Petraeus rules out drastic changes in Afghan war policy
July 2nd, 2010 - 2:19 pm ICT by ANI
Brussels (Belgium), July 2 (ANI): NATO’s newly appointed Afghan war commander General David Petraeus has ruled out any drastic changes in the counterinsurgency policies which were implemented by his sacked predecessor General Stanley McChrystal.
Briefing allies at the NATO headquarters here before taking up his new job in Afghanistan, Petraeus said that despite a rise in military casualties in the recent days, the war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan was ‘going well.’
He admitted that the US troops stationed in Afghanistan are dissatisfied with the strategy limiting the use of air strike, artillery and mortar fire to prevent civilian casualties, and he would take necessary action to provide for greater security of his forces.
“There are concerns among the ranks of some of our troops on the ground that some of the processes have become a bit too bureaucratic,” The Daily Times quoted Petraeus, as saying.
” I have a moral imperative as a commander… to bring all force that is available to bear when our troopers, and by the way our Afghan partners, are in a tough position,” he said during a press conference after meeting the NATO commanders.
Earlier, Petraeus had said that he would closely review restrictions on airstrikes and artillery in Afghanistan to protect his troops.
During his Senate confirmation hearing to be the top commander in Afghanistan, General Petraeus said: “I want to assure the mothers and fathers of those fighting in Afghanistan that I see it as a moral imperative to bring all assets to bear to protect our men and women in uniform.”
“Those on the ground must have all the support they need when they are in a tough situation,” he added.
General McChrystal had faced rising complaints in recent months from troops who said that they felt “handcuffed” by the rules, and that restrictions on airstrikes had prolonged battles and cost lives.
“If confirmed, I would continue the emphasis on reducing loss of civilian life in the course of operations to an absolute minimum, while also ensuring that we provide whatever assets are necessary to ensure the safety” of American, NATO and Afghan forces, General Petraeus said in a written answer to a question asked in advance by the Senate Armed Services Committee. (ANI)
- Petraeus pledges to revamp US strategy in Afghanistan to protect troops - Jun 30, 2010
- Petraeus vows to keep Afghan civilian deaths down - Jul 01, 2010
- Petraeus rules out any 'swift turnaround' in Afghan war - Jun 30, 2010
- Afghans see change in US command as a threat to civilians - Jul 05, 2010
- Petraeus to take control of Afghan NATO forces Sunday - Jul 04, 2010
- Petraeus' fresh guidelines to troops to reduce civilian casualties in Afghan war - Aug 05, 2010
- U.S. Senate confirms Gen. Petraeus as new Afghan war commander - Jul 01, 2010
- Afghan Govt. backs Obama's decision to appoint Petraeus as new NATO boss - Jun 24, 2010
- McChrystal's "courageous restraint" putting soldiers' lives in danger in Afghanistan - Jul 07, 2010
- 10 Afghans, 80 Taliban killed as Petraeus takes command (Roundup) - Jul 04, 2010
- Obama fires top Afghanistan commander McChrystal (Second Lead) - Jun 24, 2010
- Kandahar key to success in Afghan war, say top US lawmaker - Jul 06, 2010
- Ex-NATO commander McChrystal cleared of wrongdoing in Rolling Stone piece - Apr 19, 2011
- 'Angry' Obama recalls Afghan commander to Washington - Jun 23, 2010
- Petraeus takes command, vows victory in Afghan war (Lead) - Jul 04, 2010
Tags: afghan war, airstrikes, brussels belgium, civilian casualties, commander general, david petraeus, drastic changes, general david petraeus, general stanley mcchrystal, greater security, military casualties, moral imperative, mortar fire, mothers and fathers, nato commanders, nato headquarters, senate confirmation hearing, war commander, war policy, women in uniform