McChrystal Confirmation Testimony (News – Updated)

New Commander Pledges to Protect Afghan Civilians in ‘Winnable’ War – Al Pessin, Voice of America. The US Army general nominated to be commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan says the conflict is “winnable,” but foreign forces need to be careful about how they go about defeating the Taliban. Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal told the Senate Armed Services Committee the mission he has been given is difficult, but not impossible. “Sir, I believe it is winnable, but I don’t think it will be easily winnable,” said General McChrystal. McChrystal said US and allied casualties will likely increase in the coming months, as more American forces flow in and attack Taliban strongholds, particularly in southern Afghanistan. But he said he hopes to see progress toward stability within 18 to 24 months.

Afghan Strategy Requires ‘Holistic’ Approach, General Tells Senate – Samantha L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service. Despite impressive progress in many areas, the situation in Afghanistan remains serious, the nominee to become the next commander of both the International Security Assistance Force and US Forces Afghanistan said during his Senate confirmation testimony today. Afghans face a combination of challenges — a resilient Taliban insurgency, increasing levels of violence, [a] lack of governance capability, persistent corruption, lack of development in key areas, illicit narcotics and malign influences from other countries,” said Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal. There is no simple answer. We must conduct a holistic counterinsurgency campaign and we must do it well.” A key component to a holistic campaign is people, McChrystal said. More than 21,000 additional US military personnel will deploy to Afghanistan by October. McChrystal admitted he didn’t know if that would be enough and might not for some time. What I do know is a military-centric strategy will not succeed,” he said. As part of a broader approach, the State Department and other federal agencies are preparing to train and deploy additional civilian personnel with vital governance and development expertise, the general said said. In fact, there is ongoing development of an integrated civil-military plan with Karl Eikenberry, US ambassador to Afghanistan, and his team to unite efforts across security, governance and development, he said.

New Approach to Afghanistan Likely – Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post. Army Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, President Obama’s choice to lead the war in Afghanistan, said yesterday that violence and combat deaths will intensify as more US troops surge into Taliban-held areas, but he vowed to execute a “holistic” strategy in which killing insurgents would be subordinate to safeguarding Afghan civilians. McChrystal, a former Special Operations commander, pledged that if confirmed he will take extreme measures to avoid Afghan civilian casualties — a problem that has long tarnished the US-led military campaign – putting civilians at risk only when necessary to save the lives of coalition troops. “I expect stiff fighting ahead,” McChrystal told the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing yesterday. But, he added, “the measure of effectiveness will not be the number of enemy killed, it will be the number of Afghans shielded from violence.” To reduce civilian casualties, McChrystal said, he would review all rules of engagement, limit airstrikes and use more small ground units in search and detention operations.

McChrystal Warns of Greater Casualties in Afghanistan – Greg Miller, Los Angeles Times. President Obama’s pick to lead US forces in Afghanistan warned Tuesday that casualties are likely to increase as the military steps up its campaign against insurgents. Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal also voiced skepticism that Taliban guerrillas could be persuaded to sever their ties with Al Qaeda; a similar strategy was crucial in McChrystal’s success as commander of special operations forces in Iraq. “I don’t think that the Taliban have any reason right now to turn their back on Al Qaeda,” McChrystal said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, his first public remarks since being selected last month to lead an overhauled US strategy in Afghanistan. One reason is that the Taliban is widely perceived in the region as prevailing against coalition forces. He also cited intermarriage among Al Qaeda members and Taliban-connected tribes along the border with Pakistan. “They’ve created connections that are beyond just organizational,” he said.

McChrystal Not Sure if More US Forces Needed in Afghanistan – Anna Mulrine, US News and World Report. Violence in Afghanistan is up about 25 percent this year over last year, according to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, who commands U.S. forces in the restive eastern region of the country. As he spoke to Pentagon reporters Tuesday, Schloesser, who is preparing to head back to the States after 15 months on the ground in Afghanistan, noted that even this could be seen as an improvement. “Let’s kind of go back, if you don’t mind, to the first press conference that we did,” he said. “I think some of you recall that I was very honest, and I said that in the few months that we’d seen an increase in violence of 40 percent.” In confirmation hearings this week before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who has been tapped to take over command of US forces in Afghanistan from Gen. David McKiernan, said that he expected US casualties to rise as troops push into southern Afghanistan and face “significant resistance” from insurgents. It is a region where there have up to now been few US forces. Marines cleared out some key villages in the violent southern Helmand province last May, but top Pentagon officials say that US troops will likely have to clear some of those areas again. This is because there have not been enough troops on the ground to hold territory in the past.

