The National Guard's contribution: 300,000-plus Iraq deployments

By Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. John Orrell
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. - On Dec. 18, 2011, when the final U.S. troops crossed the Iraqi border into Kuwait, the National Guard had deployed more than 250,000 Guard members in support of the war in Iraq.

 Already participating in combat operations in Afghanistan, the National Guard lived up to its motto of "Always Ready, Always There," and answered the call in January 2003 to send troops to Iraq for the beginning stages of what would later be known as Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 Serving side-by-side with their active duty counterparts until the last Guard member came home, the Army National Guard deployed 222,485 Citizen-Soldiers for a total number of 259,467 deployments.

 Providing air support missions throughout the world for Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, the Air National Guard deployed 34,243 Citizen-Airmen, successfully completing 44,882 deployments.

 During those more than 300,000 deployments by the Army and Air National Guard, Guard members back in America answered the call and served on the home front - fulfilling the National Guard's domestic mission.

The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - retired Navy Adm. Mike Mullen - said more than once in 2010 and 2011, "We would not be anywhere close to where we are in terms of our execution of mission without the National Guard."

Panetta: Awlaki Airstrike Shows U.S.-Yemeni Cooperation

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – A U.S. airstrike that killed Yemeni-based terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki early this morning is a testament to the close cooperation between the United States and Yemen, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.

During a media availability with Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay at the Pentagon, Panetta said Awlaki -- a U.S.-born Muslim cleric who used his English-language skills to advocate violence against Americans as part of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula -- had long been a target of U.S.-Yemeni counterterrorism operations.

“This has been a bad year for terrorists,” he said. “We just have seen another major blow against al-Qaida, against someone who truly was an operational arm of al-Qaida in this node in Yemen.”

Awlaki was high on the military-intelligence list of terrorist targets, close behind Osama bin Laden, because he “continued to try to inspire people to attack this country,” Panetta said.

“This country is much safer because of the loss of Awlaki,” he added.

President Barack Obama announced the killing of Awlaki this morning at the retirement ceremony of Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Calling Awlaki “the leader of external operations” for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, Obama said his death “marks another significant milestone in the broader effort to defeat al-Qaida and its affiliates.”

Obama and Panetta congratulated the Yemenis on their intelligence and operational assistance in targeting Awlaki.

Panetta, Mullen to Pressure Pakistan on Terrorism

Read about the front lines in Afghanistan from these tales written by the men and women who were there.

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2011 – Although not yet willing to blame the Haqqani network for assassinating the former Afghan president, Pentagon leaders emphasized today that they will continue to pressure Pakistan to keep insurgents there from spilling into Afghanistan.

“Our biggest concern right now is to put as much pressure as possible on the Pakistanis to exercise control from their side of the border,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during a Pentagon news briefing with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“We have continued to state that this cannot happen. We cannot have the Haqqanis coming across the border attacking our forces and [Afghans] and disappearing back into a safe haven,” the secretary said. “That is not tolerable, and we have urged them to take steps.”

Panetta declined to discuss specific strategies, including whether the United States would consider unilateral action. He did say, however, “We are going to take whatever steps are necessary to protect our forces.”

It’s in the best interest of the Pakistanis to deal with terrorists within their borders, he said.

“Frankly, terrorism is as much a threat for them as it is for us,” he said. “And we keep telling them you can’t choose among terrorists. If you are against terrorism, you have to be against all forms of terrorism. And that is something we just have to continue to stress.”

Mullen said he made clear during his meeting last week with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that Pakistan needs to do more. Among issues he raised were the Haqqanis’ proxy ties to Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence agency and their role in killing coalition troops and Afghans in Afghanistan.

“It was the heart of the discussion,” Mullen reported, emphasizing that this activity “has to stop.”

“That is not a new message, but it is one that [Kayani] clearly understands,” Mullen said. “And I think it is one we have to keep reiterating.”

Mullen credited the strong relationship he and Kayani have built with helping them work through difficult periods between their two countries. “It is going to go up and down,” he said of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship. “We have had a very tough patch here over the last several months.”

