WASHINGTON: A US Army officer has accused the American military of painting a misleading picture of progress in the war in Afghanistan while glossing over the Kabul government's many failings.
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis deliberately broke ranks with the official portrayal of the war after spending a year in the country, issuing a grim assessment and accusing his superiors of covering up the harsh realities that plague the mission.
"What I saw bore no resemblance to rosy official statements by US military leaders about conditions on the ground," Davis wrote in an article published in Armed Forces Journal, a private newspaper not affiliated with the Pentagon.
"Instead, I witnessed the absence of success on virtually every level," he wrote under the headline, "Truth, Lies And Afghanistan: How military leaders have let us down."
Local Afghan government officials are failing to serve the Afghan population and their security forces are reluctant to fight insurgents or are colluding with the Taliban, he wrote.
"How many more men must die in support of a mission that is not succeeding and behind an array of more than seven years of optimistic statements by US senior leaders in Afghanistan?" he said in his article.
Davis has also reportedly shared his pessimistic view with some members of Congress and written a classified version of his article for the Defence Department, a highly unusual move that he expects will anger his commanders and short-circuit his professional career.
"I'm going to get nuked," he was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
The Pentagon politely disagreed with Davis's portrayal of the war but stopped short of suggesting any disciplinary action.
"Lieutenant Colonel Davis is obviously entitled to his opinion," spokesman George Little told reporters, adding that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta "has very strong confidence in his commanders in Afghanistan, as they provide assessments of what's happening on the ground in the war."
The military's evaluation of the war effort is based on "rigorous analysis" from a myriad of sources and does not depend on one person's view, he said.
Working with the US military's Rapid Equipping Force, Davis said he traveled 9,000 miles (14,500 kilometers) around Afghanistan and spoke with more than 250 soldiers during his 12-month deployment.
His comments and anecdotes reflect opinions often expressed by American and coalition troops, who make no secret of their frustrations with Afghan security forces.
Davis recounted a conversation with an Afghan police officer in eastern Afghanistan in Kunar province less than three hours after an insurgent attack.
Through an interpreter, Davis asked the police captain how his forces usually responded to such an incident and if his squad would go after the insurgent fighters.
The Afghan police officer gave him an incredulous look, laughed and said: "'No! We don't go after them,' he said. 'That would be dangerous!'"
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Just like DOD spokesperson George Little said, “the military’s evaluation of the war effort is based on “rigorous analysis” from a myriad of sources and does not depend on one person’s view.” It is important to note that sometimes war is a necessity so peace can prevail. This was the case with Afghanistan. It was taken over by people whose only mission was to spread their agenda of hate and destruction around the world. We along with our partners have been able to neutralize groups like Al Qaeda and its affiliates. We have been training Afghan security forces and they have already taken a leading role in their country’s security. Wouldn’t it be true to say that Afghans are better off today than they were when the Taliban were in power? Today Afghans are free. Their children are going to school. Businesses and the arts are thriving. Any society needs this to survive and succeed. If this is not progress then what is? You be the judge!
Maj David Nevers DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
@Watch man: I believe so! From the waning years of Carter administration till the death of Zia, the so-called Mujaheddin Afghans were fighting Russian army. After that Kabul fell to various warlords. My reading on Afghanistan is quite good. The best books to read on the plight of Afghanis are "Kite Runner" & "A Thousand Splendid Suns", both by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini. If you have not read them, I strongly recommend them to you to read. Good reading!!
@K B Kale: Do you know, what was the situation of Afghanistan before 911???
“‘No! We don’t go after them,’ he said. ‘That would be dangerous!’”...........Good advice to American troops :)
Does Afghanistan have an unending supply of male warriors?
Despite giving such these types of statements just accept it that you are facing the most ever worst defeat in Afghanistan despite having the most modern war technologies and equipments against the handful Taliban having limited war technologies and equipments.Thanks at least you accepted it that truths and realities are being camouflaged by US' and NATO's officials from the world but for your kind informations please keep it in your defeated mind firmly and strongly that the world knows it very well and you are spreading the war winning news only in the media and on the ground realities and truths are different.Please leave Afghanistan as soon as possible on priority basis and save the world from terrorism you are spreading on the name of fake terrorism in the world US' and NATO's officials.
Free fair and impartial Analysis and comments of Lieutenant Col.Daniel Davis of US Army regarding facts and figures of Afghan War by the NATO Forces under the umbrella of United State of America is highly appropriated upon his bitter truth against his own Forces based on real truth and realities. In accordance to my own conviction Occupied Forces have totally failed to achieved their goals despite of mass killing,humiliation,lose of public lives and properties besides wastage of taxed public money of almost all the Allied Countries, thousands of Armed men of its own NATO Forces being killed during such a long Military Operation causing an adverse financial and economical crisis all over the world for nothing.
In other news, Water is wet
We all know this, if it wasnt the case US wont be negotiating with taliban, did US negotiate anything with Iraq??
Tell us something new. If the generals were half serious and know where actual enemies lie ( read Pakistan ) the war would have ended long time ago.
These W.H & Pentagon lies have to stop. I would take the word of a man on the ground risking his life as opposed to those dung in their La-Z-Boy.
Since the exile of their King to Italy, Afghan soldiers/militia (or so-called mujahideen) have either fought foreign occupiers or amongst themselves under various warlords. There has been no normalcy for its poor citizens. They need to change their mindset. Books like "Kite runner" & "Thousand Splendid Suns" make you shudder to core!