Doubts Linger Over US Civilian Surge (1,000+ more) in Afghanistan

[tekisui]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The Obama administration is forging ahead with its civilian surge in Afghanistan but some experts say thousands more are needed while others fear the security situation is making the push ineffective.

In unveiling his first Afghanistan strategy in March, President Barack Obama called for increasing the number of experts to 1,000 in order to help the Kabul government serve its people and wean the economy off opium production.

Obama, due to unveil a revamped strategy on Tuesday that is expected to include some 30,000 to 35,000 more troops, stressed again last week the importance of sending civilians to accompany the military push in Afghanistan.

"It's going to be important to recognize that in order for us to succeed there, you've got to have a comprehensive strategy that includes civilian and diplomatic efforts," he told reporters.

Richard Holbrooke, Obama's special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said earlier this week that some 974 civilians will be deployed by "the early weeks of next year."

A US official told AFP on condition of anonymity the figure could be higher.

more: http://news.google.com/news/search?pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=afghanistan&cf=all&scoring=n&start=20

[C_Lawyer09]

1. What is supposed to take the place of opium?

Pomegranates, spices, or what? What I'm also curious about is who stops the Taliban from cutting off the farmers hands/arms that stops growing opium? This is ridiculous, we've already seen the same type of scenario unfold in Colombia with the cocaine plantations and defoliation campaigns. What difference did the 200 extra DEA agents make in Afghanistan? This not learning from recent history stuff is really getting old.