NATO to focus on reconstruction

[Thanato]

NATO to focus on reconstruction in Afghanistan: Dutch general

The new commander of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan said Friday the focus is shifting to reconstruction in the region but troops are battling the Taliban when necessary to provide security for the NATO mission there.

Dutch Brig.-Gen. Ton Van Loon took charge of the mission last week, which means he is overseeing about 9,500 troops in six southern provinces of Afghanistan, a coalition of forces mostly comprised of Canadian, British and Dutch soldiers. He took over from Canadian Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, who commanded the troops for eight months.

Van Loon told CBC News that priorities have already begun to shift in southern Afghanistan. But he said there is no question that NATO will continue to fight Taliban insurgents in the volatile southern provinces.

"The most important thing we need to do right now is to really exploit the successes we had in the period that David Fraser commanded the southern region," he said.

"We now need, even more than we did before, to start building and reconstructing the Afghan structures to help the Afghan government to really work for its people. It is already shifting as much as we can."

But as far as fighting the Taliban, he said: "From that perspective, there is no change. When we are faced with the Taliban, we must fight them."

Asked how long NATO troops will be in southern Afghanistan, Van Loon referred to the NATO mission in Bosnia, saying he thinks it will take years of involvement to bring stability to the country.

"It's not about us being here forever."

Fraser transferred control of the NATO troops in southern Afghanistan to Van Loon last week in a rotational change of command ceremony. During the ceremony, Fraser said the mission needs more help and Van Loon agreed.

"The more we get, the better it is, but the guys that we have here are incredible," he said.

When Canadian troops under Fraser arrived, Van Loon said they encountered a difficult situation but they have done a great job.

Canada has more than 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, with the majority stationed in Kandahar. Forty-two Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan since Canada first sent troops to the country in early 2002.

Source

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I hope this dosnt mean he will let the Taliban regroup in some areas. Keep the RCR on the offencive while the Taliban are on their knees.

~Thanato

[Unlimited]

The taliban is basically defeated..the battle now is over the heroin...If NATO wanted to win the war? they would eradicate the poppy fields; before worrying about reconstruction.

[Lord Umbarger]

If NATO wanted to win the war? they would eradicate the poppy fields; before worrying about reconstruction.

That would make it easier for us to declare victory but, poppy farming is the bread and butter of the nations economy. The people in Afganistan would view it as an attack on their culture.

Reconstruction of the cities is only a small peice of the pie when it comes to rebuilding Afganistan. Their whole culture needs to be rebuilt. What would be better is to tear out the poppies and teach them how to grow other products, like corn and soybeans. Unfortunately, no food crop can fetch the same kind of money at the market.