
"The year 2011 saw the first year-over-year decline in nationwide enemy-initiated attacks in five years. These trends have continued in 2012."
While this assessment may be statistically true, the authors have failed to note that in 2011-2012, the majority of troops in Afghanistan never leave their base.  Those who actually go outside the wire often conduct "show of force operations."  When they leave their bases, they travel in military armored convoys to a destination, never leave their vehicles engaging with the local populace, and simply return to their FOBs.  These operations serve little purpose other than to annoy Afghans traveling on the same roads our troops travel.
The reduction in offensive boots-on-the-ground operations in Afghanistan is not limited to just military personnel.  An undisclosed source who works for a non-government organization has informed that "we once traveled freely throughout the country. The security situation in Afghanistan has gotten so bad, those days are long gone."


Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/05/misleading_report_released_on_progress_in_afghanistan.html#ixzz1tnnbOJNT

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