Dempsey: Insider Attacks Won’t Affect NATO’s Afghan Strategy

By Nick Simeone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stressed again today that NATO’s decision to curtail closely partnered operations with Afghan forces because of on-going attacks on the coalition is only a tactical change that will not undermine the goal of producing a trained Afghan security force by the end of 2014.

Answering questions following remarks at the Air Force Association’s Air and Space Conference, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said the new rules issued by NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in response to insider attacks are being wrongly portrayed as a revision of NATO’s overall goals in Afghanistan.

“They’re tactical changes in response to a changing threat and by the way to tensions that have been generated over the release of this video and other things that are inflaming the Muslim world,” Dempsey said. “But they’re in no way an indication that we’ve changed our campaign objectives.”

The order was issued Sept. 16 in response to a series of deadly attacks by Afghan soldiers and police, or individuals posing as them, which have killed 51 members of the coalition this year.

A day after telling American Forces Press Service that he has sought lessons from history by consulting with his Russian counterpart on the decade of Soviet experience in Afghanistan, Dempsey made clear that the coalition will adapt to the threat, comparing it to the U.S. experience in Iraq when roadside bombs, or improvised explosive devices, emerged as the single-biggest threat to American forces during the war there.

“To suggest that we shouldn’t be adapting to the insider threat, it’s kind of analogous to me to say ‘OK, well we’ve got IEDs, let’s just keep driving down the road, maybe at some point they’ll stop blowing them up,’” the chairman said. “It’s not about changing the objectives, although somehow it’s being portrayed that way.”

Dempsey also acknowledged the United States faces “significant challenges” in the Middle East following days of anti-American violence in countries where populations have overthrown dictators during the Arab Spring, including in Egypt and Libya.

At this point, he said, the United States is uncertain where all this change is heading, and should behave cautiously.

“Einstein said, ‘If I have an hour to save the world, I’ll spend 55 minutes understanding the problem and then five minutes solving it.’ I feel like we’re still in that first 55 minutes,” the chairman said. “We need to figure out where this thing is all going, and then -- and only then -- should we be engaged in trying to help solve it.”

Goals in Afghanistan Remain the Same, Dempsey Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – While recent incidents have challenged U.S. operations in Afghanistan, the long-term objectives there remain the same, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told Charlie Rose.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff appeared on the PBS interview show last night. He said the U.S. military is committed to conducting an investigation into the March 11 alleged murder of Afghan civilians by an American staff sergeant in Kandahar province.

Dempsey put the recent incidents in perspective. “We also have to be aware of the fact that we’ve had possibly 800,000 to 900,000 young men and women rotate through Afghanistan and they’ve served honorably, they’ve done the right thing, they’ve maintained their senses of discipline,” he said.

The alleged murders, the Quran burning incident last month and images of dead bodies being desecrated all have converged, the chairman said. “We have to be introspective and learn what the past 10 years of war have done to us as a profession,” he said. “In terms of whether these incidents have hurt the war effort, our goals and objectives remain the same.”

NATO leaders agreed at the 2010 Lisbon summit to maintain security in Afghanistan and train Afghan forces to transition to the lead in their own security by 2014. Afghan government officials also agreed to these goals and objectives, Dempsey said.

“I think Afghan leaders understand that, but their outrage at a particular instance is understandable,” he said.

“It should be clear that no one wants to put Afghans in the lead more than we do -- when they are ready to be in the lead,” Dempsey said. “That’s the conversation we’ve been having.”

There are a number of areas where Afghan national security forces – the army and police – are in the lead. By next year that will increase dramatically, the general said.

Already, Afghan forces are responsible for protecting more than half of Afghan citizens. In 2013, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force will transition more areas to Afghan control. He said there will be “a milestone of sorts” next year.

Dempsey made a recent trip to Afghanistan and came away with the impression that the Afghans want to lead and want to assume responsibility. “I think that when given the opportunity to lead … -– there are capability gaps -– but when given the opportunity to do so, they actually do better than we think they will and, importantly, they perform better than they think they can,” he said.

Afghanistan is a very poor country with many disparate groups, which complicates efforts in the area, but the United States and its allies are helping build a sense of nationhood there, he said.

Pakistan is another wild card in the hand in Central Asia, and while Dempsey believes the state is more stable, it still faces challenges that terror groups, such as the Haqqani network, exploit. The November incident where NATO forces killed Pakistani soldiers on the border still colors relations between the United States and Pakistan and Pakistan leaders closed a NATO supply route.

