McChrystal: ‘New Resources Are Not the Crux’
Lost in all the more-troops-or-not-more-troops fallout from the leaked McChrystal strategy review is McChrystal’s own assessment of the subordinate importance
Jul 31, 2020603.8K Shares8.1M Views
Lost in all the more-troops-or-not-more-troops fallout from the leaked McChrystal strategy reviewis McChrystal’s own assessment of the subordinate importance of those troops. From section 2-1, which Andrew Exum takes credit for crafting:
“„[I]t must be made clear: new resources are not the crux. To succeed, ISAF [the NATO command in Afghanistan] requires a new approach — with a significant magnitude of change — in addition to a proper level of resourcing. ISAF must restore confidence in the near-term through renewed commitment, intellectual energy and visible progress.
On that, at least, McChrystal is on the same page as the rest of the administration, from the president on down. It’s impossible to judge a resource request without first assessing the strategic picture that those troops are supposed to address. We’ve already seen how McChrystal tackles the question, by restricting airstrikes; ordering troops to break off engagements when insurgents retreat to population areas; and other tactical directivesthat privilege the protection of Afghan civilians above killing insurgents.
Paolo Reyna
Reviewer
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
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