Afghan army to lead 2008 military operations

[unhappycamper]

Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel, deputy commanding general for operations for American forces in Afghanistan talks to Afghan National Army officers at Tagab district of Kapisa province, in Logar, Afghanistan on Jan. 13. The Afghan army will take the lead in nearly all military operations in eastern Afghanistan this year, with U.S. troops in a support role, Votel said Jan. 16.


Afghan army to lead 2008 military operations
By Alisa Tang - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 16, 2008 16:57:26 EST

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan — The Afghan army will lead nearly all military operations in eastern Afghanistan this year, with U.S. troops in a support role, a top American general said Wednesday.

It’s the next step in a strategy to increase the strength of Afghanistan’s military so U.S. forces can leave one day.

Since the first major Afghan-led operation last July in southern Ghazni province, U.S. troops have been training their Afghan counterparts across the country to take over a larger share of the security responsibilities.

“Our intention is for all 2008 operations in Regional Command East to be led by Afghan National Security Forces with enabling assistance (fire support and medical evacuation in particular) from coalition forces,” Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel, deputy commanding general for operations for American forces in Afghanistan, wrote in an e-mail.

“It is very seldom that coalition forces do something by themselves without Afghan participation — and the level that we are now at is Afghans leading and coalition force supporting ... and performing operations that support the (Afghan) commander,” he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_afghanarmy_080116/