Is NATO Loosing Grounds in Afghanistan?

By: Dr. Demitri D. Lobovitch, A Russian Strategist at MATU, Moscow

Posted by Hasan A. Yahya,

As of last week, NATO forces have lost 1,443 coalition deaths in Afghanistan as part of ongoing coalition operations (Operation Enduring Freedom) and (ISAF) since the invasion in 2001. In this total, the American figure is for deaths "In and Around Afghanistan" which, as defined by the U.S. Department of Defense, includes some deaths in Pakistan and Uzbekistan and the deaths of four CIA operatives. This means that day after day, the U.S Arm forces in Afghanistan is losing of its solders. The four American soldiers who were killed by a bomb in southern Afghanistan, according to NATO spokesman. Deaths bring the number of foreign forces killed in Afghanistan in 2009 reach 295, the deadliest year since the US-led invasion in 2001. During the first five years of the war, the vast majority of coalition deaths were American, but between 2006 and 2009, a significant proportion were amongst other nations, particularly the United Kingdom and Canada. . In addition to 62 Spanish soldiers returning from Afghanistan died in Turkey on May 2003, when their plane crashed. Another 27 U.A. and one Canadian soldier were killed in other countries while supporting operations in Afghanistan. In the year 2008, the number was 294 military personnel died. This brings the total US and NATO casualties in Afghanistan as fast mounting. At least 63 foreign military personnel have been killed this month only, including 37 Americans. A total of 1,340 have died in the country since 2001. The question is Does NATO and the United States lost their technological skills facing Taliban and al-Qaida forces? In his statement on the situation after Obama sent the 30,000 soldiers to help out the situation Afghanistan, was made by the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, he said the security situation in Afghanistan was "serious and deteriorating" and left open the possibility of further reinforcements.” That means that the more troops did not solve the problem NATO faces in Afghanistan. It is obvious from the statement that the more troops did not solve the problem of ISAF and American troops. CNN confirmed this statement "Afghanistan is very vulnerable in terms of [the] Taliban and extremists taking over again, and I don't think that threat's going to go away," the Chief of Staff said. As this failure happened, Russia and China are observing the situation, in many cases, failure of NATO and Americans is a point plus to the two countries, and serve their interest in Middle and South East Asia. To curb this failure, America is advised to revise its policies and management processes in Afghanistan. While readers may inquire, how a defeated non-official army of Taliban and al-Qai’da with all the might of NATO and the increasing number of forces up to 100,000 soldiers, with high tech, and no pilot planes can revive instead of vanishing. New strategies have to be made, and new mentalities have to try new approaches to complete the job successfully, or withdraw with honor of defeat. (535 words)

Translated from Russian, Vestcorve Journal, vol 23, No. 3. p.6. (2009)