The confusion over the strategy of the war in Afghanistan cannot be resolved by changing the commander. General David Petraeus, overall theatre commander, has been tasked with taking command in Afghanistan. The current American policy is that thousands of extra troops will join their cohorts already in Afghanistan during this summer, in the hope that these extra troops will be instrumental in combating Taliban activity, and allow a reduction of American troops to start in the summer of 2011.
Petraeus is the man who wrote the book on how American forces deal with insurgency. He is the architect of the present policy. He also carries the fame of having been in command when the surge in troops in Iraq helped to end a savage civil war, although the verdict is still out on whether that was due solely to the surge, or partly to political factors.
The key to success in Afghanistan is establishing a proper transition from Nato and the International Security Assistance Force to the Afghan army, and for the Afghans to take back control of their own country. The fight against Al Qaida will continue on many fronts, but it should not be confused with a civil war in Afghanistan.
