U.S. Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment ride a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, to Now Zad, Afghanistan, on Nov. 17, 2008. The Marines, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., are deployed to Afghanistan in support of the NATO mission. DoD photo by Cpl. Cory A. Tepfenhart, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)From Foreign Policy Blog:
Our top "story you missed" this year was that the U.S. was already boosting its troop levels and building permanent infrastructure in Afghanistan, in a manner similar to the Iraqi "surge". As we noted, though, no one had yet taken steps to engage local militias and former insurgents, a key component of counterinsurgency strategy. That may now be changing:
The U.S. military will soon launch a pilot program to raise local militias, paid by the Pentagon, in an effort to improve security throughout the country. [...]
The new program in Afghanistan, tentatively dubbed the Afghanistan Social Outreach Program, has a number of backers. Two weeks ago, it was approved by President Karzai, with the endorsement of the ministers of interior and defense. "There is common agreement among the Afghan leadership, people, and international forces that there needs to be a bottom-up approach to security and progress in this country, as well as a top-down central government approach," says Gen. David McKiernan, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
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More News On Afghanistan
Afghanistan piles pressure on a war 'fatigued' world -- AFP
US: 3 militants killed in raid in Afghanistan -- AP
NATO to mount pressure on Taliban in winter -- China View
NATO says Afghan security will improve in 2009 -- AFP
The Big Question: Is the West winning in Afghanistan – and should more troops be sent? -- The Independent
Policing Afghanistan -- Weekly Standard opinion
In Afghanistan, an Air of Hope -- National Post opinion