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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2015)
NATION/WORLD Saturday, October 17, 2015 East Oregonian Page 9A THE /ONG HA8/ 5esults in Afghanistan suggest extended 8S trooS mission By ROBERT BURNS AP National Security Writer WASHINGTON — America’s longest war, now in its 15th year, is long on oI¿cial 8S oStimism about building a self-reliant Afghan army but short on convincing evidence that the goal will be reached anytime soon That is the bacNdroS to 3res- ident Barack Obama’s decision to e[tend the 8S military mission beyond his last day in the White House, giving still more time to train and advise the Afghan army and keeS uS the hunt for remnants of the al-4aida network whose SeSt 11 attacks drew 8S forces to Afghanistan in 2001 -ust last year Obama had said the outlook was so encouraging that only an embassy-based military oversight of¿ce would remain after -anuary 2017 It looks different now, and not as encouraging “The bottom line is, in key areas of the country, the secu- rity situation is still very fragile, and in some Slaces there is risk of deterioration,” Obama said Thursday in announcing what he called a calculated adjust- ment to his Slan SuSSorters of Srolonging the 8S Sresence say it is necessary to secure Afghan- istan’s future and keeS al-Qaida and other extremist grouSs at bay Others Tues- tion whether keeSing nearly 10,000 8S trooSs there in 2016 and then holding at 5,500 trooSs beyond that will make a signi¿cant difference, given the uneven results from 14 years of efforts to build and Srofessionali]e an Afghan army and Solice force Said for largely by the 8nited States This year the 3entagon sSent 41 billion to train, eTuiS and sustain the Afghan army and Solice That is no ordinary Sackage of assis- tance It included feeding soldiers, Saying their salaries and fueling their vehicles The 3entagon is asking &ongress for another 7 billion for the coming year Daniella Beccaria/seattlepi.com via AP, File In this April photo, a small boat crosses in front of the Transocean Polar Pioneer as it arrives in Port Angeles, Wash. aboard a transport ship after traveling across the Pacific before its eventual Arctic destination. Interior DeSartment curbs future Arctic offshore drilling AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini A U.S. soldier directs his colleague at the site of a bomb attack that targeted several armored vehicles belonging to forces attached to the NATO Resolute Support Mis- sion, in downtown of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Oct. 11. No doubt the Afghan army has imSroved over the years, and its soldiers do not shy away from combat But the army still suffers basic Àaws -ust days ago the toS 8S commander in Afghanistan, Gen -ohn &amSbell, told a congressional committee that Afghan forces are unable to ¿ght without 8S suSSort, that “we have just started” creating an Afghan air force, and that “it will take time” to develoS comSetent Afghan battle commanders But how much time? And at what cost? The 8S already has sSent about 65 billion on the training and eTuiSSing of Afghan forces, and it remains dif¿cult to judge what that investment has bought <ear after year, in Sublic statements and Seriodic uSdates to &ongress, 3entagon of¿cials have insisted the Afghan army and Solice were getting better, suggesting success was just around the corner if Ameri- cans would remain Satient “Every day the Afghan security forces grow in caSability and exSerience,” a 3entagon sSokesman asserted in October 2005 “We have achieved great success with the Afghan National Army,” a two-star general in charge of training said in October 2007 “The caSabilities of the Afghan National Army are imSroving steadily,” and the Solice are “making steady Srogress,” the 3entagon said in a -une 200 reSort to &ongress A year later a 3entagon uSdate said the Afghan force “continued to imSrove its caSability” And in 2010 the 3entagon told Congress that growth and develoSment of security forces “are among Afghani- stan’s most Sromising areas of Srogress” The Afghans have Srogressed to the Soint where they do their own basic mili- tary training What they still need from the 8S is more high-end training, advising and mentoring as they attemSt to tie together all elements of military oSerations, including the use of intelligence, against the Taliban In the last few years, as 8S forces have shifted the combat role almost entirely to the Afghans, the Taliban have made new gains CamS- bell, while acknowledging those gains, says the mili- tants still cannot overthrow the government in .abul But earlier this month they surSrised many by brieÀy caSturing the key northern city of .undu] The combat burden has taken a heavy toll on Afghan forces /ast fall a senior 8S commander said Afghan trooSs were dying at a rate that was “not sustainable,” and the combat losses have only accelerated this year, according to the 3entagon’s latest reSort to Congress The high casualty rate, in turn, has left Afghan forces short-handed Although the army is authori]ed to have 195,000 soldiers, it currently has only 17,000 Overall losses to the force — known in military Sarlance as attrition and including those who do not re-enlist, are killed in battle or are droSSed from the rolls after being AWO/ for 0 days — is down slightly this year after averaging 21 Sercent Ser month last year Even with the recent decline in attrition to 1 Sercent a month, the loss rates are so high they “Sose challenges to creating a Srofessional force,” the 3entagon says ANCHORAGE, Alaska A3 — The Interior 'eSartment announced )riday it is canceling future lease sales and will not extend current leases in Arctic waters off Alaska’s northern coast, a decision that signi¿cantly reduces the chances for future Arctic offshore drilling The news follows a SeSt 2 announcement by Royal Dutch Shell that it would cease