The tone is far more optimistic than in the past. In an interim report made public Friday, April 29, the Pentagon says U.S. forces and NATO have made "tangible progress" in Afghanistan under the Taliban and put a "unprecedented pressure". The previous state of affairs last fall reported earnings "modest" and "uneven" in the country, and then contrasted with the confidence expressed publicly by American officials.
Since then, the international coalition forces and Afghan army "made tangible progress, stopping the momentum of the insurgency in much of the country and overthrowing a number of important areas," notes Pentagon report to Congress, while taking over his conservative refrain of progress "fragile and reversible".
Improving security is particularly "obvious" in the city of Kandahar (south), the birthplace of the Taliban, and surrounding districts, in Oruzgan province (south) and in several districts of Helmand province (South West). These areas, which remain among the most dangerous countries are those where the coalition effort is the most important.
The Ministry of Defense attributed this progress to the reinforcements sent throughout the year 2010 on the ground, and continued training of Afghan army that is beginning to produce their effects. President Barack Obama had increased from 30 000 men, the last of which arrived in November, the number of U.S.
troops in the country, while 47 other coalition countries have sent 10,000 extra troops. A total of 99,000 U.S. troops and 47,000 NATO deployed in the field alongside 225,000 Afghan soldiers and police, whose operational capabilities are improving, says the Pentagon. But the lack of trainers for Afghan forces and the desertion rate continues to be a "strategic risk", while responsibility for security should be progressively transferred to the Afghans by the end of 2014.
Beyond the generally confident tone of the report, reflected in the watermark magnitude of the task that lies ahead: the report notes an improvement in the perception of security by the Afghans, but only "45% feel safe when they leave their village. " The Pentagon is also pleased that 74% of the Afghan army units are "effective", framed or assisted by coalition forces, but is careful to note that none of them is operational only.
Produced in collaboration with other branches of government (foreign affairs, intelligence agencies, agriculture, justice), this report covers the period from 1 October 2010 to March 31, 2011. 
Since then, the international coalition forces and Afghan army "made tangible progress, stopping the momentum of the insurgency in much of the country and overthrowing a number of important areas," notes Pentagon report to Congress, while taking over his conservative refrain of progress "fragile and reversible".
Improving security is particularly "obvious" in the city of Kandahar (south), the birthplace of the Taliban, and surrounding districts, in Oruzgan province (south) and in several districts of Helmand province (South West). These areas, which remain among the most dangerous countries are those where the coalition effort is the most important.
The Ministry of Defense attributed this progress to the reinforcements sent throughout the year 2010 on the ground, and continued training of Afghan army that is beginning to produce their effects. President Barack Obama had increased from 30 000 men, the last of which arrived in November, the number of U.S.
troops in the country, while 47 other coalition countries have sent 10,000 extra troops. A total of 99,000 U.S. troops and 47,000 NATO deployed in the field alongside 225,000 Afghan soldiers and police, whose operational capabilities are improving, says the Pentagon. But the lack of trainers for Afghan forces and the desertion rate continues to be a "strategic risk", while responsibility for security should be progressively transferred to the Afghans by the end of 2014.
Beyond the generally confident tone of the report, reflected in the watermark magnitude of the task that lies ahead: the report notes an improvement in the perception of security by the Afghans, but only "45% feel safe when they leave their village. " The Pentagon is also pleased that 74% of the Afghan army units are "effective", framed or assisted by coalition forces, but is careful to note that none of them is operational only.
Produced in collaboration with other branches of government (foreign affairs, intelligence agencies, agriculture, justice), this report covers the period from 1 October 2010 to March 31, 2011.
- Afghan Taliban says spring offensive starts Sunday (30/04/2011)
- Taliban announce spring offensive in Afghanistan (30/04/2011)
- 'Tangible progress' in Afghanistan war: Pentagon (29/04/2011)
- "Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan," (29/04/2011)
- Pentagon: Ohio Marine killed in Afghanistan (29/04/2011)
Afghanistan (lonelyplanet) Afghanistan (geolocation) Afghanistan (homepage) Afghanistan (wikipedia) Massoud's Last Stand - Afghanistan (youtube) Starving to Death - Afghanistan (youtube) 01.06 Shah Massoud in European Parliament 05 March 2001 (youtube) Inside the Taliban 06 - N.G. (youtube) BRIGADE 055 (youtube)
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