Lt. Gen. Eikenberry Holds Defense Department News Briefing
PEAKERS: LIEUTENANT GENERAL KARL EIKENBERRY (USA), COMMANDER, COMBINED FORCES COMMAND IN AFGHANISTAN
BRYAN WHITMAN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
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WHITMAN: Good morning and welcome.
I think you’re all familiar with Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry. He’s the commanding general of the Combined Forces Command in Afghanistan. He’s here to give you an operational assessment and talk about the progress to date and some of the upcoming challenges in Afghanistan.
He was last here, I think, in May, when he talked to you and we’re fortunate to have him today. He actually is a little bit under the weather, but he wanted to keep this appointment and we may have to keep it short if he starts to not feel too well. But he did want to meet with you and we’re glad that he’s here today.
Thank you.
EIKENBERRY: Good morning.
I’m in Washington this week to brief the department and congressional leaders on our ongoing efforts in Afghanistan and I thought it was important to give you an update as well.
As I told you when I was here in May, the progress we’re making in Afghanistan is significant, especially when viewed from the baseline, October of 2001, when we first began Operation Enduring Freedom.
But against this progress, Afghanistan remains the target of international terrorists, militant extremists, drug traffickers and a determined criminal element.
The enemy we face today in the field is not extremely strong. Their influence has grown in some areas in the south and southeast where the presence of the government of Afghanistan has never been strong.
In some areas there are more Taliban extremists than there were at this point last year. And within some areas they are demonstrated better command and control and they’re fighting harder.
They remain an enemy as well that is not bound by international borders, and poses a common threat to all nations within the region.
The challenge that we face is not one of a military nature. The coalition, NATO and Afghan national security forces dominate wherever they encounter the enemy.
The critical task at this stage is strengthening the government of Afghanistan, developing the economy and helping to build Afghan civil society.
However, NATO and U.S.-led coalition and Afghan national security forces are moving aggressively to deny the enemy safe havens, to interdict his movement routes and, most importantly, to extend the authority of the central government.
The combat phase of the coalition’s current operation, Operation Mountain Fury in southeastern Afghanistan, is only the precursor to our longer-term goal of strengthening governance, establishing the rule of law and facilitating reconstruction and economic development.
This emphasis on government and development is the centerpiece of coalition and NATO’s overall approach to the Afghan campaign.
Provincial reconstruction teams are actively engaging district and provincial leaders to facilitate good governance. Medical assistant teams are treating thousands of Afghans who, otherwise, would not have access to medical care. And we are building hundreds of miles of roads.
These roads, along with schools, bridges, wells, health clinics and other reconstruction we are providing, are the heart of our long- term effort to rebuild Afghanistan’s middle ground, that is its civil society that’s been ravaged by three decades of brutal warfare, extremism and terrorism.
In a campaign such as this, the construction of roads and schools can be just as decisive, if not more, than military actions. The international community must make greater efforts in this area.
EIKENBERRY: The Afghan national security forces are a key part of this effort to restore the middle ground. Today over 76,000 army and police are trained, equipped and engaged in security operations.
While still lacking sufficient capability, they’re increasingly playing a major role in ensuring the stability of their nation, as evidenced by their successful participation in Operations Mountain Lion and Mountain Thrust, earlier this year, and in NATO’s Operation Medusa, just completed, and in the ongoing coalition Operation Mountain Fury.
It’s imperative here, too, that the international community maintain its support and commitment to these essential but still emerging institutions of the Afghan state.
Finally, the coalition continues to work toward a seamless transfer of authority in Regional Command East to NATO International Security Assistance Force.
The coalition transferred Regional Command South to NATO on July the 31st. And we anticipate turning over Regional Command East to NATO later this year.
A key point to remember in this transition is that the United States maintains its full commitment in Afghanistan. It will be undiminished. As a NATO member, the United States will remain by far the single largest contributor of troops and military capability.
We will maintain our strong national capability in support of counterterrorism missions to strike Al Qaida and its associated movements wherever and whenever they are found.