exSloration in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas after sSending uSward of 7 billion on Arctic exSloration The comSany cited disaSSointing results from a well drilled in the Chukchi and the unSre- dictable federal regulatory environment Interior Secretary Sally -ewell said the federal government is canceling federal Setroleum lease sales in 8S Arctic waters that were scheduled for 2016 and 2017 “In light of Shell’s announcement, the amount of acreage already under lease and current market conditions, it does not make sense to SreSare for lease sales in the Arctic in the next year and a half,” she said -ewell said the Chukchi Sea off Alaska’s northwest coast and the Beaufort Sea off the state’s north coast will not be included in the agency’s next ¿ve-year lease sale Slan In addition, current leases held by Shell and other comSanies in Arctic waters will not be extended Beaufort Sea leases are set to exSire in 2017, and Chukchi Sea leases in 2020 Current market condi- tions and low industry interest made the leasing decision easier, -ewell said in a release Royal Dutch Shell 3/C is the only comSany actively exSloring off Alaska’s northern costs It had aSSlied to extend leases in both the Chukchi and the Beaufort Statoil reTuested an extension for Chukchi leases Shell sSokesman Curtis Smith said the comSany disagrees with the agency’s decision not to extend current leases “When it comes to frontier exSloration in Alaska, one si]e does not ¿t all,” Smith said by email “We continue to believe the 10-year Srimary lease term needs to be extended” In denying the extension, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforce- ment’s regional suServisor for ¿eld oSerations, Kevin 3endergast, said Shell had not met the criteria to extend its leases, including Sroviding the agency with a work schedule on them Shell could aSSly again, he said Environmental grouSs strongly oSSose Arctic drilling They say industrial activity will harm marine mammals already hurt by a loss of sea ice BRIEFLY Turkish jets shoot down drone at its border with Syria ANKARA, Turkey A3 — Turkey shot down an unidenti¿ed drone that Àew into its airsSace )riday near the Syrian border, while Russian 3resident 9ladimir 3utin said his country’s air camSaign backing a Syrian government offensive has killed hundreds of militants A 8S of¿cial said the downed drone was Russian, but Moscow staunchly rejected the claim The incident underlined the Sotential dangers of clashes involving Russian, Syrian and 8S-led coalition Slanes in the increasingly crowded skies over Syria Russian and 8S military of¿cials have been working on a set of rules to Srevent any Sroblems The Turkish military said it issued three warnings before shooting down the aircraft with its ¿ghter jets It didn’t sSecify how it had relayed the warnings to the oSerators of the drone The drone crashed about 2 miles inside Turkish territory, said )oreign Minister )eridun Sinirlioglu Earlier this month, Turkey had Srotested two incursions by Russian warSlanes, which also drew strong condemnation from Turkey’s NATO allies The 8S, Russia and the Syrian government all oSerate drones in the region The drone was de¿nitely not American, and the 8S believes it was Russian, said a 8S defense of¿cial, who was not authori]ed to discuss details of the incident and sSoke on condition of anonymity Moscow strongly denied ownershiS of the drone 4 Palestinians killed by Israeli ¿UHLQXQUHVW RAMA//AH, West Bank A3 — Stone- throwing Srotests eruSted across the West Bank and Ga]a on )riday, and assailants ¿rebombed a site revered by -ews as the tomb of biblical -oseSh on a “day of rage” against Israel )our 3alestinians were killed by Israeli ¿re, including a laborer disguised as a journalist who stabbed an Israeli soldier The 8N Security Council convened an emergency meeting to discuss the escalation, which has been marked by a sSate of 3alestinian stabbing attacks and an Israeli security crackdown TrooSs manned roadblocks in Arab neighborhoods of -erusalem, a center of unrest DON’T MISS OUT! They’ve served our country with courage and honor. They’ve left behind loved ones to risk their lives in protecting their country. They’ve defended our freedoms and ideals. They make us proud to be Americans. Join us for Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2015 in the East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald, as we honor the men and women of the U.S. Military. Their courage, hard work and sacrifice are the backbone of our nation, protecting freedom, liberty, justice and all we hold dear. PRICES 1x4 - $ 40.00 2x3 - $ 55.00 Full Color Included Private Party Only Bring in or call 1-800-522-0255 with a photo and message to your hero to give them a special thanks. Celebrate Your Loved Ones in Our DEADLINE Veterans Day Wednesday, November 5 th SALUTE Staff Sergeant Joel Davis US Marines Veteran Honoring those who have served and those that are currently serving our country! For more information call Paula at 541-278-2678 or 1-800-522-0255 or Hermiston Herald at 541-564-4530. 2x3 EXAMPLE We are so proud of you for serving your country. Example Bring us a picture of your servicemen or servicewomen or veteran by November 5 th along with the form below and we will include them in our “Veterans Day Salute” on November 11 th in the East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald at no charge. For more information, call Paula at 1-800-522-0255 or Hermiston Herald at 541-564-4530. Love Evelyn, Joe and Cheryl Service Person’s Name Military Branch Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Military Rank Currently Serving Veteran (Check One) Deliver to: East Oregonian 211 SE Byers Ave. • Pendleton, OR Hermiston Herald 333 E. Main. • Hermiston, OR or e-mail to classifieds@eastoregonian.com 1x4 EXAMPLE J OSEPH B. D AVIS J OSEPH S MITH Thank you for your service! Love always Marcy, Julie & Emily