Based on current information, Mullen said he cannot confirm that the Haqqanis were behind the death of Burhanuddin Rabbani, the senior Afghan official in charge of negotiating with the Taliban. Panetta called the killing of Rabbani, reportedly by a suicide bomber who hid explosives in his turban, a blow to the reconciliation and reintegration process in Afghanistan.

“I regret his loss. I think he was playing an important role,” Panetta said. “I am hopeful that we will be able to work with others to try to continue the efforts that he was engaged in.”

The assassination was among other recent high-profile attacks that Mullen said reflect an apparent shift in the Taliban’s overall strategy.

“They have not succeeded on the ground this year. Their campaign has failed in that regard,” he said, causing them to resort to high-profile attacks.

Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, described last week’s Haqqani attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul an operational failure. Mullen acknowledged, however, that it had strategic significance.

“So we take it very seriously as a part of the campaign,” he said. “We know that this is what the Taliban is doing, and we have got to adjust and we are doing that.”

Panetta said the coalition is working with the Afghans to discuss ways to better protect against future attacks. But the Taliban’s change of strategy, he added, shows that its leaders realize they are losing ground in Afghanistan.

“The bottom line still remains that that we are moving in the right direction,” Panetta said. “We have made progress against the Taliban, but we can’t let some of these sporadic events deter us from the progress that we are making.”

Mullen Stresses Lessons of Jointness

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Aug. 2, 2011 – The men and women gathered in the apse of the Al-Faw Palace here spoke volumes of what the United States military has become.

Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Defense Department civilians gathered to hear and to ask questions of America’s highest-ranking military officer. Their service together in the headquarters for U.S. Forces Iraq signified how far the joint force has come.

One young sailor asked Navy Adm. Mike Mullen how to capture the lessons learned about operating jointly, and the question clearly energized the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“Through the course of two wars, we have built an incredibly joint force in ways that many of us could not have imagined,” Mullen said. “I love each service to death – the ethos and culture that each service has. It’s a critical part of who we are as a military.”

But the military has found that if the services work together, they can accomplish a lot more and can eliminate duplication, he said. “We can see best practices and ideas from other services that sometimes make us scratch our head and ask why we weren’t doing that,” he added.

Those who turned the situation around in Iraq and those who are turning the tables on the Taliban in Afghanistan have depended on members of other services to a degree never seen in American history, the chairman noted, acknowledging that getting to this point has not been easy.

Today, he said, everyone praises the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 for the way it brought jointness to the forefront. But it was a tough sell at all levels of the military, he recalled, and only the vast prestige of Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater put the law on the books.

“It really took us about 10 to 15 years [after the law took effect] that we moved in the joint direction,” Mullen said. “It was really these conflicts that made us joint.”

And this needs to continue, the chairman added.

“We need to leverage not only what has happened here, but recognize the importance and opportunity in places like cyber, like space, [and] in intelligence,” he said. “As we get smaller as an institution, that mandates that we work more closely together. In returning to our services, you can’t forget what you learned.”

Mullen said that when he was chief of naval operations, he moved sailors onto the shore and into the combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. He did it because the sailors could contribute to the effort ashore, he explained, and they also would learn how to operate jointly -- and that they would return to the fleet “and plant the seed that would change the Navy.”

The American military has built capabilities that are extraordinary, Mullen said. “Things we didn’t know we needed when this began, we now have -- whether it is intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities or force protection or intelligence and operations systems that feed each other so we can be much quicker to the fight.”

When the wars began, those in the military spoke about the speed of war, the chairman said, noting that the U.S. military was lagging behind a nimble and adroit terror group.

“That’s no longer the case,” he said. “Not only have we caught up with them, we’ve gotten ahead of them. We went from a classic conventional force to the best counterinsurgency force the world has ever seen, and we did it on the fly, we did it in stride, we did it in the fight.”

Mullen Blasts Iran for Interference in Iraq

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Aug. 2, 2011 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today took Iran to task for interfering in Iraq to pursue “maleficent goals.”

At a news conference here, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen blamed Iran for violence he said is meant to undermine Iraq’s progress.

