McChrystal Assessment Calls Afghan Situation 'Serious'

The top American commander in Afghanistan has completed his long-awaited review of U.S. war strategy in the country, sources tell the BBC. Gen. Stanley McChrystal's assessment is on its way to the White House but, as expected, does not contain a direct call for more troops. McChrystal concluded that the situation is "serious," however, and "demands a revised implementation strategy."

The report comes only a week after the New York Times revealed that commanders in Afghanistan uniformly think they do not have enough troops to do their jobs. Richard C. Holbrooke, the president's special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, visited the military's four regional command centers a week ago and heard the same message: Recent troop increases have led to some successes in the south of Afghanistan, but are insufficient to combat Taliban rebels. The BBC reporter who saw the assessment says that, while it does not explicitly request more troops, "all the hints are there." If McChrystal intends to make such a request, it is expected to appear in another report later this year.

McChrystal's report will identify protecting Afghan civilians from the Taliban as the military's top priority. Afghans are experiencing a crisis of confidence because Taliban-inflicted violence has continued to rock their country, and the situation has continued to worsen as U.S. strategy has broken down.

The Afghan government's participation is a key aspect of the Obama administration's plan for the country, and McChrystal says that there should have been better communication between the U.S. and the Afghans from the beginning of the war. He urges the government to provide aid and services to the people of Afghanistan in the wake of the military operation. "That is one way to engage with the people on the ground and re-establish the trust and confidence of the people in their government," he writes.

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