U.S. Military Effort in Afghanistan: Is It Working?
April 10, 2007 — -- Eight thousand feet up in the mountains of Afghanistan, American troops stand ready for a spring offensive and the possible return of a new al Qaeda and the Taliban.
On "Good Morning America," Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, the man in charge of American forces in Afghanistan, told ABC's Diane Sawyer that his troops were ready to handle whatever the terrorists might throw at them.
"I don't think they have that many people that are that committed to do what they want to do," he said, estimating that there were maybe 3,000 fighters and 500 suicide bombers preparing for attack, about half the number claimed by the insurgents.
While Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden have reportedly re-established contact with their foot soldiers in Afghanistan, Rodriguez believes that U.S. troops can overwhelm them.
"I believe we have sufficient troops to do what we need to do," he said. "We've asked for some trainers for the police and everything, and they're taking a look at when and how … they can get them here to support that but overall, yes, we have enough U.S. troops for what we need to do."
Rodriguez said that while he wasn't sure Americans would ever find bin Laden, he saw it necessary to stamp out his network of followers.
"I think it's more important symbolically more than anything else, but the important part is to defeat his intentions, his network, his capability to inflict harm outside of a limited area," he said.
Some lawmakers have said that the United States is losing ground in Afghanistan and that the country is on the brink of reverting back to Taliban and al Qaeda control. Rodriguez said they're wrong.
"I do not think so, no," he said about losing control of Afghanistan. "The Taliban will continue to attack and come after us as much as they can because I think they see their opportunity starting to slip away."
Rodriguez said that Afghan troops would have basic training by 2008, but that it would take longer before they were fully functioning. In the meantime, his men and women will remain on the front lines.
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