“The Iranian regime continues to violate Iraqi sovereignty by intervening in Iraqi social and political affairs, training and equipping militias to conduct attacks on Iraqi soil and thwarting efforts by the Iraqi people to pursue unfettered the economic growth, development and independence that geography and democracy have bestowed upon them,” the chairman said.

Tehran wants a weak Iraq, beholden to the Iranian world view, Mullen said. “I believe most Iraqis wish to determine for themselves their own future and to define for themselves their own perspectives about the world around them,” he added.

The chairman praised Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talibani for challenging the Iranian regime to stop the violence it’s directing inside Iraq. June was a particularly bad month for American forces in Iraq, with 15 killed – mostly by Iranian-backed militias using weapons officials say came directly from Iran.

The Iraqi military has stepped up operations in concert and coordination with American forces against such Iranian-backed groups, Mullen said. “As a result, we have seen a dramatic reduction in these deadly attacks,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mullen said, Iraqi leaders are meeting to decide whether to request continued U.S. military assistance after the Dec. 31 deadline for the withdrawal of American forces under a 2008 strategic agreement between Iraq and the United States.

Mullen, who met with the Iraqi leaders last night, said they understand the urgency behind making a decision about some American forces remaining in Iraq beyond this year. The Iraqi leaders understand that U.S. assistance can help to bridge gaps in their nation’s security capabilities, he added.

The Iraqi leaders know the United States is moving forward with the plan to withdraw all forces by the deadline and that time is running out to decide if they want continued American assistance, the chairman said.

“My government has made it clear that we would entertain a request for some troops to stay, and I was encouraged to learn last night that Iraqi leaders plan to meet to discuss the merits of such a request,” Mullen said. “I remain hopeful, therefore, that we will soon achieve some clarity. And I am grateful that serious attempts to resolve the issue are now under way.”

But whatever Iraqi leaders decide, he said, the decision is for Iraq to make and should not be imposed by any outside power or country. And the United States stands ready to continue to help Iraq, the chairman added.

“Nothing changes about my military’s dedication to that goal, or my nation’s dedication to furthering our long-term strategic partnership,” he said. “We have given over thousands of our young lives to achieve it, as have you. It is time now not to finish the work, but to continue to see it through.”

U.S. Forces Build Flexibility into Iraq Exit Plan

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

MOSUL, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2011 – Though U.S. forces in Iraq are planning to draw down to zero in December, they are preserving capabilities in the country should the Iraqis ask for continued help, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said here today.

Speaking to reporters traveling with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III said Iraqi leaders are thinking about the way ahead and are trying to figure out the direction they want to go.

“In the meantime, we stay focused on our commitments to be down to zero by December, and our plans and all of our actions are taking us that way,” the general said. “We’re on the glide path, and I think we are where we need to be about right now.”

About 48,000 American troops are in Iraq today, and in accordance with the strategic agreement between the United States and Iraq, all will be out of Iraq by Dec. 31. But gaps exist in Iraqi security force capabilities, and U.S. officials have said they would listen to an Iraqi request for some U.S. forces to stay in the country after the deadline. The Iraqi air force, for example, cannot defend the country against an external threat, and the Iraqi forces still have shortages in command and control, intelligence capabilities, and in logistics and maintenance.

Austin is planning the withdrawal with an eye toward the capabilities the Iraqis would need, if they ask.

“In all our planning, all of our actions, all of our downsizing of our footprint, we’re been very prudent about preserving as much flexibility for our leadership as we can,” Austin said. “So if the Iraqis ask, and our leaders think it is the thing to do, we will have some capability to do whatever we need to do.”

But as the deadline approaches, that becomes harder and harder to do, he said. “Still,” he added, “I’m very confident that we have provided the flexibility to our leadership.”

Even if the Iraqis ask late in the drawdown process, anything is possible, the general said. “Some things just cost more money than others,” he explained. “As we begin to dismantle here, the concern is we don’t want to dismantle something that we’ll have to put back into place. Our plans have created a fair amount of flexibility for us up to this point.”

But the longer the Iraqis wait, the more difficult it becomes to accommodate any request they might make, Austin said.

