US General Stanley McChrystal issued a very critical assessment of the war in Afghanistan just days before he was relieved of his command, a report says.
Gen. McChrystal briefed defense ministers from NATO and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) earlier this month, warning them that there would be no progress within the next six months, the Independent reported Sunday.
In the assessment, he expressed concern over the high levels of corruption and security within the Afghan government, as foreign forces had to battle against a “resilient and growing insurgency,” the report added.
The general also warned that Afghan security forces were short of “essential” military trainers, according to the report.
His campaign overview stated that long term success would be unlikely since only a small area of the path leading to it are “secure” and experience “sustainable growth,” it added.
McChrystal’s grim self-assessment emerged just after the G8 summit in Toronto set Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s a five-year deadline to improve the security and governance in Afghanistan, calling for “concrete progress.”
The US-led the invasion of Afghanistan was launched with the official objective of curbing militancy and bringing peace and stability to the country. Nine years on, however, US and Afghan officials admit the country remains unstable as civilians continue to pay the price.
The report, citing informed sources, said the briefing and the Rolling Stone article containing disdainful remarks about US administration officials, as well as President Barack Obama, cost McChrystal his job.
RBK/MD – Press TV
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