WASHINGTON – Gen David Petraeus, chosen to lead US forces in Afghanistan, played down hopes yesterday for a swift turnaround after nine years of war and said he would consider tactical changes in the face of escalating violence.
His nomination cleared a key senate committee in a unanimous vote that showed bipartisan support for President Barack Obamas new choice to command the war. Mr Obama sacked the last commander, Gen Stanley McChrystal, for disparaging civilian leaders in an explosive magazine report. Full Senate confirmation of Gen Petraeus by the weekend seemed assured.
Appearing before the senate armed services committee, Gen Petraeus promised greater civilian-military unity of effort to counter what he called an “industrial strength insurgency”. He said he would reassess controversial rules of engagement that limit the use of force by US troops and aircraft in an attempt to protect civilians.
Critics say the rules put US units at unnecessary risk. Gen Petraeus told the committee that broader changes were possible depending on a White House review of war strategy in December. One of the US military’s biggest stars, the general is credited with helping to turn the tide in Iraq. Mr Obama is counting on him to do the same with the unpopular and costly war in Afghanistan that was launched in 2001 after the September 11th attacks on the United States by al-Qaeda.
But Gen Petraeus cautioned against assuming that what worked in Iraq would work in Afghanistan, saying progress was slower than expected in the southern heartland of the Taliban insurgency and the task of training Afghan security forces remained a monumental challenge.
“My sense is that the tough fighting will continue. Indeed, it may get more intense in the next few months,” Gen Petraeus told the committee, which approved his nomination later in the day before a full Senate vote.
Intensification of violence this autumn could be a liability for Mr Obama’s fellow Democrats, who face congressional elections in November in which Republicans are expected to make gains.