“Each day is precious,” he said. “We’ve conveyed to the Iraqis on a number of occasions that sooner is always better.”

The trend lines are going in the right direction, the general said. Overall, U.S. casualties are lower this year than last, and the number of incidents is down slightly. But that only tells part of the story, the general said. He put the statistics in a larger context.

“In 2007, we had 145 incidents a day on average, with some days up over 200 incidents,” he said. “Look at where we are today, averaging around 14.5 incidents per day. That’s a tremendous change over the years, and the trends have continued to head in the right direction.”

Iraq remains a challenging environment, Austin acknowledged, and one of those challenges emanates from Iran.

“June was a pretty tough month for us, because we had a couple of incidents where Iranian-backed militants employed weapons such as improvised rocket-assisted munitions, and in two cases we suffered a number of casualties from those attacks,” Austin said. “We have increased pressure on those networks and are working with our Iraqi counterparts. I think we’ve had some pretty good effects over time.”

The command also has increased force-protection measures, and the Iraqis have taken steps to take on the networks conducting the attacks. Iraqi counterterrorism forces have been more active over time, and they are partnering with American forces “to go after some pretty significant folks,” Austin said.

Though Austin said he believes the Iraqi government is pushing back on the Iranians to stop supplying weapons to the Iraqi militants, he added that he expects militants to try using more explosively formed projectiles –anti-armor weapons – against American vehicles and mortars, and improvised rocket-assisted munitions against large concentrations of U.S. troops.

Deadline Nears for Iraqi Request, Mullen Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

MOSUL, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2011 – If Iraq wants American forces to remain to train and assist Iraqi security forces after Dec. 31, Iraqi leaders need to make the request soon, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.

“The point is we’re at a deadline, and we need an answer,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said to reporters traveling with him.

Iraqi leaders understand their security forces do not have all the capabilities needed to defend the country from insurgents or from outside nations, Mullen said, and they need to make a decision about accepting further help from U.S. forces. Under a security agreement between Iraq and the United States, all U.S. troops are to be out of the country by Dec. 31.

Mullen will meet with Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, and with service members with the 1st Cavalry Division’s 4th Advise and Assist Brigade here. He then will travel to Baghdad, where he is scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talibani.

The chairman said it has been about a year since he visited Mosul.

“I want to have discussions about how it is going in the north,” he said aboard his plane en route here. “I get assessments all the time, but with the transition, we’re making substantial changes there on how we’re doing assisting and advising. I’m very anxious to understand from a ground perspective what’s going on.”

More broadly, Mullen added, he also wants to meet the American leaders and see how engagement with Iraqi counterparts is going and what the future holds.

“It’s pretty clear that we’ve said to the Iraqi leadership that now’s the time -- we have to know [if they are going to request a continuing U.S. presence],” he said. Roughly 48,000 U.S. personnel are working to train, advise and assist Iraqi army and police units. The logistics needed to get that number of personnel out by the deadline along with millions of pieces of equipment means the Iraqis need to make the decision soon, the chairman explained.

From the American standpoint, an Iraqi request would start negotiations. Any U.S. decision would have to consider the security environment in the country, what capabilities the Iraqis need and what the legal status of American forces would be, as well as the ability to protect U.S. service members. These considerations add to the urgency for a decision.

“The major issues in Iraq are political,” Mullen said. “They have to get together, and that doesn’t happen overnight.”

June was a bad month for U.S. personnel in Iraq, with 15 killed, mostly by Iranian-supplied weapons that include roadside bombs designed to pierce armored vehicles and improvised rocket-assisted munitions.

“You’ve seen in the last three weeks a dramatic reduction in attacks on U.S. personnel,” Mullen said. “The key to me is that reduction has to be sustained. There are several pieces to this reduction which include our operations, the [Iraqi security forces] operations and operations with them or in support of them, and the political piece of this, which has been very strongly expressed. There very clearly have been operations, and there are ongoing operations.”

Iran remains a problem for Iraqi and American forces in the country. U.S. officials traced explosives killing American forces in June directly to Iran.

“It’s clear from the U.S. perspective that whatever Iraq’s decision, there’s a commitment on the part of the United States to a long-term commitment to sustain a stable, growing, healthy Iraq,” the chairman said.

