Washington, DC – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) expressed concern that two long awaited reports to Congress on Afghanistan highlight disturbing trends and reflect the administration’s continued lack of focus on the war in Afghanistan.
In letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Skelton wrote, “For too long, Afghanistan has been the forgotten war. Our efforts there have been overshadowed by our involvement in Iraq and resources provided only to the extent they can be spared from Iraq… Unfortunately we are clearly seeing the effects of Afghanistan being considered the second front of the war. ”
Skelton also expressed disappointment that in spite of being delivered two months late, the reports failed to provide information required by law. “Unfortunately, these reports demonstrated that the administration has still not devoted the necessary level of focus and effort to Afghanistan,” wrote Skelton. Skelton called on the Department of Defense to engage with Congress on what the strategy and measures of progress are for Afghanistan.
“Until our country is prepared to lead and act decisively, it appears the problems in Afghanistan will continue to fester. The United States and the international community must make the war in Afghanistan an urgent top priority and fully commit the necessary leadership, strategy and resources to the cause – our national security, the security of our allies and Afghanistan’s future are at stake,” wrote Skelton.
The text of Skelton’s letter to Secretary Gates is copied below. The two DoD reports to Congress, required by sections 1230 and 1231 of the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, are available online at www.defenselink.mil/pubs .
June 30, 2008
The Honorable Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301
Dear Secretary Gates:
I am writing to express my concern regarding the long-overdue reports that were delivered to the House Armed Services Committee last Friday, June 27, 2008, pursuant to sections 1230 and 1231 of the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. These reports both highlight disturbing trends and fail to comply with the law, which requires a strategy and benchmarks to help us reverse the dire situation in Afghanistan.
The reports underscore what I have been saying for several years now. For too long, Afghanistan has been the forgotten war. Our efforts there have been overshadowed by our involvement in Iraq and resources provided only to the extent they can be spared from Iraq. The United States and the international community have not devoted the necessary leadership, strategy and resources to Afghanistan to ensure success of that mission. As recently as June 19th, 2008, I sent a letter to the President on this very subject and urged him to make Afghanistan our number one priority. Unfortunately we are clearly seeing the effects of Afghanistan being considered the second front of the war. The reports highlight many of the trends and problems that I’ve repeatedly warned about.
I am deeply troubled that the Taliban has reportedly coalesced into a resilient insurgency and despite setbacks, “is likely to maintain or even increase the scope and pace of its terrorist attacks and bombings in 2008”. Also concerning is the reported potential for "two distinct insurgencies" emerging in Afghanistan this year, one dominated by the Taliban in the south and a "more complex, adaptive insurgency" in the east. This follows a rise in insurgent violence in 2007, most visibly in the form of asymmetric attacks. Incidents involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) reportedly reached a high of 2,615 incidents, up from 1,931 in 2006, and more than 6,500 people died as a result of suicide attacks, roadside bombs, and combat-related violence.
At the same time, the reports suggest that the Afghan National Security Forces continue to be plagued by problems; Afghanistan’s opium trade continues to flourish; economic development continues to lag; official corruption is still widespread; authority of the central government remains limited; and safe havens in Pakistan continue to thrive and pose the greatest challenge to long-term security in Afghanistan, at a time when internal instability in Pakistan has been on the rise. I’ve repeatedly warned that we cannot underestimate the enormous challenges in all these areas and have urged the United States and the international community to develop urgently a strategy to turn this situation around.
Unfortunately, these reports demonstrated that the administration has still not devoted the necessary level of focus and effort to Afghanistan. These reports were delivered to the committee two months late and do not include all of the required elements. There is no well-coordinated comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan. In many instances, there are no performance indicators or measures of progress, no timetable for achieving goals, and no long-term budget. The lack of a budget for the Afghan National Security Forces is particularly troublesome. Since 2002, the U.S. has provided about $16.5 billion to develop these forces. Yet only two Afghan National Army units and no Afghan National Police units are fully capable. The reports also leave out any classified information, rather than provide a classified annex.
As I’ve said before, history will judge us very harshly if our focus and effort in Afghanistan is insufficient to the task. A failure of the mission there would not only damage our security, it would also seriously damage NATO. Until our country is prepared to lead and act decisively, it appears the problems in Afghanistan will continue to fester. The United States and the international community must make the war in Afghanistan an urgent top priority and fully commit the necessary leadership, strategy and resources to the cause- our national security, the security of our allies and Afghanistan’s future are at stake. The Department must also quickly engage with the Congress on what the strategy and measures of progress are for Afghanistan.
I deeply appreciate your consideration of my views.
Very truly yours,
/s/
IKE SKELTON
Chairman
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