Afghan War Is Winnable, General Says, but Casualties Will Increase – Yochi Dreazen, Wall Street Journal. The Obama administration’s nominee to run the war in Afghanistan said the conflict was winnable, but acknowledged that American casualties would rise in coming months as the US pushes deeper into Taliban-held parts of the country. Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal told the Senate’s Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that the 21,000 American reinforcements currently streaming into Afghanistan faced a hard fight and might need two years to achieve measurable progress. “Success will not be quick or easy,” he said. “Casualties will likely increase.” Gen. McChrystal said the US needed to do more to reduce Afghan civilian casualties, a source of public anger within Afghanistan. He said US forces would only use airstrikes if the lives of US, North Atlantic Treaty Organization or Afghan personnel on the ground were at risk. The strikes have caused hundreds of civilian deaths. “If defeating an insurgent formation produces popular resentment, then the victory is hollow and unsustainable,” he said.

Afghan Post Nominee Stresses Safety – Thom Shaker and Eric Schmitt, New York Times. The Special Operations general nominated to be commander of American and allied troops in Afghanistan testified on Tuesday that coalition forces must reduce civilian casualties, a step that is essential to our credibility.” The commander, Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, said that how we conduct operations is vital to success,” and warned that any victory would be hollow and unsustainable” if allied operations created popular resentment among Afghanistan’s citizens. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General McChrystal said the measure of American and allied effectiveness would be the number of Afghans shielded from violence,” not the number of enemies killed.

In Afghanistan, Time is Running Out, Pentagon Worries – Gordon Lubold, Christian Science Monitor. Top defense officials say they have about a year to show the American public that they are winning in Afghanistan. But as the US prepares to apply its new strategy there, those same officials are trying to square the need to demonstrate quick success with a fundamental aspect of counterinsurgency warfare: Results don’t come quickly. The man President Obama has nominated to lead the American mission in Afghanistan agrees. It will take at least 18 to 24 months before the US can begin making progress: establishing security, developing an economic base, and creating stronger governance, Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal told senators at his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday. “I believe counterinsurgency takes time,” he said.

McChrystal: Afghan Success Won’t be Quick – Joseph Weber, Washington Times. President Obama’s nominee to lead the US and NATO missions in Afghanistan promised Tuesday to conduct swift and precise attacks on insurgents, but he added that there is no deadline for success and that some errors are inevitable. “Success will not be quick or easy,” Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Casualties will increase, and we will make mistakes.” If confirmed by the Senate, as expected, Gen. McChrystal will replace Gen. David D. McKiernan, who was dismissed last month. Minimizing civilian casualties and winning support from the Afghan people are “essential to our credibility,” said Gen. McChrystal, adding that he expects the security situation will improve in the next 10 to 24 months.

Stanley McChrystal: ‘We Must Gain Support of Afghans’ – Tim Reid, The Times. Nato’s next commander in Afghanistan warned yesterday that the West could lose the war against the Taleban if it fails to gain the support of the Afghan people. In a blunt assessment of the mission, US Army Lieutenant-General Stanley McChrystal predicted increasing casualties as President Obama’s surge of troops progresses over the summer. Civilian deaths in Afghanistan, especially from US airstrikes launched from unmanned drones, have already inflamed anti-American sentiment in parts of the country. How we conduct operations is vital to success. This is a critical point. It may be the critical point. This is a struggle for the support of the Afghan people,” General McChrystal told the Senate Armed Forces Committee during his confirmation hearing.

General: War in Afghanistan is `Winnable’ – Robert Burns, Associated Press. The Army general chosen to take over as top commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan told senators Tuesday he believes the war can be won if a proper counterinsurgency campaign is undertaken. “I believe it is winnable, but I don’t think it will be easily winnable,” Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal said at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He predicted that US and allied casualties will increase as more American troops take on the insurgents in southern Afghanistan this summer. It will be important to make measurable progress within 18 to 24 months, he added. “A classic counterinsurgency strategy, well resourced, is going to be required,” McChrystal said.