Afghans Must Address Corruption, Criminal Networks, Mullen Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 31, 2011 – The Afghan government must address corruption and criminal organizations subverting the will of the people, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said here today.

Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held a press conference at the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force. He squarely warned of the dangers that corruption poses in this country.

The surge in American and coalition forces has strengthened Afghan security. Now, good governance needs to step to the fore, Mullen said, noting that there are many courageous and dedicated Afghan civil servants working to improve their country.

“I am encouraged by what I have seen happening in Arghandab district in Kanadahar province,” he said. “And I am grateful for the efficiency and the leadership of public servants like Governor Mangal of Helmand.”

But there are others who are using public office to line their own pockets or improve their tribes’ standing in the nation.

“I think it’s fair to say that in the main, Afghan government officials must work on becoming more responsive to the needs and aspirations of their people,” he said.

The federal government must connect with the province and district governments. National leaders must work with local leaders to strengthen the rule of law, build an infrastructure and programs to join the entities and be responsive to the needs of the people for basic services, he said.

National leaders are aware of the problems, and are beginning to address them, Mullen said. But many governors still do not receive funds from Kabul. Other officials “pursue narrow agendas that exclude key elements of the population and perpetuate popular discontent or frustrate reintegration efforts,” he said.

Many agencies and department of the Afghan government have been infiltrated and subverted by criminal patronage networks, the chairman said, and, in most agencies, there is no such thing as merit-based hiring or promotion.

“None of these deficiencies are insurmountable,” he said. “But overcoming them will require energy and effort, political courage and international support.”

Addressing corruption and organized crime has to be a priority, the chairman said. These networks weaken Afghanistan, and their “predatory behavior angers the populace, siphons resources and undermines the credibility of Afghan institutions,” he said.

The U.S. military has examined $27.5 billion worth of locally let contracts to ensure that American money is not used by these criminal networks, said a senior western official speaking on background before the chairman’s news conference. The U.S. government has debarred more than 50 firms from any business dealings, but more needs to be done.

“We must end impunity for criminals who are subverting the state and victimizing the Afghan people,” Mullen said.

The chairman said he understands that any changes will be difficult to put in place and take time to accomplish, but it must happen for success of the Afghan state.

Chairman Pleased with Afghan Progress, Concerned About Corruption

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 31, 2011 – The security aspect of operations in Afghanistan is going well, and now governance and development must catch up, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told reporters traveling with him that corruption is also a problem that good governance needs to address.

The chairman visited leaders and service members in Kandahar, Helmand province and Tarin Khowt yesterday. In all three areas, commanders told him that they have a handle on security issues, but they are not as confident on the governance side. However, there are encouraging signs, he said.

“I did see for the first time in both Helmand and Tarin Khowt the indications of the connections between provincial governance and district governance and the national government in Kabul,” the chairman said. “There is still a huge concern about connecting the provincial governance to Kabul.”

Local commanders also raised the issue of corruption. As security gets better, concerns about corruption are rising. These leaders were talking about criminal patronage networks in Afghanistan “and how they are woven into the fabric of how things get governed, the loyalties between people, how decisions get made and how that gets in the way of support for the normal Afghan citizen who is concerned about their government not delivering goods and services,” he said.

The chairman noted that connecting the local provincial and district governments with Kabul is key in the country.

“It’s the governance, corruption, development pieces – literally how do you get the money to flow, get good people in place, get the structure in place so they align between Kabul and the provinces,” Mullen said.

On the security side, the Afghan national security forces are making great progress, commanders told Mullen. The Afghan army and police are making a difference in numbers and in quality, he said. Commanders are also pleased with the capabilities that Afghan local police bring to the area.

Mullen discussed U.S. drawdown with new NATO International Security Force Commander Marine Gen. John Allen. He said Allen will present his plan for the draw down of 10,000 U.S. troops by the end of the year in October.

“I’m very confident that the needs on the ground as well as the deadlines and the goals that have been laid out by the president will be met,” he said.