The United States has quietly worked with Pakistani leaders to mend relations. “I think the best thing we’ve done is we’ve not conducted our engagement with them with a megaphone,” he said. “We’ve communicated with them directly. We’ve communicated with them privately. We’re back in close contact with them along the border. We have been in conversations about our mil-to-mil relationship, about our foreign military sales, about some of the common challenges of terrorism.”

The Pakistani legislature is discussing what the new relationship with the United States might be. “I’m personally optimistic that we can reset the relationship in a way that meets both of our needs,” the chairman said.

Still, the Pakistani military lacks the capability needed to end terror groups using the country as a safe haven. The Pakistanis may have the will to do something, but not the means. “I believe they will do the best they can, but it may not be enough for us,” he said.

Dempsey used the Haqqani network as an example. He said the network has been in place for 20 years and is “intertwined” into the society of western Pakistan. It also received significant assistance from the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence organization. “I think they’re intermarried,” he said.

All this makes it difficult for his Pakistani counterpart, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, to deliver. Still the general said he believes Kayani will do everything he can against these terror groups.

Pakistan continues to have a bleak economic picture, a growing population and a policy that still regards India as the nation’s existential threat, the chairman said.

Afghanistan was the country where al-Qaida planned the attack on the United States that killed 3,000 people. There has been significant progress against the terror group, Dempsey said, and while it still is a factor, its influence has waned and many of its leaders are dead or in captivity.

But the movement al-Qaida represents is still a danger on the Arabian peninsula, in Africa and elsewhere, Dempsey said. “We think those organizations have an ability – because it is the 21st century and they can network – have the ability to pass information, pass goals and objectives, and even exchange money, ideology, and people,” he said.

Officials Condemn Afghanistan Shooting, Offer Condolences

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and International Security Assistance Force leaders all condemned a shooting incident in Southern Afghanistan, and pledged to work with Afghan authorities in fully investigating the incident.

“This incident is tragic and shocking, and does not represent the exceptional character of our military and the respect that the United States has for the people of Afghanistan,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

Panetta spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to offer his deepest condolences and profound regret for the tragic incident in Kandahar province. The incident resulted in the loss of life and injuries to innocent Afghan civilians, including women and children.

ISAF Commander Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, who is here to testify this week, issued a statement today saying he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of the shooting incident.

“I offer my profound regret and deepest condolences to the victims and their families,” Allen said in his statement.

In a Facebook post, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey offered his condolences to the victims of the attack and their families.

“I’m confident that General Allen and his staff are taking the appropriate steps to quickly and thoroughly investigate the circumstances of this incident,” Dempsey said.

Allegedly, an American service member left his base in Kandahar province, entered homes in the area and shot the inhabitants. Karzai said in a statement that the service member had killed 16 and wounded at least five others.

“I condemn such violence and am shocked and saddened that a U.S. service member is alleged to be involved, clearly acting outside his chain of command,” Panetta said. “I told President Karzai that the American people share the outrage felt by President Karzai and his fellow citizens. This tragic incident does not reflect the commitment of the U.S. military to protect the Afghan people and help build a strong and stable Afghanistan.”

“I cannot explain the motivation behind such callous acts, but they were in no way part of authorized ISAF military activity,” said British Lt. Gen. Adrian J. Bradshaw in a written statement. Bradshaw is deputy ISAF commander.

The service member is in ISAF custody and will remain there as ISAF and Afghans conduct an investigation, Allen said. Those wounded in the incident are receiving care from ISAF medics. “I am absolutely dedicated to making sure that anyone who is found to have committed wrong-doing is held fully accountable,” Allen said.

Panetta gave Karzai his assurances that U.S. officials will bring those responsible to justice. “We will spare no effort in getting the facts as quickly as possible, and we will hold any perpetrator who is responsible for this violence fully accountable under the law,” he said in his statement.

The incident happens just weeks after rioting over the accidental burning of Qurans at Bagram Air Field.

Both Allen and the American embassy spoke of the partnership between the United States and Afghanistan.

“This deeply appalling incident in no way represents the values of ISAF and coalition troops or the abiding respect we feel for the Afghan people,” the general said. “Nor does it impugn or diminish the spirit of cooperation and partnership we have worked so hard to foster with the Afghan National Security Forces.”

