McChrystal: Key to Victory in Capturing Bin Laden

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | December 8, 2009 at 04:38 pm

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General McChrystal, Commander of NATO and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador were in front of the Armed Service Committee selling President Obama's Afghanistan Strategy. They followed in the footsteps of Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates and Admiral Mullen.

McChrystal told the committee that the key to victory will be capturing Bin Laden. McChrystal was confident that he could make an assessment on how well NATO Forces had done bringing the insurgency under control by December next year and that he would be able to withdraw some US troops by July 2011. He said that this could be done without additional troops.

Karl Eikenberry, a former ISAF Commander, who had been at odds with General McChrystal's recommended strategy, is now in full support of the President's strategy.

The first troops to be deployed, Marines, should leave Camp Lejeune before Christmas with additional Marines from Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton following early in the new year. They will be followed by troops from 10 Mountain Division at Fort Drum.

It is expected that the additional 30,000 troops authorized by the President will be in place by June 2010, although there will be some slippage into late Summer, early fall.

Both Admiral Mullen and Robert Gates stated that the July 2011 exit date is a transition date and that actual withdrawal may take 2-4 years.

President Karzai stated earlier today that probably 10-15 years would be required before the Afghan National Army would be capable to take full responsibility for the security of Afghanistan.

If Obama Bin Laden is the key to Victory, the question is, why not just capture him and go home?

Capturing Osama bin Laden is the key to defeating al-Qaeda, the U.S. general in charge of the war in Afghanistan told Congress on Tuesday.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal told House and Senate panels that bin Laden is an "iconic figure" whose very survival eight years after the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. serves as a recruiting tool for the terrorist group.

U.S. intelligence officials believe bin Laden is in Pakistan, hiding in its rugged terrain bordering Afghanistan.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 16:53 on December 8th, 2009

I don't know if he is dead or not. I agree though that one man doesn't make a war. I would also think that Al Quaeda has a world wide network and can strike anytime anywhere at their choosing.

YankeeJim

at 11:32 on December 9th, 2009

Given that he recently appeared on verified video, I think he is still alive. I wonder what happened to the intel that said he was on dialysis? It would have been hard to hide the carting around of a dialysis machine would it not?

Say he is alive, McChrystal is correct that his capture alive would serve us well in the future, denying him his martyrdom and such.

Al Qaeda is a spirited movement that captivates millions of Islamics who have no hope and no prospects other than to take a chance on dying to see if things improve.

Uwe Paschen

at 19:11 on December 8th, 2009

I do not think that it does matter any longer, since Al-quaida does operate with independent cells and not as a centrally organised unit.

Bin Laden's status is even questionable at best.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 19:20 on December 8th, 2009

That would be my point as well. Much too much has been put into Bin Laden's capture, although if McChrystal was able to capture him alive he would become a national hero. Then the legal haggling would start.

His capture and him becoming a martyr might work against US Forces as well. So we should be careful what we wish for.

marianmo

at 19:23 on December 8th, 2009

hopefully this strategy will work

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 19:34 on December 8th, 2009

It will take a lot more than hope:)

caj1

at 19:51 on December 8th, 2009

You're wise, acp...let's hope the Armed Forces and President Obama are also.

a211423

at 21:23 on December 8th, 2009

I watched most of the committee's questioning of McChrystal and Eikenberry. When the Senator asked about Bin Laden, McChrystal said if it were learned he was in Aghanistan, they would persue him, but that was all he said, and Eikenberry concurred. Upon further questioning as the proceedings continued with questions about the cooperation of Pakinstan in pursuit of fleeing Taliban and Al Qaeda over the border, it was inferred Bin Laden is not in Afghanistan. And McChrystal was clear that his mission is in Afghanistan, not Pakinstan.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 02:49 on December 9th, 2009

As you can see from the highlighted portion below, McChrystal sees Bin Laden as an iconic figure that is the key to defeating Al Quaeda.

McChrystal's mission is certainly in Afghanistan publicly, that doesn't preclude CIA operatives or some Special Ops teams to pursue Bin Laden if he were alive. It wouldn't be the first time.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal told House and Senate panels that bin Laden is an "iconic figure" whose very survival eight years after the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. serves as a recruiting tool for the terrorist group.

U.S. intelligence officials believe bin Laden is in Pakistan, hiding in its rugged terrain bordering Afghanistan.

Finding bin Laden would not end the war in Afghanistan, but the U.S. could never defeat al-Qaeda's terrorist network until he is caught, McChrystal said.