The Taliban have not been able to mount a big military campaign in Afghanistan, the chairman said, which has led to a series of assassinations and spectacular attacks in the country. The coalition counterinsurgency campaign is on track, he said, pointing out that “it is still very much a part of what we have to do.

“The feedback I got publicly and privately was that (the counterinsurgency strategy) was working, particularly in security,” he said. “The security bubble, as it gets created, just provides opportunity for development and for governance and for getting at the corruption piece. That’s the point where we are in the overall strategy. Right now, I think it’s working and headed in the right direction.”

Mullen pointed out that there is time for the strategy to succeed, and people are working hard to meet their deadlines.

“Everybody understands where we are from a goal standpoint and what we need to achieve and by when,” he said. “And actually … that’s created a sense of urgency.”

Overall, Mullen said Afghanistan is making progress.

“I certainly understand this is year 10 in a war, but from a resource, leadership focus point of view it’s been only about two years,” he said. “I use the 10,000 Marines that came into Helmand in mid-summer 2009 as the first time we started properly resourcing this effort. From that standpoint, I’m pleased with the progress. I said at the time I think we need 24 months to see if this approach has legs. From a security standpoint it does.”

Mullen reiterated that, as the coalition and Afghan forces work to meet their deadlines, he is heartened by the progress in the security and military arenas while acknowledging that more progress must be made in governance and the struggle against corruption.

“The clock is running. Between what happening with security and the stand-up of the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces), I’m actually encouraged from the steps we’ve taken and what the military is responsible for,” he said. “The other steps of governance and development are areas of huge concern.”

Mullen Confident Afghans Will Be Ready to Shoulder Security

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 30, 2011 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is satisfied the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan is being done in a responsible manner and that the Afghan national security forces will be able to shoulder the defense burden by 2014.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke to soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines at Kandahar Air Field this morning, and he was asked for his opinion on the subject.

President Barack Obama announced in June that the United States would draw down 10,000 personnel by the end of the year and withdraw another 23,000 personnel by the end of September 2012.

The drawdown has begun with some small units not being replaced at the end of their tours. Mullen said the new commander of the International Security Assistance Force, Marine Corps General John Allen, is working on the plan to draw down the rest of the personnel. The drawdown cannot be seen in a vacuum, Mullen said. Earlier this month, coalition forces began transitioning security responsibility for seven areas of the country containing 25 percent of the population to Afghan national security forces.

“That’s the beginning of the security transition that will take place where (the Afghans) are in control of the country by the end of 2014,” the chairman said.

The seven areas are the provinces of Bamiyan and Panjshir, the western city of Herat, the capital area of Kabul, eastern Laghman province, Mazar-i-Sharif in the north and Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. A second set of transition areas will be announced in December.

This should be enough time, Mullen said, especially with the progress made against the Taliban. Even after the drawdown, “there will still be 68,000 U.S. troops on the ground here through next summer,” he said. “The Taliban had a pretty bad year last year. They’re having a bad year this year, and I think they’re going to have a bad year next year. So that’s three fighting seasons where the surge is really able to impact on them and make a difference, and we’ll see where we go from there.”

U.S. and Afghan leaders are negotiating a long-term strategic relationship. “I’m confident that we will have that kind of document,” Mullen. “To me that sends a very strong signal of continued commitment to Afghanistan and to the region.”

But the nature of the commitment will change. The Afghans are leading in some areas – not too many – right now. This will grow, and coalition forces will go into a tactical overwatch mode. As the Afghan national security forces gain more capability, the coalition forces will move a bit farther back and do strategic overwatch. Ultimately, Mullen said coalition forces will move into a training and assist mode, as they are doing today in Iraq.

“That’s the kind of transition we are looking at over the next two to four years,” Mullen said. “The specifics of what it would look like after 2014 is what we need to work at.”

Budget Woes Top List of Concerns in Afghanistan

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, July 30, 2011 – Budget cuts -- not operational issues -- are the main concern of soldiers and Marines assigned here.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is holding troop talks throughout the country and is being peppered with questions about the U.S. debt crisis and the future of military benefits.