An embassy statement reiterated that the United States is committed to “an enduring partnership with Afghanistan to obtain greater peace and security in the region, which is our common interest. We deplore any attack by a member of the U.S. armed forces against innocent civilians, and denounce all violence against civilians. We assure the people of Afghanistan that the individual or individuals responsible for this act will be identified and brought to justice.”

Austin: ‘It’s Great to be Back’ From Iraq

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2011 – A small but star-studded ceremony today at Joint Base Andrews, Md., marked the return of U.S. Forces Iraq’s last troops.

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter joined family members of about 30 returning service members to welcome those final few troops -- including Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the last commander of U.S. Forces-Iraq -- home.

Five days ago in Baghdad, Austin presided over the ceremony marking the end of the war in Iraq. Today, he said, “It is great to be back in the United States of America.”

Austin was part of the war in Iraq’s first wave nearly nine years ago, in March 2003, when as the 3rd Infantry Division’s assistant commander for maneuver he ordered lead elements over the Kuwaiti border into Iraq.

From September 2010 until today, he oversaw what he called “one of the most extraordinary feats in our military’s history:” the end of mission and return of U.S. troops and equipment from Iraq.

For several months, U.S. troops have worked tirelessly to reposition what were then 50,000 service members and 2 million pieces of equipment remaining in Iraq, Austin noted.

“Sunday, the last of our troops crossed the border from Iraq to Kuwait, with their equipment,” he said. “They did it in an orderly fashion, [and] they did it ahead of schedule.”

The military-led mission in Iraq has come to a successful conclusion, Austin said, and the safe return of USFI’s unit colors, “capably carried and passed on from commander to commander since 2003,” represents the commitment that “helped make this great day possible.”

“It is my privilege to represent them,” the general added. “I could not be more proud of our men and women in uniform, who are unquestionably the preeminent military force in the world.”

Austin credited Iraq veterans and their coalition partners with removing a brutal dictator, persevering through the darkest days of the insurgency, and providing the Iraqi people with opportunities for freedom “they have not seen in their lifetime.”

The general noted the team of State Department diplomats remaining in country to build on the United States’ strategic relationship with Iraq.

“Their professionalism and their spirit of teamwork were instrumental in making our interagency efforts so successful,” he added.

Austin thanked the families and friends of returning veterans for their love and support, and said the nation owes the families of the nearly 4,500 service members killed in Iraq “a debt of gratitude it can never repay.”

“Please know that we share in your loss, and that you will always be a part of our family,” he said.

Austin thanked the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilians and coalition partners who served in Iraq for “a job extremely well done.”

“I am truly humbled by your service and your many, many sacrifices,” he added.

Austin saluted those wounded in the Iraq war, noting their fighting spirit “serves as a source of inspiration for us, and you will always have a place in our formation.”

Austin offered wishes for “a very joyous holiday season” to all Iraq war veterans and their loved ones.

“Please know that your sacrifices were instrumental in liberating an oppressed people, in providing them an opportunity to enjoy a better way of life,” he said. “You have set the conditions for democracy to take root in a region that is critically important to the United States of America … again, thank you for a job extremely well done.”

Dempsey Thanks Kuwaiti Leaders for Help in Iraq

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT  – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took time on a multicountry USO holiday tour last week to thank Kuwaiti officials for that nation’s critical help to U.S. Forces Iraq over the past eight years and now, as the mission is ending.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey met Dec. 14 with Emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber, Prime Minister Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad, U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait Matthew H. Tueller, and Dempsey’s counterpart Lt. Gen. Ahmed al-Khalid, Kuwait Armed Forces chief of staff.

Near the border Kuwait shares with Iraq, at a dwindling number of installations -- such as camps Arifjan and Virginia and the Khabari al Awazem border-crossing facility, called K Crossing – U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force troops have taken in hundreds of convoys and thousands of former U.S. Forces Iraq war fighters, collected and processed their vehicles, weapons and equipment, and helped send them home.

The chairman said he thanked “our Kuwaiti partners for helping us accomplish this [U.S. Forces Iraq] retrograde operation, which I’ve heard [Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta] describe as somewhat historic.”

Dempsey also asked Kuwait’s assistance as Iraq begins the hard task of adjusting to its new sovereignty.