Obama’s Pick for Afghanistan Commander Warns of Rising Casualties, Stiff Fight Ahead – FOX News. The man the Defense Department has chosen to lead US forces in Afghanistan warned Tuesday that casualties will likely rise as the military escalates its campaign. But Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal pleaded for sustained support from Congress and the American people, calling the war winnable. “We must succeed,” said McChrystal, speaking at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. McChrystal, though, described a tough and deadly battle ahead. “There is no simple answer,” he said. “Success will not be quick or easy. Casualties will likely increase. We will make mistakes.” He added: “I believe it is winnable, but I don’t think it will be easily winnable,”

McChrystal wants ‘Holistic’ Approach to Afghan War – Kim Landers, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The US general who has been put in charge of the Afghanistan war says success in the seven-year-old conflict will not be quick or easy. Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal says the war can be won if a proper counter-insurgency campaign is mounted. His comments came as more than 40 people were killed in a surge of militant attacks across Afghanistan yesterday. Fighting is escalating across Afghanistan, with suicide attacks, roadside bombs and battles between US troops and Taliban fighters. The violence raises fresh concerns about the stability in Afghanistan ahead of the August presidential election, and Lieutenant General McChrystal says the situation is serious. “There is no simple answer. We must conduct a holistic counterinsurgency campaign, and we must do it well,” he said. “Success will not be quick or easy; casualties will likely increase; we will make mistakes.” Lieutenant General McChrystal has been testifying at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

McChrystal Paints Bleak Picture of Afghanistan War – Spencer Ackerman, Washington Independent. Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal painted a bleak picture of the Afghanistan war that President Obama has asked him to command in his Tuesday morning confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. McChrystal, who earned both accolades and controversy during a five-year tenure as commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, warned that US casualties are likely to increase in the wake of an expected US push into southern Afghanistan. He said the United States needed to show significant progress within 18 to 24 months” or risk the war spiraling out of control. Urging patience for a long counterinsurgency campaign, McChrystal said, I believe it is winnable, but I don’t believe it will be easily winnable.” He added, There will be mistakes along the way.” Civilian Deaths Jeopardize Afghan War Effort: US General – The general chosen to lead US and NATO forces in Afghanistan warned on Tuesday that the war against insurgents could be lost unless civilian casualties were reduced. Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal, nominated by President Barack Obama to take over as commander in Afghanistan, told a congressional hearing that civilian deaths from coalition operations risked inflaming public anger and undermining military advances on the battlefield. “If defeating an insurgent formation produces popular resentment, the victory is hollow and unsustainable,” McChrystal said at his confirmation hearing. “This is a critical point. It may be the critical point. This is a struggle for the support of the Afghan people. “Our willingness to operate in ways that minimize casualties or damage –even when doing so makes our task more difficult — is essential to our credibility.”

US General Vows to Curb Afghan Civilian Casualties – Andrew Gray, Reuters. The US general nominated to take charge of the war in Afghanistan pledged on Tuesday to try to minimize civilian casualties even as US-led forces step up operations against insurgents. Army Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal told US senators that the war could still be won, but not easily, and U.S. casualties would likely rise. He also warned that Afghanistan would descend back into civil war and al Qaeda would again use the country as a base if the United States and its allies failed in their mission.

Questioning General McChrystal – Wall Street Journal editorial. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s confirmation hearings yesterday for Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal to take over the war in Afghanistan didn’t play according to script. In the days preceding the hearing, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party had urged Senators to use the hearing to, as the New York Times editorialized, measure General McChrystal’s “fitness for his new assignment.” By this the Times meant that the general needed to be “rigorously questioned” about “disturbing aspects” of his record, such as reports of a “secret interrogation cell” in Baghdad. The ACLU wanted the hearings focused on “command responsibility for this torture and abuse and also on the cover-up of this torture and abuse.” Reuters contributed its own recounting of a report by Human Rights Watch of interrogators subjecting prisoners to “loud music and strobe lights.” At the hearing itself, Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, never reluctant in the past to flog such accusations, essentially dumped blame for whatever happened on “the Secretary of Defense” in 2002, and moved on. This is progress, of a sort.