Mullen thanked service members in Kandahar and here for their sacrifices. At both talks he stressed the effects of change and being ready for unexpected change. He also stressed the need for leadership at all levels.

Then he threw the floor open for questions. In both places, soldiers and Marines expressed concern about the debt negotiations. “The discussion really centers on providing by law an increase in the debt ceiling so the United States can pay its bills,” the chairman said. “And the bills really run the full spectrum. I really don’t know the answer to the question to how, if we default, how that will work out.”

The U.S. Treasury delivers service members’ pay checks, and sends them to veterans and Social Security recipients. “That’s something that the government leadership will have to figure out,” he said. “I honestly hope we don’t get there. But I don’t expect it will affect -- certainly in the short term -- operations here and operations around the world.”

Assuming a solution to the debt crisis is reached, the chairman discussed what the defense budget will look like. He said there is increasing pressure overall on the federal budget to reduce the deficit. This has to be addressed, he said.

“I’ve said for a long time, I believe that the single biggest threat to national security is this growing debt,” he said. “The more that grows the more likelihood that the defense budget will get smaller.”

This is a problem because no one knows what could confront the United States in the future. “We have some significant national security requirements to meet now, and the best I can tell, they are not going to go away,” Mullen said. “As that budget pressure builds … we’re going to have to make decisions on what we’re going to do and what we’re not going to do.”

Still, the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are on the top of the Defense Department’s priority list. All the defense leaders, he said, “are very focused on getting you what you need here in the fight. I don’t see any circumstances where that won’t be at the top of the list.”

Mullen: Coalition Maintains Momentum in Kandahar

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 29, 2011 – Despite the spikes of violence here coalition and Afghan security forces are keeping the initiative, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday.

Mullen, who arrived here today to meet with coalition leaders, U.S. troops and their civilian counterparts, spoke to reporters traveling with him.

Kandahar has seen a number of spectacular attacks recently. Ahmed Wali Karzai -- the half-brother of the Afghan President Hamid Karzai and an important political force in the region, was assassinated last month. Kandahar’s police chief also was assassinated last month, and yesterday the Taliban claimed responsibility for murdering the city’s mayor.

These types of horrific attacks aimed at individuals were expected, Mullen said, noting that former International Security Assistance Force commander Army Gen. David H. Petraeus predicted the Taliban would launch these attacks. Petraeus’ successor, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen “has reaffirmed that there are going to be these kinds of spikes -- in particular these spectacular assassinations,” Mullen said.

“There are some who believe that this is really all they can do,” he added, “given the challenges the Taliban has faced over the last couple of seasons, including this one.”

Coalition and Afghan leaders are not surprised that the Taliban are launching these attacks, and they are working to protect local Afghan leaders and to go after the cells that plan and launch these attacks, the chairman said.

Mullen said he does not know what effect these spectacular assassinations are having on provincial and district leaders, and he will speak with Afghan leaders to make his own assessment.

Last month, Afghan forces began taking over security responsibility for seven areas of the country, covering roughly 25 percent of the population. This includes the security lead for the capital region of Kabul.

Mullen said he’ll reassure Afghans of the U.S. commitment to their country. Though coalition and Afghan forces have wrested the momentum from the Taliban and their terrorist allies, he noted, the attacks and the first phase of the U.S. drawdown in the country has made many people nervous.

The chairman said he will stress “the many successes we’ve enjoyed over the Taliban in the past year, [and] reassure them that continues to be the case.”

President Barack Obama announced that the United States will withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, and another 23,000 by September 2012. The chairman said he wants to make the point to Afghans that a substantial number of American forces will remain in country. “There will still be 68,000 [American] troops in Afghanistan, and a significant number of coalition troops,” he said.

Allen will determine the drawdown methods, Mullen said, adding that he is confident the drawdown will meet the president’s goal and deadline.

“There will also be a significant buildup of [Afghan security forces] over the course of the next year,” he said. “So I’m sure there will be enough forces to reassure the Afghan people.”

Today, roughly 295,000 personnel serve in the Afghan army and police, building to 305,600 personnel this year. The goal is to have a force of 352,000 -- 195,000 in the army and 157,000 in the police -- by Oct. 31, 2012.