“My time in Kuwait would suggest that our Kuwaiti partners are concerned about our work to establish a normal relationship with Iraq because there’s still some mistrust between the two countries that goes back certainly to 1990-1991, but historically far back beyond that,” the chairman said.

“I’m stopping in several of the countries on this trip to assure our other partners that our lack of physical presence in Iraq doesn’t mean we’re taking our eye off of them as a partner,” he added, “or that we’re going to stop trying to help [Iraq] develop responsibly.”

Establishing a U.S. Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, as the United States has in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries, will facilitate U.S. military sales there, the chairman’s spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan told American Forces Press Service.

“The idea,” he added, “is to pull Iraq into the type of normal relationships we have with Kuwait and other countries in the region.”

Dempsey also seeks to get back to a normal level of military engagement with Kuwait.

The nations have been close partners since the 1991 signing of a defense cooperative agreement, Dempsey said, but the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cut into routine U.S.-Kuwait military-to-military training, exercises and security cooperation.

Under provisions of the 1991 defense agreement, the chairman added, “we are taking some of the forces that were in Iraq and repositioning them in Kuwait for a period of time.”

The hope is, Lapan said, “that we will get to the point where the relationship with Iraq is similar to those we have with Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar -- all the countries in the region where we have strong military-to-military relations.”

Austin Lauds Seasoned, Adaptable Force

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Dec. 16, 2011 – Back in March 2003, Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III gave orders for the 3rd Infantry Division’s lead elements to cross the border into Iraq to launch Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Yesterday, as he helped case the colors of U.S. Forces Iraq, Austin said the campaign has spawned an experienced, integrated force that’s learned important lessons during the conflict.

“We are a much more seasoned force, across the board,” Austin told reporters after joining Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ambassador James Jeffrey and other U.S. and Iraqi leaders to mark the end of the U.S. military mission here.

“If you look at the experience in our ranks,” Austin said, “it’s just incredible.”

Austin noted the many service members who, like him, have multiple deployments under their belts.

He returned for his third deployment to Iraq in September 2010 as commander of U.S. Forces here. Austin also served in Afghanistan, and between combat deployments, was the director of the Joint Staff and chief of staff at U.S. Central Command.

From these vantage points, Austin helped to shape the campaign as it evolved over time, and said he and the U.S. military learned important lessons in the process.

“The biggest lesson is that we have to be adaptive,” he told reporters.

“We came into this country fighting a conventional type of fight, mid-intensity, and quickly transformed into a counterinsurgency,” he said. Then the focus shifted toward stability operations.

These three types of operations required the military to adopt different approaches and techniques, Austin said.

“We adapted our equipment, our tactics,” he said. “We learned to embrace the Iraqi people, to learn more about the culture, [to] get them more involved in the fight for their country.”

The process sowed “a certain degree of humility” within the military ranks, he said, with members “humble enough to realize that they don’t know everything.”

“They are willing to continue to learn and they are willing to embrace new ideas,” the general said. “That is … what we see from our military.”

Austin noted, for example, how far the U.S. military has advanced the concept of joint operations.

“Look at us and how we are fighting now,” he said. “I think we did a marvelous job coming in here and fighting a joint fight.”

But working together over the course of the Iraq war, “we really have embraced this notion of jointness to the degree that I really have to stop and think about what service the person is in now,” he said.

Now, working together on plans and operations, members of different branches “are thinking about mission first and unit first,” he said, rather than “service first.”

When service members do focus on their individual service branch, Austin said it’s in terms of “what capability they can provide” to the operation.

Austin said he’s also seen a striking evolution within the reserve components since 2003.

“When we started this [conflict], you could look at troops and figure out if they were active component or Guard or reserve,” he said. “You can no longer do that. Our willingness to work together has really closed whatever gap there was initially.

“And we really are a joint force, we are a total force,” the general added. “So there have been a lot of good lessons.”

Austin said he welcomes a new chapter in the U.S. relationship with Iraq. “We really are serious about having a long-term relationship with … an Iraq that is sovereign, stable and secure,” he said.

Austin said he considers himself fortunate to have helped create the conditions for Iraq to succeed, and to be able to bring U.S. Forces Iraq’s mission to an end.

“Eight years, eight months and 26 days ago, as the assistant division commander for maneuver for the 3rd Infantry Division, I gave the order for the lead elements of the division to cross the border,” Austin told participants in yesterday’s end-of-mission ceremony.

“As fate would have it,” he said, “I now give the order to case the colors today.”