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U.S. general stresses security through partnership

  • Published
  • By Combined Joint Task Force - 101
  • Combined Press Information Center
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan --  Afghan media and a host of international journalists met Thursday with a U.S. general from Combined Joint Task Force-101, who provided them with an overview of the security situation in Regional Command-East as well as a glimpse at the concept for going forward in the coming months.

"If you had asked me 'what do you think of Afghanistan?' after being here almost six months, I would say I see a country with a lot of unrealized potential," said Gen. Jim McConville, deputy commander of support for CJTF-101.

McConville reiterated the necessity of partnership between Coalition, ISAF and Afghan Security Forces to ensure security. He also expressed the need for improvements in quality of life for Afghan citizens.

As a result of focus on these goals troops on the ground is considered the difference between success and failure, McConville said.

"Here, we're taking a different approach," said McConville. "We're trying to defeat the enemy by helping the people."

McConville stressed that this approach has been used in Afghanistan over the last few years, but by nature it is a long-term plan of action.

"The way we do that is by improving the quality of life," said McConville

One of the ways this is done is through Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

"The PRTs are not here to replace the government, they're here to help the government," McConville said.

A key component in the measurement of quality of life is the level of security enjoyed by the citizens.

"The thing about security is, it's not just additional U.S. forces," said McConville. "It's also additional Afghan Army units and additional Afghan National Police."

Enlisting the help of local communities and allowing the people to take ownership of their own security has been cited as a major factor contributing to Coalition success in other areas, notably Iraq's Anbar province.

It is essential that interaction with the population breeds partnership rather than animosity; future success depends on it.

"We're not at war with the Afghan people," McConville said.

The event was an opportunity for McConville to present plans, make clarifications and answer questions, taking advantage of the increased media presence afforded by a visit by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.