The chairman brought a troupe of USO entertainers with him on this trip.

“This is the time of year I normally go, and one of the reasons I go in the summer is it is brutally hot,” he said. “It lets me see the conditions our young men and women serve in.”

This year, Comedy Central satirist Jon Stewart, basketball legend Karl Malone and magician David Blaine will meet with troops.

“More than anything else, it brings a little bit of America halfway around the world, and puts a smile on their faces,” the chairman said. “It reminds them that we appreciate it, and that a lot of people at home care about what they are doing.”

Allen Praises Troops’ Courage, Sets ISAF Priorities

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2011 – Much work remains to secure Afghanistan’s future and eliminate violent extremists, the new commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan said today in a letter to the men and women of the International Security Assistance Force.

Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen addressed the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians of ISAF, praising their courage under the most challenging conditions and setting out his priorities for unified action.

“It will be my honor to serve with you all,” Allen handwrote at the bottom of the letter, which was posted on ISAF’s website. Allen assumed command today, succeeding Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who is retiring from the Army and will be the next CIA director.

Allen said his priorities include continuing the relentless pursuit of the enemy and accelerating the work associated with developing and fielding the Afghan national security forces.

“We will accelerate our efforts to protect the population and to attack and degrade insurgent networks,” he wrote. “As we support the overall effort, we will continue to capture and kill the enemy and remove him from the field of battle through reintegration.”

Allen said ISAF will promote opportunities for stabilizing villages and establishing the Afghan local police. Working with civilian partners, he added, ISAF will help to build capacity for governance, economic development and the rule of law.

In the field, the general said, Afghan national security force formations are growing in size and confidence.

“Afghans are fighting for their country, and we must facilitate this everywhere we can,” Allen said, “seeking opportunities for Afghan leadership to step forward in their institutions and in the field.”

Other ISAF priorities include coordinating and cooperating closely with Afghan partners to support the transition to Afghan forces having responsibility for their nation’s security, and staying innovative, agile and responsive as the campaign evolves, Allen wrote.

“When we have completed the work of this campaign, Afghans will be in the lead in security across the country, securing the final phase of transition in 2014,” the general said. “They will be postured not only to prevent the return of extremism and terrorism in Afghanistan, but also to achieve Afghanistan’s long-term security requirements.”

Allen told the troops that “now is the time to be ‘all in’ as we support the prosecution of the campaign, the development and fielding of the [Afghan forces] and the process of transition.”

In addition, being good stewards of the resources nations have entrusted to ISAF to achieve its mission is the responsibility of every ISAF member, Allen wrote.

The general reminded ISAF troops of why they’re in Afghanistan.

“The Afghan people welcomed ISAF and its members into this ancient and historic land 10 years ago,” he wrote, “to help them remove a ruthless and implacable enemy while promoting conditions for a stable and peaceful future.”

Tough days remain ahead, he added, “[but] I take heart in the determination and endurance of the free men and women of the 49 nations of ISAF who stand shoulder to shoulder -- shohna ba shohna -- with our Afghan partners to see this great endeavor through to its successful completion.”

Allen Takes Reins as ISAF Commander

From an International Security Assistance Force News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 18, 2011 – Marine Corps General John R. Allen assumed command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan here today.

Allen succeeds Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who will retire from the Army this summer and will then serve as CIA director.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff and Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, commander, U.S. Central Command, were on hand for the change-of-command ceremony.

Allen served as Centcom’s deputy commander from July 2008 until last month. From 2006 to 2008, he was deputy commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force and commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, deploying to Iraq as deputy commander General of Multinational Force in Anbar Province.

He was the first Marine Corps officer to serve as commandant of midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, served as a Marine Corps Fellow to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and was the first Marine Corps officer inducted as a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The general received his fourth star from Mullen before the change of command.

“Throughout, we will keep our eyes on the horizon – the future of Afghanistan – a nation of free people at peace, governed under its constitution, pursuing economic enterprise and development, in a secure and stable environment free from the extremism and terrorism that has plagued this wonderful country and its people for more than a generation,” Allen said after taking command. “In the end, together, we will prevail.”