Under a Pentagon proposal expected in coming weeks, all U.S. and NATO units would report to the new four-star commander in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Gen. David D. McKiernan, who heads the NATO forces. At present, efforts such as the training of Afghan security forces and aggressive counter-terrorism missions are conducted by the U.S. rather than the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
In addition, the U.S. is close to a deal with the NATO countries that have troops in southern Afghanistan, including Britain, Canada and the Netherlands, to keep all headquarters personnel in the south for at least a year.
Southern Afghanistan has long been the most violent part of the country, and U.S. officers have complained that shorter tours of NATO commanders in the south have hampered the counterinsurgency effort. The current southern commander, Canadian Maj. Gen. Marc Lessard, is serving a 10-month tour. Incoming commanders would serve at least 12 months under the new pact. More broadly, senior U.S. military officers hope to hammer out a "comprehensive campaign plan" with NATO allies, which would include agreements on military strategy as well as such efforts as counter-narcotics programs and reinforcing the Afghan government.
But progress could prove difficult. For months, the Western forces have fought over major tenets of such a plan. For instance, U.S. officials back poppy field eradication, but British officials are opposed.
Despite the unexpected rise in violence in eastern Afghanistan, Schloesser did not call for additional forces in his region. American-led forces there are facing a patchwork of Sunni Muslim groups, unlike in the south, where the Taliban is resurgent. Schloesser attributed the increase in attacks in part to more aggressive patrols by Afghan and allied troops into previously untrod areas.
The senior military officer noted that some Pentagon officials have raised questions about Schloesser's data, noting that as a new commander, he may be counting attacks differently than his predecessor.
Others have said violence along the Pakistani border also has had an effect in Afghanistan and have blamed the Pakistani government's controversial efforts to strike peace deals with extremist groups in the area.
"I can't tell you for sure the overtures they've made to tribes in Pakistan are directly related to the increase in violence in Afghanistan," said the senior military official. "Do I have conclusive intel that says it is? No. Do I believe that there's a cause and effect relationship? I do."
--
peter.spiegel@latimes.com
julian.barnes@latimes.com
